Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart is joining the cross-Canada protests, calling on the Harper government to end the “muzzling” of federal scientists.
Stewart, the NDP’s science and technology critic, has also put forward a related motion in the House of Commons that would allow scientists to speak more freely, and he attended the Ottawa rally.
"It was really good, it was a non-partisan event," Stewart said from Ottawa. "But it was really leading researchers from right across Canada."
Stand Up for Science protests took place across the country today,and there were rallies in 17 cities. Scientists and citizens took to the streets, demanding the government allow scientists to speak more freely.
Evidence for Democracy organized the rallies in cities across Canada, including Vancouver. The non-profit is raising concerns about ongoing cuts to scientific institutions, constraints on government scientists’ abilities to talk about their work in public and increasing investment in research and technology at the expense of basic research.
Stewart modelled his motion after a similar directive from the Obama administration.
"(The motion) doesn't just stop the muzzling, it encourgaes scientists to speak," he said.
For more on the group, go to evidencefordemocracy.ca.
To see Paul Cipywnyk's Flickr photostream of the event, click here.
