Members of the Canadian Public,

We, the representatives of the Society of Researchers Against Abuse (SRAA), a non-profit organization comprising over 15,000 supporters from researchers, graduate students, and faculty across Canada, write to express our deep concerns, concerned citizens and stakeholders in the research community, about the systemic failures and unlawful acts that have come to light in the administration and allocation of public research funds.

Recent articles in The Globe and Mail, supported below, have shed light on the misuse of public funds and the involvement of Canadian academics in research collaborations with foreign entities, particularly in military applications. These reports are not isolated incidents but rather the tip of the iceberg in a much larger issue stemming from the lack of accountability and transparency in the administration of public research funds.

We are deeply alarmed by the egregious misuse of public funds, which has enabled Canadian academics to engage in joint research collaborations with entities linked to adversarial nations such as Russia, Iran, and China, particularly focused on military and defence applications.

Furthermore, we are disturbed by the pervasive lack of accountability within the structures responsible for overseeing the allocation and management of public funds in research projects. This lack of accountability has created an environment where unethical and unlawful activities can thrive, unchecked and swiftly dismissed when reported.

Public funds, primarily from taxpayers' resources, are meant to be used in the functions of research operations that support and promote the responsible conduct of research, fostering a positive, open and collaborative approach towards advancing Canadian research and developing an internationally competitive Canadian Innovation. Instead, these research funds are actively being used by universities to create negative research environments, establish private businesses within research labs at public institutions, engage in unlawful tactics to evade tax regulations, establish exploitative working conditions through coercion of domestic and foreign researchers, and conduct research for the sole benefit or on behalf of foreign agencies.

The consequences of this are far-reaching, striking at the very core of research as well as our nation's values and ethics. It is imperative that immediate action is taken to rectify this situation, restore transparency and accountability, and ensure that public funds are used in a manner that upholds the highest standards of integrity and serves the best interests of Canadians.

Members and supporters of the SRAA have lodged formal complaints, backed by external reports by professors as well as domain experts on taxes and legal frameworks, yet these have been summarily dismissed without explanation by bodies such as the Tri-Agency Council, the Panel on Responsible Conduct of Research (PRCR), and the Secretariat on Responsible Conduct of Research (SRCR).

The Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) and the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector outline the values and expected behaviors that guide public servants in their professional duties. Public servants, as defined by the PSEA, are mandated to uphold these values and ethics in serving the public interest. However, it has become increasingly clear that these values are being disregarded, and public funds are being used to create negative research environments, establish private businesses within research labs at public institutions, engage in unlawful tactics to evade tax regulations, and conduct research for the sole benefit or on behalf of foreign agencies.

Universities, such as Simon Fraser University (SFU), the University of British Columbia (UBC) in British Columbia, have previously sought to prevent the public release of information related to their business activities by filing petitions with the B.C. Supreme Court. The universities have also challenged orders from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner regarding records connected to university-owned commercial entities. SFU and UBC, along with universities across Canada, wholly-own subsidiaries that facilitates investments in spin off companies, particularly companies created by faculty members, often while misusing public funds and university resources originally intended for research.

Universities have established university-owned corporations to manage these investments, with admins and directors among university staff serving on the boards of these companies, thus highlighting a significant conflict of interest.

The misuse of public funds and conflicts of interest have garnered attention from various university stakeholders, including senate hearings, faculty associations, staff associations, and student associations. Concerns have been raised regarding the association of public fund misuse with various forms of abuse and unlawful acts. Admins and "wantrepreneur" faculty members have often exploited their positions to justify and perpetuate various forms of misconduct. This includes instances of sexual assault and harassment, physical and psychological abuse, theft of intellectual property, involvement in unlawful tax evasion, imposition of exploitative working conditions on both domestic and foreign researchers, and undertaking research solely to benefit or represent foreign agencies.

Abuse within academia is regrettably commonplace, owing to inherent structural dynamics,notably under the protective umbrella of tenure or privilege. Tenured professors often operate with impunity, evading accountability and exacerbating systemic issues within the academic realm. 

