Remember the bad old days when federal scientists were muzzled by the Harper government and, even when health, safety or the environment were threatened, researchers were not allowed to talk about their findings?
A 2013 survey commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) found nine out of 10 scientists did not feel free to speak about their work, and, as public and media indignation grew, Justin Trudeau promised that would change under a Liberal government.
True to his word, after the Liberals swept to power in 2015, the restrictive communications policies of the Harper government (Read more…) reversed and, in 2016 PIPSC reached a tentative collective agreement with Treasury Board that included clauses recognizing the right of federal scientists to speak about their research and requiring departments with 10 or more scientists to create scientific integrity policies.
But, according to a new survey, that message has not reached some senior public servants who continue to prevent some scientists from talking to media or the public about their work.