Evidence for Democracy - Science Integrity Policies

Canada is on its way to establishing science integrity policies!
Science integrity policies aim to ensure that government science follows the protocols of objectivity, openness, replicability, transparency, and freedom from undue influence.

This is amazing news! We have been pushing for the establishment of robust, progressive science integrity policies since the Liberal government was elected in October 2015. 

Here’s a link to more information about what these policies might look like. 

Objective, sound, and robust science, evidence, and data are needed to inform policy. When government decisions are made on the best available evidence, our health, environment, economy, and communities improve.

Science Integrity Policies (SIPs) are policies aimed to ensure government science follows the protocols of objectivity, openness, replicability, transparency, and freedom from undue influence.

Last December, the Government and PIPSC negotiated the inclusion of government scientists’ right to speak in collective agreements. This means that if the government tries to muzzle scientists, they can file a grievance with their union.

Taking this further, these new agreements between the government and union require that each federal department with more than 10 researchers establish SIPs.