It has been discovered that managers at Health Canada are concerned that the gutting of Health Canada library resources by Her Majesty’s Government will make the department less credible, and hurt the department’s ability to make evidence-based decisions when it comes to Canadians’ health.
A presentation to the Corporate Services Branch of Health Canada, in 2013, indicated that research requests had already dropped 80-90%, and that employees were using “work-around” solutions to access research, such as through having co-op students retrieve materials from public university libraries.
The fact that federal scientists—dealing with Canadians’ health—are being told by supervisors to avoid requesting research materials due to “perceived costs” is very concerning. The fact that every request for research materials needs to be approved is also quite problematic. The Government is demonstrating, through its management of this department, that there really is a “war on science” happening.
The Honourable Rona Ambrose P.C., M.P. (Edmonton—Spruce Grove), the Minister of Health, and this Government should take immediate steps to ensure that Health Canada has timely access to the research that federal scientists need to do their jobs effectively in safeguarding the health of Canadians. This move to “business-led research” across the board (and transforming the National Research Council into on-demand assistant researchers for corporations) will stifle our long-term ability to produce innovative and informed research.
Source: Library changes seen as risk to Health Canada’s credibility (CBC)
A presentation to the Corporate Services Branch of Health Canada, in 2013, indicated that research requests had already dropped 80-90%, and that employees were using “work-around” solutions to access research, such as through having co-op students retrieve materials from public university libraries.
The fact that federal scientists—dealing with Canadians’ health—are being told by supervisors to avoid requesting research materials due to “perceived costs” is very concerning. The fact that every request for research materials needs to be approved is also quite problematic. The Government is demonstrating, through its management of this department, that there really is a “war on science” happening.
The Honourable Rona Ambrose P.C., M.P. (Edmonton—Spruce Grove), the Minister of Health, and this Government should take immediate steps to ensure that Health Canada has timely access to the research that federal scientists need to do their jobs effectively in safeguarding the health of Canadians. This move to “business-led research” across the board (and transforming the National Research Council into on-demand assistant researchers for corporations) will stifle our long-term ability to produce innovative and informed research.
Source: Library changes seen as risk to Health Canada’s credibility (CBC)