Last July, CAN sent five questions to the Liberal, Conservative, NPD and Green party in advance of the upcoming federal elections, which we have summarized below. Read our full questions, with context, here.
The Green Party of Canada responded first. The questions were submitted to Mrs. Amita Kuttner, Shadow Minister of Science and Innovation for the Green Party of Canada – her response is copied here:
July 2019 – Here are our official answers to your questions at the moment. This is not our entire scientific platform, more will be announced in time.
Q1. Is your Party committed to fully implementing the report of the Fundamental Science Review (Naylor report) with additional financial investment into open competitions to maintain Canada as a forefront leader in research innovation and research discoveries?
A1. The Green Party supports the Naylor Report, and plans to implement the recommendations in order to strengthen research and science in Canada
Q2. How do you see the role of government in research?
A2. We believe in the freedom of the scientific agencies to determine their own priorities, through peer reviewed decision making, and we will commit to full implementation of Scientific Integrity policies, especially for all government departments.
Q3. How would your government work to balance the need for both applied and curiosity-driven basic research?
A3. Basic science is crucial, and will be funded by the Green Party, instead of prioritizing industrial partnerships and putting profits above knowledge.
Q4. How would your government promote and implement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Canada’s research and workforce?
A4. The Green Party supports NSERC’s Framework on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in scientific research, and will commit to strengthen the Canadian scientific and engineering communities to include the full participation of equity-seeking groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people with diverse gender identities and people with disabilities.
Q5. How would your government support trainee development?
A5. We will ensure the Granting Councils are provided with the funding to promote scientific research, and we will support and fund the STEM program, to promote and provide education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Please let me know if you have more questions or would like to discuss further. I am a scientist myself and carry a personal commitment to the scientific community to support it and advocate for research, diversity, and inclusion.
These commitments are also included in the Green plan, published on the Green party website (page 43 of the plan):
https://www.greenparty.ca/sites/default/files/platform_2019_en_web_-_update_sep17.pdf
We look forward to publishing
- The Liberal Party’s response
- The Conservative Party’s response
- The New Democratic Party’s response
