More than 110 former Parks Canada employees are calling on federal opposition parties, if elected on Oct. 19, to launch an investigation into what they believe has been politically motivated silencing and firings of government scientists under the Conservative government.
In an unprecedented open letter to federal opposition leaders, former employees and high-ranking managers warn the firings, including that of Jasper’s chief conservation manager John Wilmshurst, have led to a deep fear within the agency.
The former employees say they are “deeply troubled by the seemingly unjustified and arbitrary firing” in mid-June of well-respected scientist Wilmshurst, which they say appears consistent with the purging of science-based management in Canada’s national parks.
Nik Lopoukhine, one of the letter writers and a former director general of Parks Canada, said the threat of these seemingly arbitrary firings has haunted not just the corridors of Parks Canada, but also those of other federal departments
“There is a real concern with the firing of Dr. Wilmshurst, and this not just about him, but he’s representative of the erosion of science within Parks Canada,” said Lopoukhine.
The federal opposition leaders had not responded to Lopoukine by press time, however, Banff-Airdrie Liberal candidate Marlo Raynolds and Green Party candidate Mike MacDonald both say their respective parties will put an end to the muzzling of scientists.
Banff-Airdrie incumbent Conservative Blake Richards and NDP hopeful Joanne Boissonneault did not get back to the Outlook.
Raynolds said the Liberals plan to name a chief science officer whose job would be to make sure government science is publicly available, as well as pump an additional $25 million into Parks Canada’s science budget as part of its environmental platform.
“I think what we’ve seen with the Harper government is a complete attack on all science and all information,” said Raynolds, who also has a science background. “Muzzling scientists, science and research we as taxpayers pay for is unacceptable.”
MacDonald, too, criticized the silencing of scientists.
“It seems to be yet another sad example of a government that refuses to hear any opinion that isn’t in line with their beliefs. If you speak up, you’ll be punished,” he said.
Wilmshurst, who received Parks Canada’s CEO Award of Excellence in 2009 for his contribution to the development of guidelines for ecological protection, and whose career with Parks spanned 15 years, is not commenting on his firing.
Shelley Bird, spokesperson for Parks Canada, declined to comment on the agency’s dismantling of science. She also did not comment on the firing of Wilmshurst.
“This is a human resources matter and Parks Canada does not comment on issues of this nature,” said Bird.
Lopoukhine said Canadians are proud of their national parks and national historic sites and understand maintaining ecological or commemorative integrity can only be achieved with science integrated into park and site management decision-making.
But, he said, there has been a change in direction within Parks Canada in recent years, noting approval of several commercial tourist attractions, including recent approval of Lake Louise site guidelines that pave the way for expansion.
“I served on the review of the ecological integrity report for the auditor general and it was clear 33 per cent of science capacity has been taken away from Parks Canada,” said Lopoukhine.
“There’s also now a corporate interest to expand their opportunities, and it seems to me staff are unable to speak up and decisions are not based on ecological integrity.”
