Science and Democracy: The E4D Experiment" Dr. Katie Gibbs Executive Director, Evidence for Democracy There have been drastic changes to science in Canada in recent years, summarized in three distinct ways: 1) reducing the ability of government scientists to communicate their research to the public, 2) eroding Canada's science capacity, and 3) reducing the role of evidence in policy decisions. Since science and evidence are essential elements of a functioning democracy, the impacts of these changes reach far and wide. Concerns about the status of science in Canada have led to a more vocal scientific community and the formation of Evidence for Democracy (E4D), a new science-led, national, non-partisan, non-profit organization advocating for science and evidence-based policies in Canada.

1. No Science, No Evidence, No
Truth, No Democracy
Katie Gibbs, Evidence for Democracy
@KatieGibbs
@E4Dca

2. Evidence and Democracy
• No Science, No Evidence, No Truth, No
Democracy
• Functioning democracy needs informed
citizens
• Transparency and accountability demand that
government decisions, and their justification,
be made explicit
• Facts are a check on political power.

3. “In the absence of rigorous, scientific information—
and an informed public—decision-making
becomes an exercise in upholding the
preferences of those in power.”
“When we limit the production of scientific
evidence, it creates a knowledge vacuum that
inflates the power of political influence. If
politicians can’t point to facts in defense of their
arguments then there is little left but ideology to
rely upon. “
All quoted from Carol Linnett in an article in
Academic Matters

4. “Science breeds the free thinking and openness
to ideas that lie at the heart of a democratic
society.” - Francesca Griffo
Attacks on science = Attacks on our democracy

5. The death of evidence?
1. Reductions in communication of science and
evidence
2. Erosion of our science and evidence
gathering capacity
3. Diminished role of evidence in policy
decisions

6. 1. Concerns about science and
evidence communication
• New internal policies on external
communication
• Impeded media access to government
scientists beginning in 2007
• Public and media requests being directed to
communications personnel
• Increasing bureaucratization of procedures to
attend conferences, present papers, etc.

7. 2008 Federal Government Media Protocol:
"Just as we have one department we should have
one voice. Interviews sometimes present surprises
to ministers and senior management. Media
relations will work with staff on how best to deal
with the call (an interview request from a
journalist). This should include asking the
programme expert to respond with approved
lines."

10. DFO Publication Review Committee
Procedures:
“All journal articles…must be submitted to
your Division Admin for review and approval
prior to being submitted for publication.
Publication review procedures apply to all
submissions where a DFO Science staff
member is an author (whether the single
author, or one of multiple co-authors)."

12. Although…

16. Meanwhile, in the U.S.
Ed Campion, a spokesman
for Goddard Space Flight
Center said:
“What Hansen does in his
own time is none of the
government’s business.”
“The agency doesn’t
comment on personnel
matters.”

17. 2. Erosion of our science capacity
• Reduced science and technology funding to many
government departments
• Cuts to important scientific and evidence
gathering institutions (Experimental Lakes Area,
Polar Environmental Atmospheric Research
Laboratory, long-form census, National
Roundtable on Environment and Economy, and
many more)
• Increasing allocation away from basic research to
applied research and commercialization

18. Federal S&T funding to Tri-council
Granting Council base funding, 2007-2013
(constant 2010 dollars, millions)
2007-8
2008-9 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Change
2007-12
SSHRC
NSERC
CIHR
383.7
358.1
368.1
359.4
355.6
351.5
344.8
-10.1%
1057.9
1051.5
1042.3
1050.2
1030.8
1018.9
990.3
-6.4%
1017.8
989.8
1020.1
1026.9
953.0
969.4
941.4
-7.5%
Indirect
costs
Total
327.9
335.7
330.9
324.9
322.6
318.9
302.0
-7.9%
2787.2
2735.0
2761.5
2761.4
2662.1
2658.7
2578.4
-7.5%

19. • $2.6 billion and 5064 jobs cut in science-based
departments between 2013-2016
• 91% - cuts will have detrimental impact on
ability of government to serve Canadians
• 69% - Environment Canada is doing a worse
job at environmental protection
• 73% - concerned that new policies
collaboration with colleagues

20. Experimental Lakes Area

21. National Round Table on the
Environment and the Economy

22. National Research Council to 'refocus' to serve business
CBC News
Posted: Mar 6, 2012 1:58 PM ET
Last Updated: Mar 6, 2012 2:43 PM ET
167
Facebook
Canada's national government
research and development agency is
26
Twitter
being transformed and "refocused“
into a service that provides solutions
for businesses, Canada's Minister of
193
Share
State for Science and Technology announced Tuesday.
Email
Gary Goodyear says he envisions the National Research Council becoming
a "concierge" service that offers a single phone number to connect
businesses to all their research and development needs.
“Scientific discovery is not valuable unless it has commercial
value,” - John McDougall, president of the National Research
Council.

23. There weren’t joking…

26. 3. Concerns over role of evidence in
policy decisions
• Growing list of examples where policy decisions
are inconsistent with available evidence.
• Decisions to abandon collection of scientific
evidence based on scientifically weak rationale
(e.g. long-form census).
• Statutory amendments where the role of
scientific evidence in decision-making has been
reduced and the role of Ministerial discretion
enhanced.

36. Governments come and go, but
scientific expertise and experience
cannot be chopped and changed as
the mood suits and still be expected
to function. Nor can applied research
thrive when basic research is
struggling. If the Harper government
has valid strategic reasons to
undermine vital sectors of Canadian
science, then it should say so...

37. A new science-led national, non-partisan,
non-profit organization advocating for
science and evidence-based policy in
Canada.

38. E4D’s Vision
• Strong public policies built on the best available
evidence for the health and prosperity of all
Canadians.
• A thriving democracy where citizens are informed
and engaged, and all levels of government are
both transparent and accountable.
• A national culture that values science and
evidence and the important role they play in
society.

39. Our approach
• Educate Canadians about the role and
importance of evidence in government
decision-making.
• Monitor government decisions and evaluate
the extent to which scientific evidence has
been appropriately used.
• Take Action on specific issues to advocate for
the use of evidence in government policy
decision-making.

40. Some goals:
• Foster a constructive skepticism in Canadians
• Ensure that governments invest appropriately
in public interest science
• Ensure that evidence is not misrepresented in
the public space, either through (deliberate or
benign) errors of omission or commission.

42. Stand Up for Science - September 16 2013,
18 cities across Canada

43. Media coverage

45. Federal science strategy

47. What’s next?
• Building a Network of Experts to monitor and
document policy decisions
• Develop an approachable and engaging, crossindexed online report on the state of science
in Canada.
• Collaborate with other organizations to
develop a ‘science charter’ of best practices
for evidence-based policy.

48. We need your help!
•
•
•
•
Participate in one of our campaigns
Join our mailing list
Volunteer
Partner with us for events and research
projects

49. Further reading

50. Or watch...

51. Thank you!
Visit our website to get involved:
www.evidencefordemocracy.ca
www.facebook.ca/E4Dca
@E4Dca
Or contact me directly:
katie@evidencefordemocracy.ca
613-866-6921