Canadians call on govt. to stop restricting scientists
File photo shows Canadians protesting government’s moves which have restricted scientists to communicate about their research publically.
Canadians have staged protests nationwide, calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper™s government to stop barring scientists from speaking about their research and to end cutbacks in research.
The œStand Up for Science” rallies were held in 17 cities, including Ottawa, Vancouver and Halifax on Monday. The event was organized by the non-profit science advocacy group Evidence for Democracy.
Advocates say the moves taken by the federal government in recent years have resulted in researchers being muzzled, not having the ability to communicate their research to the public.
œIt has gotten so bad that our information commissioner here has launched an investigation into six government departments, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, and the National Research Council,” said parliamentarian Kennedy Stewart from the New Democratic Party.
He added, œIt really is a dark time for science in Canada.”
The group also pointed out that a significant number of researchers have lost federally funded positions.
œSince 2011, there have been 4,000 scientists and researchers who have lost their jobs,” said Stewart and added, œConsidering we only have about 36,000 researchers employed by the federal government in Canada, that™s a lot, to lose 10 percent in two years.”
In addition, advocates say the government has cut federal funding by six percent since 2006 for science and technology investment with research areas relevant to climate and the environment being the hardest hit.
Stewart described the government™s moves as hostile towards the research areas of environmental science and climate change research and added that findings from those areas could negatively impact the financial development of tar sand projects in the province of Alberta.
On the same day of the rallies, Stewart introduced a motion to Parliament, calling on Harper™s government to protect researchers™ right to speak without political interference.
The motion states that government officials should not prevent scientists from responding to media requests in a timely or accurate manner and should be barred from directing federal scientists to suppress or alter their findings.
CAH/HN
Copyright: Press TV