University of Alberta scientists join call to stop muzzling federal researchers

A group of University of Alberta scientists is joining a national call for a new direction in science policy and an end to muzzling of federal researchers.

The public can’t make informed decision on policies if they don’t have access to all the evidence, says Colleen Cassady St. Clair, a biologist who studies grizzly bears in Banff National Park.

She spoke Thursday at a panel discussion on science policy.

“You can’t arrive at the right decision if you don’t know all the options,” Cassady St. Clair said in an interview.

The U of A panel also discussed the call for an independent science office that reports to Parliament and raised concerns about “too much” industry influence in research — issues raised by the Canadian Association of University Teachers campaign called Get Science Right.

Public concerns about the Harp- er government’s muzzling of federal researchers gained momentum this week after a high-profile protest about firings and fear in the federal bureaucracy.

More than 100 former Parks Canada employees issued an unprecedented open letter condemning the abrupt firing, with no reason, of a senior scientist in Jasper National Park, the continued erosion of scientific evidence in parks policy, and the atmosphere of fear instilled across federal departments.

The letter points specifically to the mid-June firing, with no reasons given, of John Wilmshurst, a Jasper National Park senior scientist with a 15-year career in Canada.

The science advocacy group, Evidence for Democracy, said Thursday the federal Liberals, NDP and Greens are committed to a new policy, if one of them wins the Oct. 19 general election, that will allow federal scientists to share their research with the public.

The Conservatives did not re- spond to the survey, said Katie Gibbs, executive director of Evidence for Democracy.

“It’s fundamental to democracy to have an informed electorate to have informed debate,” she said. “Canadians are really concerned about this issue; it is affecting their right to know.”

For instance, in 2012, the public was denied access to new federal research about the growing impact of global warming in the North, and that year the sea ice was at the lowest level recorded, she said.

Federal scientists tried to organize a briefing on the new research, but the Harper government called it off. Journalist had to rely on U. S. scientists, said Gibbs, adding “this is about message control.”