Simon Fraser University refuses to release data on its animal use numbers or any details about its animal experimentation. British Columbia's second largest university steadfastly ignores requests for information on how many animals are used in its teaching or experimentation protocols each year, what species are being used and the severity of pain or degree of invasiveness.  They won't say where the animals come from, won't say what they are doing to them, nor will they provide any information on the most recent inspection reports.

The university claims a lack of public interest.  They could find very little discussion about animal research in an 'extensive Google search'.  They missed the European Parliament's 2021 directive to its member nations to phase out animal experiments, the FDA Modernization Act recently passed in the USA that puts an end to mandatory testing of new drugs on animals, and scores of recent breakthroughs in the area of new approach methods in place of animal experimentation.                                                               

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Commissioner's office has asked to view the records in order to make a determination as to what may be shown to the public, but the university will not comply with their request.

All this makes us wonder: just what is SFU hiding?

Please ask the President of SFU, its research head, the representative of the indigenous people on whose land SFU resides, and the SFU Board of Governors to prove that the university is able to show it is above board in its animal use, that it is in compliance with the 3 R's (which mean the reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in experimentation), and that it is focused on providing students and British Columbian taxpayers with innovative, sophisticated biomedical research and training.