The Lancet Global Health, Volume 2, Issue 5, Pages e264 - e265, May 2014 Copyright
© 2014 Simms. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC
BY-NC-ND Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Join the debate and follow the discussion on The Lancet Global Health Blog. A
generation ago, Canada was perceived to be an exemplary global citizen
by the rest of the world: it took the lead on a host of international
issues, including the Convention of Child Rights, freedom of
information, acid rain, world peacekeeping, sanctions against South
Africa's apartheid regime, and humanitarian and development
assistance—much of this under conservative leadership. During
recent years, Canada's reputation as a global citizen has slipped, in
recent months more precipitously than ever before, and in new
directions. The Climate Action Network1 recently ranked Canada 55th of 58 countries in tackling of greenhouse emissions. Results of other analyses2
show a government systematically removing obstacles to resource
extraction initiatives by gutting existing legislation, cutting budgets
of relevant departments, and eliminating independent policy and
arms-length monitoring bodies. Canada's
reputation is further undercut by its silencing of government scientists
on environmental and public health issues: scientists are required to
receive approval before they speak with the media; they are prevented
from publishing; and, remarkably, their activities are individually
monitored at international conferences.3
These actions have outraged local and international scientific
communities. A survey done in December, 2013, of 4000 Canadian federal
government scientists showed that 90% felt they are not allowed to speak
freely to the media about their work, and that, faced with a
departmental decision that could harm public health, safety, or the
environment, 86% felt they would encounter censure or retaliation for
doing so.4
These trends are affected by the Canadian leadership's view that
multilateralism is a “weak-nation policy”, and by its embrace of what it
calls “sovereign self-interest”,5
perceived as the conspicuous pursuit of economic goals and goals of
resource-extraction industries. This world view is reflected in Prime
Minister Stephen Harper's response to demands for him to end asbestos
mining when he promised that “this government will not put Canadian
[asbestos] industry in a position where it is discriminated against in a
market where it is permitted”6—a response that cast a pall over all Canadian environmental issues. Domestically,
claims by Canada's First Nations communities (whose traditional lands
and territories encompass many of the country's natural resources), that
environment and livelihoods are being destroyed by the oil sands,
tailing ponds, and pipelines used in the oil industry, have been met by
the Government tightening the flow of information. In addition to
muzzling its scientists, the Government eliminated Statistics Canada's
long-form census (a key source of data on vulnerable groups), defunded
the First Nations Statistical Institute, shied from adequately measuring
toxic air pollutants, and engaged the Canadian Security Intelligence
Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police to monitor Aboriginal
activists and environmental groups, subsequently sharing this
information with industry stakeholders.7
Revelations in January 2014, that the watchdog body mandated to oversee
these agencies is led by lobbyists for the resource industries have
startled even the most seasoned observers.8 Previously
a leader in freedom of information, Canada is frequently cited for its
decline in openness, most recently by the Center for Law and Democracy,
in co-operation with the Madrid-based Access Info Europe, which ranked
it 55th of 93 countries, down from 40th in 2011.9 Harper
defends withdrawal of federal funding for non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) that are critical of governmental policy, a
reversal of a 50 year tradition of non-partisan support for civil
society, saying: “if it's the case that we're spending on organisations
that are doing things contrary to government policy, I think that is an
inappropriate use of taxpayer's money and we'll look to eliminate it.”10
Consistent with this logic, the Government was able to continue funding
NGOs skeptical of global warming and supportive of the asbestos
industries.6 As
for proscribing a way forward, it makes no sense to make
recommendations that presume a level of political commitment that does
not exist. However, if “self-interest”5
is the motivating force behind this Government's actions, it ought to
develop and implement a global health strategy. Such a strategy would
help set priorities, guide decision-making, and create efficiency and
cooperation. A global health strategy would also prompt greater fairness
and, with less to hide, greater transparency. I declare that I have no competing interests. References1 German Watch. The climate change performance index: results 2013. http://germanwatch.org/en/download/7158.pdf. (accessed April 6, 2014). 2 Holmes B. How Canada's green credentials fell apart. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328585.900-how-canadas-green-credentials-fell-apart.html#.Us6PArQeneD. (accessed April 6, 2014). 3 Jones N. Canada to investigate muzzling of scientists. http://blogs.nature.com/news/2013/04/canada-to-investigate-muzzling-of-scientists.html. (accessed April 6, 2014). 4 The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. The big chill: silencing public interest science, a survey. http://www.pipsc.ca/portal/page/portal/website/issues/science/bigchill. (accessed April 6, 2014). 5 Black D, Donaghy G. Manifestations of multilateralism. http://www3.carleton.ca/cfpj/issue-archive-16.2.html. (accessed April 6, 2014). 6 Benzie R. Harper defends asbestos export despite cancer risks. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2011/04/26/harper_defends_asbestos_exports_despite_cancer_risks.html. (accessed April 6, 2014). 7 Hume M. RCMP, intelligence agency accused of spying on pipeline opponents. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/csis-rcmp-accused-of-spying-on-pipeline-opponents/article16726444/. (accessed April 6, 2014). 8 Watson G. Other spy watchdogs have ties to oil business. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/other-spy-watchdogs-have-ties-to-oil-business-1.2491093. (accessed April 6, 2014). 9 Center for Law and Democracy and Access Info Europe. RTI rankings. http://www.rti-rating.org/country_data.php. (accessed April 6, 2014). 10 Kaplan G. Stephen Harper and the tyranny of majority government. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/second-reading/stephen-harper-and-the-tyranny-of-majority-government/article4268008/. (accessed April 6, 2014) a Dalhousie University, Health Services Administration, 5599 Fenwick Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 1R2, Canada |
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