Liberals' promise to unmuzzle scientists a good first step, researcher says

A former Department of Fisheries and Oceans scientist in northwestern Ontario says he's feeling hopeful about the new federal government's approach to science.

Michael Rennie, a Canada Research chair at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, says he's hopeful the relationship between the government and scientists will now begin to thaw.

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Renniesaid last week's announcement that scientists can speak freely to media is a good step.

"I've been saying I'm moving away from cautious optimism and I'm now just plain old optimistic," Rennie said.

"It's certainly a move in the right direction," he said.

But he acknowledged there is a lot of hard work ahead.

Renniesaid the government now needs to go further, by reinvesting in science and research programs.

"My hope is that this is the first step in a long list of things that need to happen in order to really restore government science," he said.

Rennieworked for the DFO from 2010 until 2014.

When the Experimental Lakes Area was taken over by a non-profit, he resigned from his government job and went to work for them instead.