Government priorities for coming year to strengthen science in Canada

Minister of Science hosts deputy heads of science-based departments and agencies at third annual science retreat

June 27, 2018, Ottawa, Ontario

Collaboration across federal departments and agencies is key to achieving the Government of Canada’s priorities of strengthening science- and evidence-based decision making and of nurturing a culture of curiosity and innovation. Science and technology are rapidly changing the way Canadians live and work, and collaboration across departments and agencies is essential to addressing current and future challenges.

As the Government of Canada moves forward in implementing the historic investment in science in Budget 2018, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, reiterated the government’s priorities for the coming year at the third annual Deputy Minister Science and Technology Committee (DMSTC) retreat at Meech Lake.

During the discussions with the DMSTC, which is composed of more than a dozen deputy heads of science-based departments and agencies, the Minister focused on four main priorities and took the opportunity to:

• call on the DMSTC to expedite implementing the significant Budget 2018 investment in research, which included $2.8 billion for renewing federal laboratories to ensure federal scientists have the infrastructure they need to support evidence-based decision making;
• reiterate the Government’s commitment to ensuring federal scientists speak freely about their work, calling on members of the DMSTC to publicize that message through their departments and agencies to scientists on the front lines;
• stress the importance of gathering statistics to better understand the people who make up the government’s research community so that more progress can be made in ensuring equality and diversity in the workforce; and
• ask the DMSTC to encourage their departments and agencies to better engage Canadians about the importance of research through initiatives such as Science Odyssey, an annual campaign that promotes science to Canadians of all ages across the country, and by sharing stories of science discoveries in Canada to help nurture the country’s culture of curiosity.

She highlighted the importance of science-based departments working collaboratively across government to strengthen Canada as a research leader so that we can continue to make discoveries that positively impact the lives of Canadians, our environment, our communities and our economy.