Report exposes difficulties and interference when media engage federal scientists

Media policies of the Department of National Defence (DND) and National Research Council (NRC) are ranked most highly within the federal government, according to an otherwise gloomy assessment on the systems and procedures by which media must follow to engage scientists employed by science-based departments and agencies.

The report found that DND is the only department that doesn't require pre-approval from media relations officers for scientists to speak to the media, while the NRC is the only agency that allows its scientists to express personal views, as long as they state that their opinions are their own.

Six of the departments and agencies received C- while four — the Canadian Space Agency, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Industry Canada and Natural Resources Canada — were assigned an ‘F' or failing grade.

Only two of the 16 departments and agencies post their media policies online, prompting the report's authors to file access to information requests for another 11. Three departments — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Transport Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission — do not have media policies and were assessed using Treasury Board Secretariat guidelines.

Entitled Can Scientists Speak?, the report was prepared by Evidence for Democracy, a not-for-profit group that advocates for the transparent use of science and evidence in public policy and government decision-making. It recommends:

* making policies easily available for scientists, journalists and the public;

* making it explicit that scientists can speak freely about their research;

* including a "personal views exception" to allow scientists to express their personal opinions; and,

* including provisions to protect whistleblowers and resolve disputes.

FMI: www.evidencefordemocracy.ca.