Scientists 'cautiously optimistic' about new government

The newly-elected Liberal government has promised a different approach to dealing with scientists, who many critics saidwere muzzled under the Conservative government. But many scientists seem to be taking a "wait and see" attitude.

Liberal promises during thecampaign includedmore freedom for Canadian science, less of a brain drain, and more investment in brain-powered, rather thannatural resource-powered, industries.

But there's more to it than just where the money goes. Prime minister-designateJustin Trudeauhas promised to unmuzzle scientists, as it were.

In recent years, any federally employed scientist including those with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Health Canada, or any subsidiary has faced restrictions whensharingwork at conferences and with the media,andhas hadtheir work censored and their academic freedom limited. This was intended to control messaging,and to control the data being generated.

I want to point out here that much of the work done by these federal scientists has absolutely no impact on the running of the country. But it was a blanket tossed over the entire industry.

No immediate changes for scientists

With a new government coming into power, the general mood in the scientific community seems to berelief. It is,asscientists both within and outside the government told me, "cautious optimism."

Butin doingresearch on this topic, I tried to speak to a few government scientists and was, as usual, routed through the media office minders. I was told thatalthough there is a change in government in principle, nothing has changed yet in practice, as there is no new minister and no new mandate.

Butthose just on the outside of federal science are now free to speak their mind and look ahead.

Former Environment Canada scientistTony Turner became famous last month with his "Harperman" song, whichcriticized outgoing Prime MinisterStephen Harper's so-called "attack on science." Hewas suspended with pay andlater retired.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "I think, you know, all political parties promise lots. So I think they plan to designate a chief science officer, and I think that's a good thing. I'm not sure we've had one before."

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That's seen as an important step. Achief scientific officer would essentially bethe head of the scientific establishment in Canada, and couldpromote and encourage science.

But reversing some of the policies the outgoing government was criticized for could be difficult.The machine of censorship, media control, and regulation is firmly entrenched. We may simply find that, without a very clear mandate from the new government about what the role of federal science is, and how open it could and should be, the machine may simply keep running.

But open and free science is the only way science can be done. Scientists need to be free to collaborate, share their work, and reveal their findings. Government scientists are scientists first, and if they gather data that goes against government policy or vision, they need to be free to share that. Science is never done in isolation. It is collaboration, honesty, and openness that makedata valid.

Suzukicriticizes Liberals

As for one of the key scientific issues facing the country climate changeTrudeau has pledged action, andcampaigned hard on changes to Canada's climate policy.

Butfor many he has not gone far enough.In a recent media interview, David Suzukisaid hespoke with Trudeauand things got a bit heated.

Suzuki has accusedLiberal policies of being all over the map supporting the proposedKeystone XL pipeline and the Alberta oilsands, but opposingthe Northern Gateway pipeline, for example.

But there's a huge climate change conference coming up in Paris at the end of November thatwill test where the new government stands on climate change and meetingtargets on greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

The Harper government repeatedly flouted carbon emission reduction targets, and Canada is lagging behind other G7 countries in taking the threat of climate change seriously.Sothere's still work to do there.

I share in the optimism felt in a lot of the scientific community. As one tweet stated eloquently, "Forget marijuana, I'm excited for science to be legal again."