- OTTAWA -- Health Canada has
fired three well-known scientists who have become regular public critics
of department policies, including the use of growth hormone in animals.
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- The three received termination notices yesterday morning,
said Steve Hindle, president of the Professional Institute of the Public
Service. He said he believes the firings were probably linked to the scientists'
history of speaking out against the department.
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- "First reaction has to be that this is retribution
for the whistle-blowing that they've done," Mr. Hindle said. The three,
Shiv Chopra, Margaret Haydon and Gerard Lambert, will appeal the ruling,
he added.
-
- "They'll be filing grievances over the termination,
and we will be representing them."
-
- Mr. Hindle said it's not clear whether so-called whistleblower
legislation that died in the House of Commons before the recent election
was called would have helped the three. He did say the proposed law had
a provision that discipline could not be meted out to a whistle-blower
if it was viewed as retribution.
-
- A Health Canada spokesman said the three were not let
go for their public utterances.
-
- "This is not because of anything they may have said
publicly," said Ryan Baker. "The reasons for our actions with
regard to these individuals are outlined in the letters that are sent to
them."
-
- Mr. Baker said the department supports policies that
give individuals the right to disclose alleged wrongdoing in the workplace.
"We also support the need for strong legislation in this regard."
-
- Mr. Hindle wouldn't share the contents of the letters
of dismissal. He noted, however, that it is not a surprise that Health
Canada would argue that the three scientists were not fired for what they
said, given the climate of support for those who speak out to stop wrongdoing.
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- "They have legitimate concerns for Canadians' health
and safety, and what they've been doing is voicing those concerns, and
now they're paying the price."
-
- The scientists have been at the centre of a number of
battles. They publicly opposed the use of bovine growth hormone to enhance
milk production in cows, a move that led to a Senate inquiry and an eventual
decision not to approve the drug.
-
- At one point, they said they were pressured to approve
certain veterinary drugs. In 2001, Ms. Haydon said that a Canadian ban
on Brazilian beef had more to do with politics than public health. The
ban was lifted a few months later.
-
- Mike McBane, of the Canadian Health Coalition, said the
three scientists were being penalized for trying to do their jobs.
-
- "What they've been doing is putting the health of
Canadians before the interests of business, in particular drug companies,"
Mr. McBane said.
-
- "This is really an ominous signal from the government.
These are Canadian heroes, and this is the way the government is treating
them."
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- - With a report from Canadian Press
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