Evidence For Democracy Explained

Evidence for Democracy (E4D) is a non-partisan Canadian non-profit organization which advocates for evidence-based policy-making in the government. It was co-founded by Katie Gibbs (executive director) and Scott Findlay in 2012.[1] [2] [3]

History

In July 2012, prior to forming E4D, Katie Gibbs was one of the organizers for the Death of Evidence protest in Ottawa.[4] [5] Over 2,000 scientists and supporters attended the protest, which was in the form of a mock funeral, to protest then Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government funding cuts to basic science research and in response to Bill C-38.[6] [7] The protest's success prompted Gibbs to co-found E4D.[8]

Organization

E4D advocates for evidence-based policy-making and to build a national culture where science and evidence are valued.[9] E4D primarily launches issue-based campaigns to address current issues which affect science, alongside panels, lectures, workshops and documentary screenings, to provide knowledge and skill-based training to the scientific community, as well as the broader public.

Notable campaigns

On 16 September 2013, E4D collaborated with local organizers to hold Stand Up for Science protests in 17 cities (including Toronto and Vancouver), to voice concerns for the state of science in Canada.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Previous science advocacy, coupled with the Stand Up for Science protests across Canada, helped place science as a key campaign issue in the 2015 Canadian federal elections.[15]

In March 2016, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and E4D submitted an open letter with over 5,000 Canadians signatures, to the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister Navdeep Bains, and Minister Kirsty Duncan, to safeguard government scientists' right to speak through collective agreements.[16] [17] [18] In July 2018, following lobbying, the Canadian federal government introduced guidelines for scientific integrity.[19] [20] [21] [22]

In September 2017, E4D launched a petition, on behalf of the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL), to advocate for funding for PEARL's research into Canadian atmospheric climate science.[23] [24] [25] As a result of this petition and lobbying from others, the Canadian government allocated $1.6 million to allow PEARL's continued operation until fall of 2019. E4D is currently campaigning for long-term PEARL funding, and to re-introduce funding for the six Canadian climate science projects (members of the Climate Change and Atmospheric Research program) which lost their funding.[26] [27]

Throughout 2018, E4D collaborated with local organizers to host the March for Science in 10 Canadian cities (St. John's, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor, Winnipeg, Regina, Vancouver and Victoria) on Saturday 14 April 2018.[28] [29] [30] [31] In mid-2018, E4D partnered with others to launch a campaign to return environmental and natural resource decision-making to public interest, advocating for the public to contact their representative and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy.[32] This campaign aims to address the British Columbia government's professional reliance system.

On 8 August 2019, a call to vote for science was published by The Narwhal.[33] This campaign was also promoted by the E4D just because they stand for funding structures, integration of science into policy and transparency and openness.

During March 2023, virtual weekly video sessions were presented as part of the organization's Evidence Matters campaign. Recordings are available on YouTube[34]

