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“Our government values science and will treat scientists with respect,” he said. “We are working to make government science fully available to the public and will ensure that scientific analyses are considered in decision-making.”

But Daviau said PIPSC is intent on getting “the right to speak” embedded in scientists’ contracts so they can’t be silenced again.

“The Harper record on science for the past nine years was so bad, and caused so much destruction in the capacity of science, that we don’t want to ever be faced with a government like that in the future,” said Daviau. “We want it enshrined in contracts so if another Harper government comes along, it can’t reverse the progress made.”

The union tabled a package of “scientific integrity” demands earlier this year during collective bargaining when the key issue was the Conservatives’ plan for a new short-term disability plan to replace the existing sick-leave regime.

The Liberals have promised to bargain new contracts in good faith, and will reset the ongoing round of bargaining with a “new mandate.” But Daviau said PIPSC won’t be changing its science demands.

PIPSC put science on the national agenda with its “unmuzzling scientists” campaign that drew attention from around the world.

But Daviau said the unmuzzling of scientists is more than letting scientists publicly talk about their research.

Scientists felt they were excluded from the decision-making process and that their advice and evidence wasn’t even considered, she said.