Profs sign open letter to Trudeau, Elections Canada over ‘chilling’ act

Five McMaster University professors have signed an open letter to Elections Canada raising concerns about the federal body’s interpretation of the Elections Act.

The letter, signed by hundreds of professors from around the world, comes in the wake of news environmental groups will need to register as third parties if they spend more than $500 on advertising on “issues” that are “clearly associated with a candidate or party” — which could include climate change — once the fall election begins.

Christopher Anand, a McMaster computer science professor, said he’s concerned Elections Canada is setting a “terrible precedent.”

“It’s a terrible precedent that the truth of facts doesn’t matter in whether something is allowed as non-partisan advertising or not,” Anand said. “The actual issue (climate change) is, I think, the No. 1 issue for this election — it’s probably going to be the No. 1 issue for several elections to come.”

Amid outcry, Elections Canada issued a statement last week stating “issue advertising” has been subject to the Canada Elections act for nearly two decades.

“The Act doesn’t speak to the substance of potential third party-issue advertising, nor does it make a distinction between facts and opinion,” said Stéphane Perrault, chief electoral officer of Canada, in the statement.

Whether or not climate change will be an “issue” won’t be clear until the election begins, said Natasha Gauthier, a spokesperson with Elections Canada.

“Nobody knows ahead of time,” she said. “The Act is set up so it’s really up to parties and candidates.”

Still, the professors who signed the open letter — which is cc’d to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other party leaders — take issue with Election Canada’s interpretation of the law and the implications it may have on stifling climate-change discussion.

“The bureaucratic process of registering in order to share non-partisan science may stifle evidence-based discussion on climate change during both a crucial democratic process and a critical period for climate action,” reads the letter. “Together, these items set a chilling precedent for the discussion of sciencebased concerns. We are very alarmed by this situation.”

Gauthier said the act can change, but it’s up to Parliament to change it.

In the meantime, at least one environmental group says it plans to avoid the issue altogether by spending less.

“We basically will not be promoting anything on social media,” said Keith Brooks, programs director with Canadian environmental organization Environmental Defence, noting that paying for promoted content is the best way the group can ensure their content is seen, due to changing algorithms.

“It’ll make it more difficult, for sure, for us to get the message out,” he said.