Search #VoteScience on Twitter to discover which candidate posted this pro science selfie
Canadian science groups and a non-partisan organization that promotes the “transparent use of evidence in government decision-making in Canada” have come together to launch a national campaign before Canadians go to the polls this fall to elect their federal representatives.
The #VoteScience campaign, organized by Science & Policy Exchange, Toronto Science Policy Network and Evidence for Democracy, and supported by other science-focused organizations, has built a portal and created a way for Canadians to express to politicians how much they value science and want it to be prominent in the government’s agenda. From tools and templates to selfie suggestions, they have made it simple to get involved and, importantly, have your voice heard. Whether you’re a scientist or not, you are encouraged to participate. Visit the site and choose your weapon of choice.
So why is this campaign needed? Is science not already a priority in Canada? I guess that depends on who you ask.
Canada’s 2019 budget, released in March, had some science funding increases in specific areas, like neuroscience and genomics, but the year before it committed a “historic” $4 billion over five years to basic science and research. (And this happened too.) In total, the Government of Canada says it has provided “more than $10 billion since 2016 for science, research and the people who power it.” That’s not insignificant.
As well, Canada has a Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (The Honourable Navdeep Bains), a Minister of Science and Sport (The Honourable Kirsty Duncan) and a Chief Science Advisor (Dr. Mona Nemer). And, if ratified in union negotiations between the federal government and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) union, representing 15,000 researchers, engineers and scientists across the country, it will have a “scientific integrity” clause that would be in force even if the Liberals are defeated in the October election, according to CBC reporting. This is meant to prevent what happened last time.
There is no question that the Government of Canada has been good to CCRM. We launched in 2011 with $15 million in seed funding from the Networks of Centres of Excellence program and received a further $15 million in 2018 to continue our efforts to build a thriving regenerative medicine industry in Canada. In 2016, we launched the Centre for Advanced Therapeutic Cell Technologies with $40 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and GE Healthcare (equal contributions). And, more recently, FedDev Ontario provided support for the Centre for Cell and Vector Production, a Good Manufacturing Practices facility built in partnership with the University Health Network. CCRM likely wouldn’t exist without federal funding for science. Other groups in Canada’s stem cell community would say the same.
Nevertheless, reminding all the political parties that science is a priority, and must remain so, is crucial.
As Dr. Katie Gibbs, Executive Director of Evidence for Democracy, states: “Science and research underpin almost all the issues Canadians care about – from the environment, to the economy, to health care – so it’s time for us to have conversations about how candidates and parties are going to ensure that science is well-funded, openly communicated, and used in decision-making.”
When science isn’t funded by governments, this can happen. Specifically, “When scientists have to leave their labs to fight a political war on science—whether that takes the form of financial or ideological attack—they’re not bringing us solutions to climate change or life-saving medicine,” writes Katherine Ellen Foley.
Farah Qaiser, a Signals blogger and President of the student-run Toronto Science Policy Network, outlines how you can easily support the #VoteScience campaign. She also shares details about her group’s first local launch event. Please read her post here. And remember to vote science!
Stacey Johnson
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