Canadian Science Policy Conference 2018

Speech

Speaking Points

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, PC, MP
Minister of Science and Sport

Ottawa, Ontario
November 8, 2018

Check Against Delivery

Distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen, friends and family. Good evening, everyone.

I want to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Algonquin people.

Let me begin by saying thank you to Mehrdad Hariri and his team.

I have heard it has been, yet again, an absolutely fantastic conference.

I'm honoured to be here for the fourth time with such a remarkable group!

I'm honoured to be here because science matters, research matters, policy matters. And what you do each and every day matters profoundly; it matters to Canadians.

Ten years ago, I made the choice to leave teaching and research and to run for office.

I left academia to serve the community where I was born and raised, and I made the choice to bring a researcher's perspective to the policy-making process.

The Prime Minister and I often discussed science and research when we were seatmates on the opposition benches.

You all know he gives a great explanation of quantum computing. He also used to teach me engineering puzzles.

I was now in a position to work on an important goal: a complete cultural shift in Canadian science.

My main objective from the outset was to return science and research to their rightful place in government.

I wanted to ensure our researchers and students had the funding they needed to do their research, the funding they needed for their labs and tools, and the digital research infrastructure necessary for today and tomorrow.

I wanted to help create a thriving economy powered by homegrown discoveries and innovations, a country world-renowned as a science leader.

I wanted to strengthen science literacy and—by extension—respect for data and evidence and respect for Indigenous knowledge.

And I wanted to strengthen our culture of curiosity, where all young Canadians are encouraged to discover and to dream.

Forward now to 2016, when I returned to CSPC with a year's worth of achievements to share, not the least of which was the largest top-up to our federal granting councils in a decade.

Statistics Canada had just rolled out the first long-form census in 10 years.

We'd been working across government to implement our policy to ensure that federal scientists could speak freely about their work.

We'd been doing the research to develop the position of a Canadian chief science advisor—a position phased out.

And let's not forget the $2 billion for some 300 new buildings and research infrastructure upgrades at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

At the same time, we were also working on that larger, long-term culture overhaul I mentioned.

A key step here was appointing a blue ribbon panel to look at how the government could improve the way we fund science in this country.

I know there are some members of the panel in the audience. Please, a round of applause for their service to Canada.

The Fundamental Science Review—as we all know it—would give us an unvarnished opinion on how to improve things.

I wanted to know how we could improve support for early-career, multidisciplinary and at-risk researchers; fund international efforts; and better reflect Canadian diversity in our labs.

Simply put, I wanted to know exactly what we needed to do to support our world-class researchers.

By the time I returned to this podium in 2017, we had the recommendations from the Fundamental Science Review in hand. What's more, we had incorporated those recommendations into a vision for the future of science and research in Canada.

I couldn't tell you then, but by now you know that we backed up that grand vision with grand support: an absolutely historic $4 billion in new investments in Canadian science and research.

And that includes the single largest investment in fundamental research in Canada's history: $1.7 billion, with a 25% increase to the granting councils, the lifeblood of the research ecosystem.

Currently, we are marshalling all our resources to get this money flowing.

Those who are familiar with NSERC's Discovery Grants will know we have made those big announcements already. And I've been grateful to hear from researchers that the increase in those grants has made a big impact.

And everyone associated with Canada's network of world-class institutions can see that we have already greatly strengthened the College and Community Innovation Program.

Now, because I know this audience is interested in details, I'm happy to update you on a few of the other files that are moving at the moment.

Our Chief Science Advisor—yes, a hand for Dr. Nemer who recently celebrated her first anniversary in the role.

I had asked Dr. Nemer to develop a scientific integrity policy. I'm pleased to say her model is now being adapted and implemented by departments across government, with an end-of-year deadline.

I also asked her to work on bringing in departmental chief scientists so that scientific advice could be strengthened across government.

We should have six chief scientists in place over the coming months, with more to follow. This will give the Chief Science Advisor a strong network of peers to consult.

Additionally, I have asked Dr. Nemer to look at open science and open data.

She has already done so much to embed science and evidence within government both now and into the future.

In other areas, we have almost wrapped up conversations on how to put into place our big digital research infrastructure investment.

And the report on the Canada Research Coordinating Committee consultations is out too.

I know that there are several individuals here who contributed to these efforts. Thank you, everyone.

I can also share that we are looking at ways to better support the next generation of researchers through scholarships and fellowships. I note that's a topic of one of the symposia on Friday afternoon, so I'm glad we are on the same page there.

I can also tell you that my officials are working with key stakeholders to develop a new principles-based framework on how to fund third party research organizations.  

I want to improve confidence and increase transparency in that process. I look forward to receiving their recommendations in the coming months.

We should also soon be in a position to announce phase one of a multi-year renewal plan for our federal science laboratories. This is a $2.8-billion commitment.

Ultimately, we need to establish a new approach to federal science and discovery—one that is integrated and multidisciplinary, that is capable of ongoing renewal, and that incorporates Indigenous knowledge.

We are steadfast in our commitment to advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

I believe that research and science are important elements in our progress to reconciliation, and I'm grateful to all those who keep this issue front and centre.

Let me talk now about an issue that is so important to me: equity and diversity or, more broadly, equity and diversity in our universities, colleges, cégeps and polytechnics and in government.

As a researcher and a politician, I try to promote diversity in research and, more importantly, encourage researchers to stay in the research field throughout their studies and their career.

To that end, we have made changes to the criteria of our most prestigious research positions so that more women—as well as persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities and LGBTQ2 individuals—have a shot at obtaining these coveted posts.

I have also asked the universities to bring forward ambitious equity and diversity plans.

I'm truly heartened by the gains we are already seeing. For example, a full 60 percent of the Canada 150 Research Chairs appointed are women.

And moving forward, we are looking at how to bring in a made-in-Canada version of Athena SWAN. This is an internationally recognized program to advance equality at post-secondary institutions.

We will make sure the made-in-Canada approach includes all four designated groups and the LGBTQ2 community as well.

Friends, these areas must improve if we want to make that kind of wholesale culture shift I'm talking about. 

If we want to remain competitive, Canada must have more diversity in high-level academic and research chair positions.

We must expand the variety of ideas, the research questions. Just imagine the discoveries, insights and innovations. Diversity can only strengthen Canadian research.

Newly appointed Canada 150 Research Chair Judith Elizabeth Mank is studying the genetic differences between men and women.

Dr. Mank's research asks if we might be missing more effective treatments for women when we're only screening male mice for drug targets!

This is the kind of insight that comes from diversity of perspective.

Colleagues, it's about changing hearts and minds as well as programs and policies.

And that goes for everything we are taking on here.

Change is never easy. But it is worth it. And it absolutely has to happen.

We know that more than four out of five Canadians believe science helps improve their lives, so the support is there.

But we also know that Canada is not immune to international trends.

Unfortunately, a recent study showed that more than two in five Canadians consider science "a matter of opinion." That's very worrying.

We must pay attention to these views.

So, as like-minded peers, I challenge you to get out there.

Tell everyone you know that Canada needs science and Canada needs research.

And when you travel beyond our shores, point out that research needs Canada too.

Know that in all this, you have no greater ally than me.

As Minister of Science, I hope to show, through my words and actions, that I am a champion of Canadian science and scientists.

I sincerely hope we can continue building this powerful relationship. Because I know that together we can revolutionize the culture of science in Canada.

We're going to transform research in this country for many years to come.

Thank you.

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