Three years after the Trudeau government appointed Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer, Evidence for Democracy is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains to formalize the position in legislation and add C$2 million per year to Nemer’s budget.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how crucial science advice is for protecting the health, safety, and well-being of individuals and communities,” E4D writes. “Throughout the pandemic we have seen our government take clear steps to prioritize science and evidence-based decision-making,” an effort that was led in part by Nemer.
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But now, the chief science advisor’s mandate “is set to expire in September of 2020,” the organization warns. “With no new announcements on updates to the office’s funding or mandate, the future of science advice is uncertain.”
E4D is calling on Trudeau, Freeland, and Bains to enshrine the CSA position in legislation, expand its mandate to reflect a “changing landscape of science,” maintain a science and technology lens on the government’s pandemic recovery plan, and increase Nemer’s funding in step with her expanded mandate.
“Having a Chief Science Advisor to provide leadership on science advice in federal decision-making is something we fought for together in the science community, and we are lucky to have this champion in Canada,” E4D writes. “Let’s keep it that way.”
Click here to sign E4D’s open letter to the federal government.