Notable examples within BC universities underscore this pervasive problem. Moreover, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has identified researchers actively contributing to adversarial nations like Russia, Iran, and China, particularly military applications. Reports indicate that SFU admins and investment directors have facilitated the transfer of intellectual property thefts, often further facilitating unsanctioned programs like ballistic missiles and drones, posing serious national security concerns.

Corruption in BC Universities is more dire than the rest of Canada. However, the situation in other provinces is not far better. Corruption has delved into the core of academic institutions, as public funds are being funneled into admin- and faculty-led businesses.

The alarming absence of accountability and transparency in the management of public research funds represents not just a betrayal of trust, but also poses a substantial national security threat. Bodies such as the SRCR and PRCR wield considerable authority over the allocation of public research funds, yet have consistently failed to demonstrate the requisite care, diligence, integrity,and accountability.

Of particular concern is the composition of the PRCR, comprised entirely of tenured academics. This arrangement is deeply troubling, given the potential for some tenured professors to neglect their academic responsibilities or simply lack the motivation to fulfill the basic requirements of their roles. Entrusting academics, whether tenured or not, with oversight of matters pertaining to national security is a hazardous proposition, fraught with risks and vulnerabilities as well as lack of accountability.

The inherent conflict of interest in having academics oversee national security-related affairs within the context of research conduct further compounds the issue. This scenario creates fertile ground for the mishandling of sensitive information, the misappropriation of research funds, and the circumvention of ethical guidelines. It undermines the fundamental principles of accountability and jeopardizes the integrity of the research enterprise as a whole.

Addressing these systemic shortcomings requires a comprehensive reevaluation of the structures and processes governing the oversight of public research funds. It is imperative that measures be implemented to introduce greater transparency, accountability, and diversity of expertise within bodies like the SRCR and the PRCR.

In demanding a public hearing to comprehensively grasp the deficiencies in operational structure, diligence, expertise, and accountability within the offices of the SRCR and the PRCR, we request the following actionable steps:

1. We demand the resignation of the presidents of the Tri-Agency, members of the SRCRand the PRCR, including its chair, and the Interagency Management Committee chair no later than September 1st, 2024.
2. We urge collaboration with the CSIS director and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police(RCMP) to investigate unlawful activities within the ranks of public servants.
3. We urge the creation of a panel that includes representatives from key government agencies such as CSIS, RCMP, and Canada Revenue Agency. This panel is tasked with overseeing past public research funds, particularly focusing on individuals in academia. Their responsibilities will encompass opening investigations, conducting regular audits,and establishing clear reporting mechanisms to address instances of misconduct under appropriate legal frameworks.
4. This panel shall further investigate Board of Governors members at universities with contributions to adversary nations.
5. We advocate for the formation of a panel tasked with overseeing the operations of the PRCR and the SRCR. This panel, along with the PRCR must not be solely comprised of academics. Additionally, we propose a policy change to ensure that the SRCR and the PRCR are not involved in decision-making processes related to the distribution of public funds or the monitoring and reporting of fund misuse. Instead, authority should transition to a panel representing a diverse array of stakeholders, including government agencies,industry partners, and independent oversight bodies.
6. We call for the immediate implementation of an interim policy to facilitate the full transition to a panel-based oversight structure before December 31, 2024.
7. We call on provincial governments to update University Acts within its jurisdictions to create accountability.
8. We call on the BC provincial government to investigate the approval of medical school at SFU within questionable partnerships with the industry, amidst conflict of interest.
9. Lastly, we emphasize the need for an exhaustive investigation into the theft of Canadian intellectual property, especially when such theft contributes to the development of military applications and weaponry that pose threats to Canadians and innocent civilians globally.

We do not allow for our research outcomes and public funds to be used in or support the development of military applications. We condemn genocide in all its forms, and we condemn the government and public employees in facilitating it via theft and other currently common unlawful acts in universities and public offices around the country.

We cannot allow the misuse of public funds and the disregard for values and ethics in the public sector to continue. It is time to hold individuals accountable for these unlawful acts and to update policies to ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of public research funds.We urge you to take immediate action to address these issues and restore public trust in the impartial evaluations conducted by public servants.