OTTAWA – Scientists will gather in Ottawa today to stage what’s billed as a funeral procession to mourn the death of evidence.
The protest sponsored by the Council of Canadians is scheduled to begin at the Ottawa Convention Centre at 12 p.m. ET and proceed to Parliament Hill.
The Council says scientific evidence plays a key role guiding the decisions of Canadian leaders but has been silenced due to what it calls a “series of severe injuries.”
It cites cuts to research programs in Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, Statistics Canada and elsewhere.
The Council also decries cuts to the National Science Adviser, Law Commission of Canada, and National Round Table on Environment and Economy.
Dr. Scott Findlay, associate professor and former director the University of Ottawa’s Institute of Environment, says the “death of Evidence is a cause for national mourning.”
He said in a release there is “systematic campaign to reduce the flow of scientific evidence to Canadians.”
“As a result, the public hears and sees only information that supports federal government policy or ideology. That’s not evidence, that’s propaganda.”
Speakers are expected to address the rally include Council chair Maude Barlow and Ted Hsu, the Liberal Party critic for science and technology.
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