Paul Boothe | Advice for Canada’s newly un-muzzled federal scientists

One of the first courses of action for the new federal government will be the “un-muzzling” of federal government scientists, meaning they will be free to talk to the media about their research.

In his op-ed for Maclean’s, Professor Paul Boothe, Director of Ivey’s Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, addressed the tension between government scientists’ natural desire to discuss their research and their ethical duty to support the government.

“If scientists write or say things publicly that can be interpreted as critical of a lawful government’s decisions, they should be prepared to resign their positions in the public service,” said Boothe.

Can this tension be managed? Boothe says, yes, but only with care and restraint.