Science and Technology  Mr. Speaker, in the budget a targeted area of R and D under the eco-energy innovation initiative is advanced energy storage: batteries. The National Research Council is undergoing a big reorganization. Scientists are waiting to learn if they have a future at NRC, including

Copyright Modernization Act   could be made clearer. Forgive me for throwing out this example, but I often find that in my experience as a scientist, if people disagree about something we should really sit down and look at the numbers and write down the equations, put everything on the table and define the terms

Science and Technology  Mr. Speaker, in December, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave an administrative order on scientific integrity, telling its scientists to speak freely to the public and to the press about their research. Canadian government scientists do not have freedom

Government Communications  Mr. Speaker, the government cannot admit the truth that Conservatives are against free speech for scientists. Yesterday Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' scientific integrity program, spoke about the muzzling of Canadian scientists calling

Senate Reform Act   possibilities. One that I like is establishing a committee to identify individuals in our country who are very experienced, who have played an important role and who are not usually active in politics. I am thinking of leading scientists, for example. It is very difficult to work

Science and Technology  Mr. Speaker, today, The Globe and Mail calls for an end to muzzling scientists. BBC News has let the world know that Canadian government scientists do not have free speech. The prestigious international journal Nature states that “it is time for the Canadian government to set

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act  Madam Speaker, the Conservatives talk about tax cuts and the future in the same breath. However, cutting Environment Canada's budget, eviscerating environmental legislation, suppressing dissenting opinions and muzzling government scientists increases the risk of major

House debate  Mr. Speaker, I am very impressed that the Parliamentary Secretary is staying to answer all three questions. Canadian government scientists are not free to talk about their research. I am not asking for government scientists to have the ability to talk about government policy. I

Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act   and three and see which one works the best”. Scientists work best when they do practical work in the world but they are allowed to step back and ask why things are the way they are and they are given the resources and are encouraged to try to answer that question. Second, basic research

Business of Supply   we should try to encourage businesses to invest more in research and development or whether we should encourage industry-academic partnerships. What we are debating is whether, when government scientists give the government advice that it does not want to hear because

Business of Supply   scientific community and science journalists have spoken up and called upon the government to stop muzzling scientists. In the United States, government scientists have been encouraged to talk about their research and even give their personal opinions about government policy, as long

Business of Supply  , notwithstanding what the minister has said. We heard it from all the scientists who have written in to comment and strongly disagree with what the Minister of State for Science and Technology is saying. It clear from the budget, for example, of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research

Business of Supply   that scientists have been looking at to pay for needed equipment or for equipment repair is the indirect costs of research program. Therefore, they are going to be hitting up the universities to get money out of the indirect costs of research program. That is going to provide upward pressure

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, rattling off a list of projects that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans spends money on misses the point of the motion. Let me address one of the points of the motion by asking the minister about muzzling scientists and not letting them talk to people. If we

BUSINESS OF SUPPLY  Madam Speaker, in my opinion, this government fears criticism. In the hon. member's opinion, what do the scientists who were muzzled have to say that could scare the government?