Funding cuts for public-interest science and the muzzling of government scientists are two issues exposed with numerous examples in a new website called True North Smart and Free. The name is taken from Canada’s national anthem which contains the phrase “true north strong and free.”
Science ‘part of why Canada is…great’
“That’s really to try to get at this idea that part of why Canada is such a great country is because we have this traditional very strong investments in science and our leaders traditionally make very informed, rational decisions. We’re starting to see that trend erode,” says Katie Gibbs, executive director of Evidence for Democracy which created the site. It’s a non-partisan, non-profit group that promotes “the transparent use of evidence in government decision-making in Canada.”
ListenInternational scientists protested
Scientists, unions and academics have publicly protested the Conservative government’s attitude toward science, and criticism has also come from scientists abroad.
As an example of government’s erosion of science, the website notes the government stopped funding the Experimental Lakes Area, an internationally renowned site in Ontario where open-air experiments on 58 lakes have helped determine the effects of such things as pollutants and climate change. Eventually, provincial governments stepped in to keep it open.
Another example exposes the case of the Canadian Ice Service which planned a technical briefing about arctic ice reaching its lowest level in history. Scientists were made to go through nine levels of approval and government finally would not let allow the briefing to go ahead.
It’s hoped the many examples on the site will illustrate the problem for Canadians and that they will raise the issue in the imminent election campaign.
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