Hello All,
Here is the second step to the Complaints process which is to the University of Alberta's Research and Ethics Board.
I've attached and also copied and pasted it to the body of this message. You can write your own letter or use this one.
Then email it to
Research Ethics Office
reoffice@ualberta.ca
the letter
March 12, 2024
University of Alberta
Research Ethic Office (REO)
Re: Research Project “Game Meat Consumption in Alberta “ or “Hunting Big Game Meat in Alberta”
To The Research Ethics Board of The University of Alberta,
I’m writing you today with concerns about a research project called “Game Meat Consumption survey” or “Hunting Big Game Meat in Alberta” through the University of Alberta.
I have tried to email the researchers directly and have not received a reply.
I would like to inform you this research project has not been received well within at least a portion of the hunting community for various reasons. The first of which is the inaccurate use of terms, ideas such as “small game” like rabbit, fowl and even fish were in the research when it’s supposed view was about “Big Game” . Terms like farmed game meat and wild game meat are used but there is no such thing as “farmed game meat”. The lack of knowledge in the area of hunting is apparent in this research and I am sure that will skew the data that it correlates.
Because of the lack of knowledge many possible participants felt that the survey was not worth it or didn’t make sense.
I’ve also been trying to ascertain both through Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and the University of Alberta (U of A), whether any conflicts of interest have been identified with regards to this project. I think that many people/hunters wanted to know that any information generated by this project wouldn’t further the primary researcher, Dr Wendy Wismer’s other projects in 3-D printed/lab-cultured/lab-grown meat acceptance. Though I do think it’s possible that this hasn’t been identified as a conflict of interest, some of the human participants who have been asked to give their information in the survey clearly might think that it could be a conflict of interest. As such, they are looking for formal response as to how exactly how their information will be used, to my knowledge, no one has received a reply from the University of Alberta at any level, as to whether there has been a conflict of interest identified or where their data will be used exactly. It is likely, that at least some of the respondents of this research survey, would have strong negative feelings if they found out in the future that their data was used in the furtherance of 3D/lab-grown/cultured meats and that they would consider this a conflict of their interests.
Lastly, I received two emails through the Government of Alberta website called AlbertaRelm.com that is part of the Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) directing me to participate in this research project, one received January 10, 2024 and one received reminding me to participate in this research project dated January 17, 2024. I have filed a FOIP Complaint with the Office of Privacy and Information Commissioner (OIPC) about the misuse of my personal data (section 33c) and further to this, the misuse of my personal data for the purposes of directing participation into a third-party human research project (section 42).
Collection of Personal Information
“Information you provide to Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) is collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act and is managed in accordance with Part 2 of the FOIP Act. Your personal information is being collected for the purpose of creating a WiN account and will be used for natural resource management and administration, which includes the enforcement of applicable laws. The personal information provided will be managed by Aspira, an agent of the Crown. It will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose by AEP without your consent, or unless required to do so by law. Should you wish to have your personal information removed, corrected, or have concerns pertaining to your WiN account, please contact the Help Desk at 1-888-944-5494 or visit AlbertaRelm.com” -https://www.albertarelm.com/cust.privacy.page
It appears that the UofA does have some best practices set out for the use of government email lists to recruit participation in Research Projects in this case it is the AHS but I could easily extrapolate that this could be a guideline for best practices in other research projects. In any case these best practices were not followed.
“4) Use of email to recruit potential participants: The REB has been informed that use of email to recruit a participant does not meet the standard outlined in the AHS email policy. As such, the REB is unlikely to approve of any email-based methods of contact with potential participants for recruitment purposes at this time. Scenarios will be considered on a case-by-case basis, ensuring compliance with AHS and University of Alberta policies.”
- Use of Email to Communicate with Study Participants Guidance
https://cms.cloudfront.ualberta.ca/r...l-guidance.pdf
Please consider this letter a written formal complaint about the “Game Meat Consumption Survey” or “Hunting Big Game Meat in Alberta” Research Project through the University of Alberta, I am hoping the Research and Ethics Board will review this project and provide feedback.
If you require any further information you can contact me at ___________________________
Sincerely,
_____________________________________