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“Democracy depends on informed opinion. Informed opinion relies on understanding all the evidence, not just that which supports a political objective or ideology. Science provides much of the best evidence, without regard to political agendas or ideology,” stated Dr. Andrew Weaver. “The only scientific evidence the Harper Conservatives want the public to know about is that which supports their political objectives and ideology. That’s not science, that’s propaganda.”

“An advanced, modern democratic society needs decisions to be based on the best information available. Harper’s agenda seems to be focused on eliminating any institutions that bring forward information that might contradict or constrain his agenda for unfettered fossil fuel and resource extraction in Canada,” stated MP Elizabeth May. “Instead of making decisions based on the best available information, their goal is to eliminate the best available information so they can implement pre-made decisions based on their ideology.”

The Harper Conservatives have embarked on a systematic program to impede and divert the flow of scientific information to Canadians through two major strategies.

The first strategy involves the gutting of scientific research institutions and programs that uncover scientific evidence. Examples of this include:

• The end of funding to the Canadian Foundation of Climate and Atmospheric Science
• The elimination of the Adaptation research group within Environment Canada
• Cuts to ozone monitoring
• Closure of the Polar Environment Arctic Research Laboratory (PEARL) in Eureka
• End of federal funding for the world renowned Experimental Lakes Area near Kenora, Ontario
• The elimination of the marine contaminants program within the DFO
• The loss of scientists in Natural Resources Canada to study ice cores data (and the hope to find a university with a large fridge willing to take the 80,000 year ice core record Canada’s government no longer wants)
• The end of monitoring smoke stack emissions
• Cut backs in the Canada Oil and Gas research group in Halifax
• Other major funding cuts research programs at Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Library and Archives Canada, the National Research Council Canada, Statistics Canada, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
• Decisions to close major natural and social science research institutions such as the world-renowned Experimental Lakes Area, the National Council of Welfare and the First Nations Statistical Institute.
• Cutting the mandatory long-form national census.

Harper’s second strategy is to impede the bringing forward of scientific evidence into the public debate. Examples:

• Shutting down the National Round Table on Environment and Economy (NRTEE), an arm’s length advisory body providing independent advice on environmental protection and economic development, because the government didn’t like its advice.
• Not renewing the National Science Advisor in 2008.
• Dozens of instances of censoring of, impeded access to, and coercion of government scientists, a practice which Minister of Environment Peter Kent has justified as merely in keeping with “established practice”.

Rally organizer Ken Wu expects that the political momentum against the Harper’s cuts to scientific programs and institutions will continue to grow in the future.

The post Scientists Rally in Victoria against the Harper Conservatives’ Assault on Science, Environmental Monitoring, and Information Dissemination appeared first on Elizabeth May.

“So many organizations are concerned about the dangers of oil and gas development in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They are asking the government to please heed the wishes of citizens and halt any exploration in this extremely important and sensitive ecosystem,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands. “We commend the leadership of Canada’s First Nations and Quebec’s trade union, in the absence of leadership coming from our federal government on this profoundly serious issue.”

The AFN passed its resolution on December 8th in Ottawa while CSN issued its press release on the same day.

The Green Party has been calling for a Gulf wide environmental impact assessment including economic, social and environmental impacts and allowing for intervenors including non-profits, fishers, the tourism industry and First Nations. “It is imperative that we not risk the economic and environmental benefits of the region for the sake of exploiting possible oil and gas reserves,” said May. “As the CSN is pointing out, sometimes the cost of development is simply not worth it.”

Pierre Patry, Treasurer of the CSN, commented in a release that regions of the North Shore, Lower St. Lawrence, Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine “should not become a science lab, and the research conducted there should not open the door, throughout Quebec, to new engineering techniques bound to create ecological and social damages with far-reaching consequences.”

The post Greens Applaud AFN and CSN Leadership on Oil and Gas Moratorium in Gulf of St. Lawrence appeared first on Elizabeth May.

I certainly agree with hon. members of the official opposition about risks of oil and gas in British Columbia, but on the other coast while many areas have been developed, one has never been touched.

This is the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a most biologically productive region with over 2,000 marine species including endangered blue whales. It is now threatened by a deep water oil well. This is a region that touches five provinces.

The minister has received the request for a joint panel. Could he tell this House if he agrees?

Hon. Peter Kent: Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on her first question on the environment in this House. I hope that our ongoing dialogue will continue to be based on facts and science. I can confirm for my hon. colleague that I have received a request from the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board to refer the project to a review. I will consider the facts and make a decision in due course.

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