Notes and References

  1. News: Evidence For Democracy. Evidence For Democracy. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825155544/https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/about. 2018-08-25. live.
  2. Web site: Dr. Katie Gibbs: Scientists call for evidence based decisions by governments. The Vancouver Observer. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180703222043/https://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/earthmatters/ottawa-scientist-calls-evidence-based-decisions-canadas-government. 2018-07-03. live.
  3. News: Scientist urges straight talk on research ahead of federal vote. 9 October 2015. The Globe and Mail. Ivan. Semeniuk. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230015004/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/scientist-urges-straight-talk-on-research-ahead-of-federal-vote/article26764369/. 2016-12-30. live.
  4. News: Scientists stage mock funeral to protest cuts to research. Smith. Teresa. 2012-07-09. Canada.com. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825004439/http://www.canada.com/business/Scientists+stage+mock+funeral+protest+cuts+research/6913396/story.html. 2018-08-25. live.
  5. News: Scientists rally on Parliament Hill to mourn 'death of evidence' . CBC News. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180613193037/http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/scientists-rally-on-parliament-hill-to-mourn-death-of-evidence-1.1237215. 2018-06-13. live.
  6. News: A rough guide to Bill C-38 - Macleans.ca. 2012-06-06. Macleans.ca. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826120515/https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/a-rough-guide-to-bill-c-38/. 2018-08-26. live.
  7. News: Scientists march to Parliament Hill to protest 'death of evidence'. Global News. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825003137/https://globalnews.ca/news/264793/scientists-march-to-parliament-hill-to-protest-death-of-evidence-3/. 2018-08-25. live.
  8. News: Looking Back at Canada's Political Fight Over Science. Zhang. Sarah. 2017-01-26. The Atlantic. 2018-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826113411/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/canada-war-on-science/514322/. 2018-08-26. live.
  9. News: An Interview with Dr. Katie Gibbs. 2016-04-01. In-Sight Publishing. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825003009/https://in-sightjournal.com/2016/04/01/an-interview-with-dr-katie-gibbs-2/#_ftn9#_ftn9. 2018-08-25. live.
  10. News: When scientists become activists University Affairs. University Affairs. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002541/https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/when-scientists-become-activists/. 2018-08-25. live.
  11. News: Scientists push campaign for evidence-based decision making from government. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825105427/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/scientists-aim-to-put-state-of-canadian-research-in-the-public-spotlight-with-demonstrations/article14332546/. 2017-08-25. live.
  12. Web site: Scientists stand up across Canada Fédération des sciences humaines. www.idees-ideas.ca. fr. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080754/https://www.idees-ideas.ca/blog/scientists-stand-across-canada. 2018-08-26. live.
  13. News: Stop stifling science, protesters tell Ottawa . CBC News. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180731073401/https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/stand-up-for-science-rallies-target-federal-government-1.1855977. 2018-07-31. live.
  14. News: Stand Up for Science!. 2013-08-28. Evidence For Democracy. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080843/https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/content/stand-science. 2018-08-26. live.
  15. News: Canada's complicated history with scientific freedom. Global News. 2018-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826082356/https://globalnews.ca/news/3397989/canada-history-march-for-science/. 2018-08-26. live.
  16. Web site: Science integrity enshrined in collective agreements. Evidence For Democracy. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080851/https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/sites/default/files/letter-pipsc-e4d-e.pdf. 2018-08-26. live.
  17. News: Success! Science integrity enshrined in collective agreements. 2016-12-12. Evidence For Democracy. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080854/https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/success-science-integrity. 2018-08-26. live.
  18. News: Trudeau government has more to do to combat Harper-era muzzling of scientists: report. Global News. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825003953/https://globalnews.ca/news/4090046/trudeau-harper-muzzling-scientists/. 2018-08-25. live.
  19. Russell. Erin. 2015-10-20. We deserve a government that respects scientific integrity. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 187. 15. 1107. 10.1503/cmaj.151006. 0820-3946. 4610828. 26391718.
  20. News: Ottawa unveils integrity rules to shield scientists from interference. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180823122517/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-unveils-integrity-rules-to-shield-scientists-from-interference/. 2018-08-23. live.
  21. News: Canada moves to protect its federal scientists from political interference. 2018-07-30. National Observer. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825003002/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/07/30/news/canada-moves-protect-its-federal-scientists-political-interference. 2018-08-25. live.
  22. News: Canadian scientists welcome new research integrity policy. Chemistry World. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080758/https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/canadian-scientists-welcome-new-research-integrity-policy/3009355.article. 2018-08-26. live.
  23. News: Save PEARL. 2017-09-13. Evidence For Democracy. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080909/https://evidencefordemocracy.ca/en/save-pearl. 2018-08-26. live.
  24. News: Liberals struggling to reverse Harper's cuts to climate science. 2017-09-05. National Observer. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825002852/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/09/05/news/liberals-struggling-reverse-harpers-cuts-climate-science. 2018-08-25. live.
  25. News: Arctic climate research lab granted federal funding in late reprieve. 2017-11-08. The Globe and Mail. 2018-08-24.
  26. News: There's a 'crisis looming' for Canadian climate research, scientists warn. 2018-01-22. National Observer. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826113415/https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/01/22/news/theres-crisis-looming-canadian-climate-research-scientists-warn. 2018-08-26. live.
  27. Web site: Canadian climate science faces crisis that may be felt globally, scientists warn. Kassam. Ashifa. 2018-01-22. The Guardian. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183036/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/22/canada-climate-science-faces-looming-crisis. 2018-08-26. live.
  28. News: Science busking in the ByWard Market this Saturday. 2018-04-13. Ottawa Citizen. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150148/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/science-busking-in-the-byward-market-this-saturday. 2018-08-26. live.
  29. News: March for Science returns for a second year. 2018-04-17. ScienceBorealis.ca Blog. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826113452/http://blog.scienceborealis.ca/march-for-science-returns-for-a-second-year/. 2018-08-26. live.
  30. News: March for Science Toronto. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080744/https://sciencemarchto.ca/. 2018-08-26. live.
  31. Web site: Ottawa March for Science promotes and opens up evidence-based dialogue to the public – Apt613. apt613.ca. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180825073810/http://apt613.ca/march-for-science/. 2018-08-25. live.
  32. News: B.C.'s big opportunity to fix under-regulated industry is here (and you've probably never heard of it) The Narwhal. The Narwhal. 2018-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080737/https://thenarwhal.ca/b-c-s-big-opportunity-to-fix-under-regulated-industry-is-here-and-youve-probably-never-heard-of-it/. 2018-08-26. live.
  33. Web site: In the age of misinformation, advocates call for Canadians to vote for science. Thomson. Jimmy. 8 August 2019. The Narwhal. en. 2020-02-09.
  34. Web site: E4D weekly virtual sessions, recordings released on YouTube. .

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