More Canadians say the federal government is on the wrong track when it comes to science and research policy, according to a
public opinion poll released last month.
The survey, conducted by Harris-Decima and commissioned by CAUT, found that 44 per cent of respondents had no confidence in the Conservative government’s overall approach to science, compared to a third who support its strategy.
However, when it comes to environmental science Canadians express deep distrust of the government. Half of those polled felt the government is actively trying to suppress evidence of climate change and 6 out of 10 respondents say Harper’s Conservatives are putting the interests of business ahead of the scientific evidence.
Suspicion of the government also extends to concerns about the muzzling of federal scientists and recent high profile closures of research programs like the Experimental Lakes Area in Northern Ontario.
Of those who say they are aware of the allegations that Ottawa is preventing government scientists and researchers from speaking to the media or the public without prior approval, 83 per cent say the policy is wrong.
When asked what they felt about recent cuts to research programs, 37 per cent of those polled felt the cuts were wrong because the scientific work being done was critically important, while the same number said the government was trying to silence voices critical of its policies.
While Canadians are suspicious of the actions of the federal government around science funding and policy, they continue to have a high degree of trust in the scientific community.
When asked who should decide what scientific research should be funded, 63 per cent of respondents said university-based researchers, followed by 10 per cent who felt industry should have the primary say. Eight per cent said government should be trusted to make decisions about the scientific importance of projects.
The poll also revealed shifts in the current political landscape, showing the federal liberals leading in popular support at 32.6 per cent on the heels of Justin Trudeau’s election as party leader. The Conservative Party is a few points behind at 29.6 per cent, while the NDP has dropped to third place at 22.4 per cent.
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The Harris-Decima poll results are based on telephone interviews with a representative survey of 2,000 adult Canadians. The poll was conducted between April 11 and April 22, 2013 and results are considered accurate to within 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.