Scientists, dressed in their white lab coats, rallied in St. John’s earlier today against cuts and legislative changes affecting them at the federal level.
The scientists, who are members of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, along with local labour leaders, marched from the Delta Hotel to Harbourside Park.
Representative Bryan Van Wilgenburg, who is a meteorologist, says the purpose of the rally was three-fold: To raise attention about cuts to federal scientists across multiple departments, their opposition to Bill C-39 – which he says includes changes to how major projects are reviewed and approved, and a proposal from Ottawa to remove scientific integrity from collective agreements.
Representative Bryan Van Wilgenburg (VOCM News)
Scientific integrity, according to Van Wilgenburg, is a “whole package about how science is conducted within the federal government.”
He says that clause gives scientists the right to speak about their work publicly, and removing it would give the federal government the ability to take action against someone for speaking out.
He says that is “concerning” because if the federal government does something that isn’t scientifically accurate then they should be able to speak publicly to point that out.
