Debi Daviau, right, is the president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Trudeau government is pledging to do “more” to unmuzzle federal scientists and ensure they can freely talk to each other and Canadians about their research.

The promise for more ‘open science’ was laid out in a letter sent to federal scientists that was jointly signed by Treasury Board President Scott Brison, Science Minister Kirsty Duncan and Debi Daviau, president of the Professional Institute of the Public of Canada, the union that represents scientists.

The letter acknowledged more needs to be done to reinforce the government’s election promise to encourage scientists to freely discuss their work after a recent union survey found that half of scientists say they still don’t free to do so.

“We intend to uphold the freedom scientists must have to share their ideas, express their views and speak publicly about their work without fear of reprisal,” said the letter.

“Be assured that we have the patience and perseverance to make this pledge to federal scientists a reality.”

The survey, conducted by PIPSC, found scientists still feel the restraints of the previous Conservative era in the way they are managed with 53 per cent feeling they can’t talk freely.

The union concluded reversing the decade-long chill imposed by the Harper government will take longer than expected.

“Culture change takes time and it appears that, in some areas, we need to do more to reinforce our commitment,” said the letter.

“We wanted to send this joint letter to underscore to all those who practice science in the government that we stand firmly behind the principle that you can discuss your important work with each other and with Canadians, and will work to create more opportunities for you to do so.

PIPSC first threw the spotlight on the Conservatives’ muzzling of scientists with several polls that became the centre of a union campaign that put the role of science in government on the national agenda and later made it an election issue.

The Liberals came to power in November 2015 and immediately announced scientists were free to speak about their work. The government argues it has since taken many steps to open up science and promote evidence-based decision making.

Federal communications policies and other rules were changed, allowing subject matter experts to speak on their areas of expertise without being explicitly designated.

Chief Science Advisor Mona Nemer was appointed and her duties include “examining the issue of scientific integrity within the public service” to bring more “harmony, transparency and clarity” about how scientists can communicate their work.

Federal scientists also became the first to have their right to speak about their work embedded in collective agreements and the government agreed all departments with more than 10 scientists must have scientific integrity policies.

Treasury Board and PIPSC are also developing scientific integrity policies for departments that will further entrench scientists and researchers ability to talk publicly about their work.

The letter comes as government made a significant investment in science, particularly in basic science. It invested $540 million in National Research Council and millions more to help rebuild the government’s own laboratories and infrastructure.