Ottawa (August 22, 2019)
The 352 Canadian scientists who signed the letter take issue with Elections Canada’s interpretation of the Elections Act that paid advertising that is communicating facts around climate change would require organizations and individuals to register as a third party.
“The weight of scientific evidence and consistent cross-party political support for major international climate efforts makes absolutely clear that the existence of climate change is not up for debate,” said Dr. Marie Claire Brisbois, Assistant Professor at the University of Sussex. “Given this scientific consensus, we don’t think that organizations and individuals should have to register as a third party in order to advertise to Canadians on the existence of climate change.”
“The bureaucratic process of registering in order to share non-partisan science may stifle evidence-based discussion on climate change during both a crucial democratic process and a critical period for climate action.” said Dr. Christopher Lyon, Research Fellow at the University of Leeds. “Together, these items set a chilling precedent for the discussion of science-based concerns.”
While Elections Canada did recently clarify the rules in response to media and public outcry, concerns remain about how the act applies to scientific information upon which there is a clear consensus. In the clarification, Elections Canada highlights that the Elections Act does not “make a distinction between facts and opinion”.
Identifying climate change as an issue which could require registration under certain conditions does take a position on climate change. It presents the existence of human-caused climate change as something that is up for debate.
The 352 open letter signatories are all Canadian researchers who are working in Canada or abroad and include 8 Canada Research Chairs.
The response from Canadian scientists reveals their concern beyond the details of interpretation of the Elections Act. Canadian scientists are overwhelmingly frustrated and deeply troubled that the science of climate change is still being treated as a matter of debate. Failing to acknowledge the reality of our situation is putting our lives and livelihoods, and those of our loved ones, at risk.
Full text of the letter is available here.
