SAC Meeting Minutes - October 23, 2023

1

Welcome

Waheed

2

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement & PIPSC Code of Respect

Waheed

3

Review and approval of draft agenda

All

4

Approval of previous meeting minutes

Previous minutes are adopted in principle. Any edits can be made within one week secretarially.

Marielle to send them in translation and post them on the website.

All

5

Action items from last meeting minutes
 

5.1 Draft a concept note for the Science Symposium.

5.2 Organize kiosk at the AGM 2023

Waheed

6

Organizing SAC meeting dates for 2023

Next meeting date is November 13, 2023

Waheed

7

SAC Strategic Operational Plan

7.1 Scientific Integrity Policy:

Monthly meetings with SIP Focal Points are regularly taking place. Focal Points share progress on SIP in their departments/agencies as well as challenges, and they are provided support.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is a challenging case, where the Department does not properly consult with the Consultation Team President, and maintains that their SIP applies only to a branch that employs scientists.

Waheed participated in a meeting with the Consultation Team President and ISED management on October 19, 2023. He reminded management that: 1) SIP is a Departmental Policy, and should be clear that it applies to the whole department. 2) Consultation with the PIPSC Consultation Team President should not wait till the policy is finalized. It should be an ongoing process, as mentioned in the TBS policy. 3) Regarding the Governance structure, he suggested moving the President of PIPSC Consultation President Box into the internal consultation process (left side with a solid line), rather than in the parallel consultation process with stakeholders outside the Department. It should be integrated in the Departmental (internal) process.

He reminded management of its responsibility for meaningful consultation with PIPSC and advised management that according to TBS, “Consultation, through communication and sustained dialogue between management and bargaining agents, can contribute to the enhancement of the relationships between the parties. Accordingly it is essential that the senior officials of both management and bargaining agents be committed to continuously enhancing and improving the process. Consultation is essential in building relationships; it is an on-going process not limited to formal meetings between the parties.” He also shared Environment and Climate Change Canada’s SIP which applies to the whole Department, like many other Departments/Agencies.

He shared with ISED management selection from ECCC’s SIP, which states, “ECCC is committed to protecting and promoting the principles of Scientific Integrity and ethical standards. By making scientific integrity a key value of our department culture, we will remain a credible science-based regulator and policy maker, and an authoritative source of scientific information. This means working in a manner that is transparent and open while ensuring a high quality of work, avoiding conflicts of interests and ensuring high standards of impartiality and research ethics.

This policy outlines how we conduct, deliver and communicate ECCC science and research. It also helps build on existing practices to:

• foster a culture within ECCC that supports and promotes scientific integrity and excellence
• maintain and strengthen public trust in the credibility and reliability of ECCC research and science
• enhance ECCC employees’ understanding of the contributions of research and science to evidence-informed decision-making”

It was agreed to look into preparing a Scientific Integrity Quiz that can be used at the AGM, to engage delegates and to create awareness.

7.2 SIP Training Update:

Stewards and consultation teams have been waiting for the PIPSC Scientific Integrity Training that was offered by PIPSC last year. It has been delayed. In May 2023, SAC proposed to the Board to direct the Training Section to update, in consultation with SAC the course schedule and to offer another three virtual sessions. The Board has directed staff to organize the training with input from SAC, on a priority basis. Participants expressed concern on the delay and lack of engagement on how input from participants and SAC has been integrated in the course.

Waheed shared his experience attending the pilot SIP training provided by the Canada School of Public Service. He provided input to CSPS. The training is geared towards research scientists and is quite technical.

Canada School of Public Service is launching its new course on Scientific Integrity Policy in the coming days, called “Strengthening Evidence-Informed Government Decision-Making”, under the course code TRN502. Please watch out for it, if you are interested in attending. The School is also offering three new online courses for Federal Public Servants, which you can attend. Applying Climate Literacy Foundations, Contributing to a Net-Zero Canada and Adapting to Changing Climate in Canada. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources.

7.3 Reach out to member to share their stories

It was noted that Waheed had reached out to the responsible Director, and will continue to follow up.

1. 4. Science Symposium

Waheed will draft a concept note and share it with members.

Waheed

All

8

WiS updates

It was noted that some SAC members are not receiving any messages organized by PIPSC, such as WiS webinars.

All

9

Board Update:

• Following up on SAC action, a proposal was submitted to the Board to extend the term of SAC to three years (one more year this term) so that a Board appoints chair and members when it is elected, for its entire three-year term. The proposal has not been considered by the Board because of the crowded agenda and other urgent issues.
• The AGM organizing committee did not accept SAC’s request to hold a meeting of SAC at the margin of the AGM, saying they are not able to accommodate meetings of committees or any constitutional bodies this year. There are also other reasons which will make the organization of additional meetings during the AGM challenging. However, it has agreed to provide a science booth/kiosk. We have received considerable interest from members in the kiosk to promote scientific integrity and public science for the public good.
• SAC members attending the AGM will tend to the Science Kiosk, taking turns.

Waheed

10

Miscellaneous:

• TBS is looking for savings, which will no doubt pose challenges for public science. There might be similar cost-cutting challenges for separate employers, which we should take into consideration. PIPSC calls on the Treasury Board to balance the books by increasing tax revenue and decreasing contracting out
• Recommendations to appoint PIPSC members to the Canadian Labour Congress Committees have been prepared, and Waheed has been recommended to serve on the Environment Committee. SAC members expressed their support.
• Waheed thanked participants for their input into the PIPSC Draft Environmental Policy, which has been accepted by the Acting VM Mark Muench. The Policy will be considered by the Board, for approval.
• Add the names of SAC members and friends to the SIP Focal Points distribution list and WiS distribution list. (Action: Lionel)
• Prepare a Scientific Integrity Quiz for PIPSC AGM 2023. (Action: Waheed, Lionel)

All