APGNS responds to claims of misinformation spreading around uranium exploration

The Association of Professional Geoscientists of Nova Scotia (APGNS) is expressing its duty to enforce the province’s Geoscience Profession Act.

The statement to CityNews comes in response to questions regarding a letter and warning sent to an individual organizing community consultations on uranium exploration.

River John, N.S. resident Barb Harris told The Todd Veinotte Show that a fellow community organizer received a Facebook message warning against people without “proper credentials” making and repeating claims on natural resource exploration.

“I just found it very odd that this organization of geoscientists would be warning of people making comments,” Harris said, stating the message was very broad and gave no examples of direct misinformation.

Stephen Olmstead, Registrar and CEO of the APGNS, told CityNews in a statement that the Act does not prevent anyone from speaking publicly and sharing their position on a topic. Rather it does “hold people to account who mislead, misrepresent, and lie to the public with respect to subjects related to the three areas of professional geoscience,” he said.

“This includes addressing individuals who in public (in-person, in print, or online) represent themselves or infer to public audiences that they are a professional Geoscientist. The weight of this is the same as someone who holds themselves out as any other type of professional – engineer, physician, nurse, forester, Realtor, financial advisor, police officer – without being properly registered. The purpose behind this is to protect the public from individuals who are not properly or sufficiently educated, trained, experienced, and subject to accountability for the work they perform and actions they undertake.”

Olmstead said the APGNS received complaints about two individuals in June who were reportedly misrepresenting their credentials.

He said letters of warning were issued to these two individuals. One of the individuals also spoke with the APGNS on the phone.

Olmstead said the warnings detailed progressive penalties for misrepresentation — from a warning, to financial fines, to incarceration — meant to encourage individuals to explicitly clarify that they are not professional geoscientists when they speak in public.

“What’s occurring here is that people who have a right to speak are inferring they are something that they are not, and influencing the public and media on very technical topics,” he said. “It’s a form of fraud, and it is not unique to our province.”

Olmstead said the APGNS is willing to assist anyone who wishes to speak with a professional geoscientist; in Nova Scotia, there are approximately 300 registered.

But Harris argues the conversation should include more than just the stance of geoscientists.

“This discussion isn’t just about rocks,” she said.

She said she’s heard from physicians, Atlantic specialists, geologists, former Health Canada employees and Indigenous peoples who all carry valuable knowledge that should contribute to the conversation.