Question Period Note: Scientific processes and excellence at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

How is DFO’s science considered in fisheries management decisions?

• The Government of Canada is committed to rebuild a more resilient and inclusive future through continued collaboration and the use of science and evidence-based decision-making.
• The Department ensures high standards of scientific excellence, impartiality, and transparency in its scientific activities.
• I rely on that science on a daily basis and have every confidence in the integrity of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s scientists and the rigourous peer review process that is used to generate science advice.
• My department is proud to have implemented a policy on science integrity which is fundamental to making the right decisions for Canada’s fisheries and oceans.

• As a science-based department, scientific integrity is essential to the work at DFO and of its employees. Scientific integrity is critical to the decision-making process, from the planning and conduct of research to the production of advice and the application of advice to the departmental decision-making processes.
• This Scientific Integrity Policy recognizes the importance of high quality science, free from political, commercial and client interference and the importance of this in the decision-making processes utilized by the Department. The policy applies to all who plan, produce, support or utilize science to make well-informed decisions.
• The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) coordinates the production of peer-reviewed science advice for DFO. Science advice is prepared both nationally and through DFO’s regional offices.
• The CSAS provides a formal, transparent process for the delivery of science advice to the department’s decision makers. Advice might relate to the state of an ecosystem, the impacts of a human activity, the effectiveness of a mitigation strategy or another subject related to DFO’s mandate.

• The publication of scientific papers in external technical journals is a process between researchers and the science journals themselves.
• A systematic, independent approach is used to help advance scientific understanding.
• This approach generally results in the authors agreeing on the contents of the paper being submitted, as well as the journal being satisfied there was a rigorous review. I fully support this independent process.