Evidence-informed decision-making in Canada: How a grassroots movement restored respect for science - Evidence For Democracy

Evidence-informed decision-making in Canada: How a grassroots movement restored respect for science

In 2012, evidence-informed decisions were becoming an endangered species in Canada.

December 12, 2022
10 minute read

In its sixth year in power, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper was making increasingly bold attempts to sideline science in an effort to weaken objections to Conservative policies. The wilful exclusion of science from policy decisions and the muzzling of government scientists eventually sparked a rebellion by scientists and their supporters, leading to the creation of Evidence for Democracy (E4D). Canada’s grassroots movement eventually restored evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in government. This case study explores the events from 2006 to the present to understand what worked and highlight what other jurisdictions may be able to learn and apply from how this was accomplished. Spoiler alert: the creation of a centralized hub like E4D and the availability of scientists who are willing to push for EIDM are indispensable components.

In its sixth year in power, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper was making increasingly bold attempts to sideline science in an effort to weaken objections to Conservative policies. The wilful exclusion of science from policy decisions and the muzzling of government scientists eventually sparked a rebellion by scientists and their supporters, leading to the creation of Evidence for Democracy (E4D). Canada’s grassroots movement eventually restored evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in government. This case study explores the events from 2006 to the present to understand what worked and highlight what other jurisdictions may be able to learn and apply from how this was accomplished. Spoiler alert: the creation of a centralized hub like E4D and the availability of scientists who are willing to push for EIDM are indispensable components.

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Full Case Study

In its sixth year in power, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper was making increasingly bold attempts to sideline science in an effort to weaken objections to Conservative policies. The wilful exclusion of science from policy decisions and the muzzling of government scientists eventually sparked a rebellion by scientists and their supporters, leading to the creation of Evidence for Democracy (E4D). Canada’s grassroots movement eventually restored evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) in government. This case study explores the events from 2006 to the present to understand what worked and highlight what other jurisdictions may be able to learn and apply from how this was accomplished. Spoiler alert: the creation of a centralized hub like E4D and the availability of scientists who are willing to push for EIDM are indispensable components.

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The Evidence for Democracy office is located in Canada’s national capital, Ottawa, Ontario, on the traditional, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. We acknowledge the history and continuation of colonialism across Canada and commit to standing in solidarity with those who were on these lands first.