RSC joins chorus calling for chief scientific advisor to federal government

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) is urging the government to catch up with the rest of the world's wealthiest nations and establish a chief scientific advisor (CSA). The recommendation is one of several contained in a position paper designed to unlock the full value of science in the Canadian economy and society.

The six-page document is the strongest expression yet from RSC of its concern that the utilization of science and evidence to both strengthen policy and inform decision-making "is not being fully realized".

"Among the top 12 countries in terms of GDP, Canada was the only high-income, developed democracy in 2014 to neither have a CSA nor be in the process of developing the position," states the paper. "To fully realize the benefits of society's investments in science, governments should fully utilize the ultimate product of science — evidence — to strengthen policy and better inform decision-making for the benefit of all Canadians."

The position paper points out that considerable work on the merits of scientific advice and ways to incorporate into government policy and decision-making has already been done. It recommends that the government fully implement two reports submitted to Industry Canada in 2000 and 2002 by the Council of Sciences and Technology Advisors (CSTA) — Science Advice for Government Effectiveness and A Framework for Science and Technology Advice.

The CSTA was one of three advisory bodies abolished by the Harper administration in 2007 and replaced by the Science, Technology and Innovation Council (STIC). SAGE, the Prime Minister's Advisory Council on Science and Technology and the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee all issued public reports on their advice to government. STIC does not and curiously is not mentioned in the RSC report.

The RSC is offering the government its assistance to establish a Science Policy Centre to provide "independent and authoritative advice to decision-makers", host an international conference on science advice to governments and provide experts from its three member societies to sit on the Assistant DM's Science and Technology Advisory Committee.

A copy of the report can be found at www.rsc-src.ca under press releases.

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