Premier Danielle Smith’s government received fresh criticism on April 15, following concerns Bill 18’s oversight over federal deals with provincial entities, could stifle academic freedom and research in Alberta.
Bill 18—called the Provincial Priorities Act—would require permission from the Alberta Government for all intergovernmental agreements proposed between the federal government or entities and Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, and by extension, researchers employed at those institutions.
Among the concerns put forward by faculty associations and academic researchers, is that Bill 18 politicizes what has traditionally been an expert-based, arms-length approval process for research funding.
Dr. Lee Easton, President of the Mount Royal Faculty Association and a Professor at Mount Royal University, said that there was concern over the academic freedom to perform research in diverse topic areas—and by researchers who have been previously criticized by members of the government.
“This is really causing a lot of worry among our heart members. I actually spoke with a member today who is really worried that her [Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council] grant would actually be exactly the claim that will get canceled,” he said.
“Our policy studies department, people over in science who are doing research on energy transition, and then those who are working around equity, diversity and inclusion issues. We’ve got faculty who are doing work around women’s issues, gender issues, trans issues, and those are very clearly the kinds of grants that Premier Smith seems to have in her sights.”
Among the research that Mount Royal University also performs, is research for Canada’s national defence—a topic of research that Dr. Easton said would possibly resonate to the effects of the Bill.
“National Security is a really good one, and perhaps one that’ll resonate with a lot of people. But many research grants are actually partnership grants with other researchers across the country,” he said.
“There doesn’t seem to be any thought given to how the Alberta government would say no to this research project, which is partnership research with others across the country, and how that will be played out.”
Funding for national defence, via the federal government as part of the NATO DIANA initiative, was announced for the University of Alberta and for SAIT in March.
Questions sent by LWC to Premier Smith, who sponsored Bill 18 in the legislature, about whether exceptions would be made for areas of national interest, either through legislation or regulations, were not acknowledged by the time of publication of this story.
A later response by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Advanced Education, focused on Bill 18 providing what they said would be Albertan’s fair share of federal tax dollars, to be spent on provincial priorities.
“The approval process will be determined through stakeholder engagement and the regulatory development process. We will be working closely with post-secondary institutions to determine what funding agreements are already in place,” said the spokesperson.
“We will be looking at all available options to establish a streamlined approval process that avoids adding administrative burden on affected organizations. Albertans are proud of our of internationally recognized, high-quality system of post-secondary education. We value our partnerships with post-secondary institutes and are committed to ensuring federal grants support the interests of Alberta.”
Minister defends bill, saying it’s not to remove funding but to align objectives
Minister of Advanced Education, Rajan Sawhney, defended the bill before reporters at the legislature on April 11, saying that the intent was not to stop funding for research.
“I don’t believe the intent of this bill is to stop funding. It’s to have an understanding and knowledge and information about what is being funded. We want to make sure that this funding does align with provincial priorities,” she said to the Edmonton Journal.
That newspaper reported that Minister Sawhney claimed the Alberta Government had no idea about how over $500 million in federal funds were being spent by researchers at post-secondary institutions.
Premier Smith, rejected the idea that ideology was behind Bill 18 during her announcement of the legislation on April 10.
“I’d ask the federal government the same way, how are they politically interfering by using their federal spending power to fund certain research projects? That’s what we’re worried about, is that the federal government is doing that,” she said.
“They fund in a certain way based on a certain ideology, and that’s what we’re going to be able to determine once that becomes a lot more transparent.”
The government’s statements dumbfounded the faculty association, Dr. Easton said.
“There was no consultation with anyone in the sector, certainly not with the faculty associations. The provincial faculty association had no idea that this was coming down the pike. As a consequence, we are totally concerned. Particularly as the Premier has made these kinds of assertions about how federal research funding works that actually are wrong,” Easton said.
He said that grant decisions are made entirely at arms length, and selected for quality through an expert peer review process.
“The Trudeau Government does not give out federal research grants. They are adjudicated through a peer review process that is comprised of researchers from across the country. When somebody is awarded a research grant from one of the tri-agencies, it means that it has reached the highest possible standard,” Easton said.
That competitive process to receive grant funding is disclosed by the tri-agencies, as are recipients of that funding. The Government of Canada also discloses recipients, funding among, and project aims through its proactive disclosure of grant funding.
Decisions on federal grant funding not made by political parties
Dr. Gordon Swaters, President of the Association of Academic Staff of the University of Alberta and a Professor of Mathematical and Statistical Science at the University of Alberta, writing on Bill 18 said that the risk of the government asking for alignment on its priorities risks colouring research coming from Alberta post-secondary institutions as propaganda.
“There should be no political interference by a provincial or the federal government, or any political party, of grant funding. The public is entitled to research institutions that produce research free of interference by any political party,” Swaters wrote.
Those concerns of politicization of research were also expressed by Dr. Dan O’Donnell, President of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations.
“High-quality medicine, science, and policy depends on ethical research practices. That means judging research on its own merits and not on the basis of whether the Premier likes what she sees,” he said.
“The question I ask myself when I am prescribed a drug or rely on science-based policy is whether it is safe and ethical, not whether the leader of the UCP thinks it will help her win an election.”
That lack of interference into the research, said Dr. Easton, is something that is frequently signed into agreements between universities and faculty associations.
“Academic freedom means that I as a faculty member can pursue a line of inquiry that my research shows can be pursued further, and contribute to the development of the field. As a consequence, this is how innovation occurs,” Easton said.
“Universities, as a rule, have provisions for academic freedom in their collective agreement. One of our concerns is for our colleagues in the colleges here in Alberta, who don’t always have academic freedom as part of their collective agreement, and so are even more vulnerable.”
Top talent to go elsewhere where there is no interference
Easton said that another set of risks posed to Alberta’s institutions, and to Alberta’s economy by Bill 18, was the effect that federal grant funding has on attracting and keeping talent.
“Most of those grants go towards students. At Mount Royal, we have research assistants, and that provides students not only with opportunities to help with their expenses going to university but also allows them to engage in front line cutting edge research,” He said.
“If we don’t have those federal funds, we don’t see a provincial government stepping up to replace them. So, not only are they continuing their posterity budget, which has seen over $500 million taken out of the post-secondary system in the last four years, but now they want to take even more money out that will suit their particular stance.”
The net effect, said Dr. Easton, is that researchers and the dollars that follow will go elsewhere.
“I think we’re going to see a chilling effect, where people simply decide that there are areas of inquiry that are too dangerous, too unpredictable, to engage in,” he said.
“This is a competitive market, and this is definitely not making us more competitive.”
