Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism

Welcome. The Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism (CASS, for short) critically engages with scientific, technological and medical claims made in public discourse. We address factual inaccuracies and misinformation in public debates by promoting evidence-based science. CASS is a subset of the Centre for Inquiry Canada. CFI Canada is the leading freethought organization in Canada promoting reason, science, secularism and freedom of inquiry.

CASS Submits Critique of Proposed Degree Program in Naturopathy

(April 17, 2013) The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) has applied for accreditation for a new Bachelor of Naturopathic degree program in Ontario. Today, the Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism submitted feedback to Ontario's Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB), explaining why we think this would be a serious step backwards for the quality of education in the province.

Latest Project & Article Highlights

CASS Letter in Support of Death of Evidence Protest

The Centre for Inquiry (CFI) is the leading freethought organization in Canada promoting reason, science, secularism and freedom of inquiry. We the undersigned are writing to voice our strongest support for the Death of Evidence protest, scheduled for 10th July 2012.

Renewed Calls on Shoppers Drug Mart to Drop Ineffective Products After Legal Settlement

Toronto, ON (March 9, 2012) – The Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism (CASS) renewed its call today for Shoppers Drug Mart to cease selling ineffective homeopathic products, after the homeopathic manufacturer Boiron agreed to a $12 million dollar settlement of class action lawsuits alleging false advertising. For a downloadable version, click here.
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Wi-Fi/EMF Health Scares

Despite a strong scientific consensus that there is no public health risk from the radio-frequency radiation emitted by wi-fi transmitters and other devices, anxious parents have recently been lobbying school boards, libraries, and local governments to ban the installation of wi-fi systems in public buildings. Their fear is driven by a highly organized campaign spreading misinformation based on personal anecdote and discredited fringe science. CASS is producing educational materials for distribution to organizations feeling the pressure of this campaign, to help them to make rational decisions on the basis of the best available science.

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Climate Change Denial in Carleton University Course Exposed by National Science Team

Ottawa, ON (28 Feb 2012) – A science watchdog has released a report slamming a course taught at a leading Canadian university over what they call “biased and inaccurate” claims concerning climate change. For a copy of the report, click here.
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Food Health Claims in Canadian Media Study

In 2011 the scientific journal Public Understanding of Science published "The quality of the evidence for dietary advice given in UK national newspapers", a study that looked at 10 newspapers over a period of 7 days and picked out all the stories relating to the health effects of food. The authors found that of 111 claims, around 70% had lower than the "convincing" or "probable" categories that are recommended for dietary claims. CASS is currently replicating the study in Canada to look for a difference across publishers and regions.
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