Increase openness of federal science activities (Open Science) - Commitment 14

What is the public problem that the commitment will address?

Scientific research and data that have been produced by the Government of Canada are often difficult for citizens to access. The Government of Canada undertakes a wide range of scientific activities, making significant investments in scientific research and knowledge creation that are essential for informing policy choices or decision making, providing services to Canadians, and ultimately supporting sustainable economic growth. At the same time, the Government highlighted its commitment to ensuring that government science is fully available to the public, consistent with its broader pledge for openness and transparency.

What is the commitment?

The Government of Canada will take appropriate steps to make the science performed in support of Government of Canada programs and decision-making open and transparent to Canadians.

How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem?

Relevance to OGP values

This commitment relates to the OGP values of transparency and public accountability.

Deliverables in Action Plan

Expected result

Canadians will have better access to publications and data related to federal science activities. They will also have more engagement opportunities and more avenues to contribute to federal science activities.

Description of results

1. The selection process for the Chief Science Adviser candidate is completed. A decision is forthcoming.

2. Most science-based departments and agencies have posted their lists of peer reviewed publications (2012-15) on open.canada.ca. They have also posted their inventory of datasets, including science data, on open.canada.ca. Many science-based departments and agencies have posted new or updated scientific datasets to open.canada.ca.

   Guidance documents on various topics, common to science-based departments and agencies have been developed.

   The Federal Science Library was launched in March 2017 as a one-stop, self-serve web portal that makes government research and resources visible to all Canadians by connecting them with the collections of seven departmental libraries. View the news release.

3. A consultant report on public engagement was developed and shared with the science-based departments and agencies community. Some science-based departments and agencies are developing guidance and training to support scientific communications to the public. Many departments are using social media and plain language communication in order to enhance scientific communication with the public.
4. A consultant report on metrics was developed and shared with the science-based departments and agencies community.
5. A scoping paper was developed and shared within Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and the science-based departments and agencies community. Together, they are working on an inventory of grants and contributions that support scientific research to inform further discussion on scope.
6. Following the release of the Tri-Agency Statement of Principles on Digital Data Management in June 2015, consultations on the development of a Tri-Agency Policy on Research Data Management began in the spring of 2017 and will continue throughout the summer with key stakeholders in research community and research ecosystem.

Next steps to June 2018

1. Next steps regarding the role of Chief Science Adviser related to federal science accessibility to June 2018 include:
   • Talks between Treasury Board and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada are occurring to implement science integrity elements in the collective agreements for federal scientists. The Chief Science Adviser will likely be asked to help with monitoring the implementation of these agreements and any other measures to support science integrity.
   • The Chief Science Adviser will be expected to promote a positive dialogue between federal scientists and academia, both in Canada and abroad, and to raise awareness of scientific issues amongst the Canadian public. As such, the Chief Science Adviser’s early stakeholder engagement will need to include key decision-makers and senior scientific advisors within science-based departments and agencies, as well as key players within Canada’s major research universities and institutions.

2. Science-based departments and agencies will continue to release datasets through open.canada.ca.

   Open Science considerations will be incorporated into the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Mandatory Procedures for Publishing Open Government Resources document.

3. Science-based departments and agencies will continue to pilot public engagement approaches including social media, webinar, and events.
4. A draft set of metrics will be proposed to science-based departments and agencies for their review.
5. Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and science-based departments and agencies will continue to refine the scope and expectations leading to the development of an open access policy or guidelines by June 2018.
6. Continue with consultations within Canada and internationally (e.g., Research Data Alliance Plenary in Montréal, September 2017). Host an online consultation on the draft policy text in the fall 2017). Develop, approve and post of final policy, targeted for the spring of 2018.

Completion level

1. Substantial
2. Substantial
3. Limited
4. Substantial
5. Limited
6. Substantial