Science and Research Committee on Feb. 27th, 2024

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Did you provide any advice on the ArriveCAN app?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Mr. Chair, I'm a science advisor. I appreciate that science can be everywhere, but no, I don't provide advice on everything. In this particular instance, I had no role.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

I just want to clarify.

There were no questions to your office about whether this was scientifically needed or about whether the research showed that something like this was needed. There was no communication from the government to you on anything to do with ArriveCAN.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lloyd Longfield]

We're at time. Give a brief answer.

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

There were no communications on this.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lloyd Longfield]

Thank you.

Now, to round up this second round, it's Ms. Bradford for five minutes, please.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to both of our witnesses for being with us here today.

Dr. Nemer, much of the last annual report centred around COVID-19. As you're presumably shifting your focus away from this and as we learn to live with COVID, what are the current future issues that preoccupy you in your office?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

We've been quite preoccupied and active on several areas of climate science and biodiversity science. We've worked closely with Environment and Climate Change Canada and have supported them in the development of the climate science strategy that was released a week ago. We continue to work with them on the biodiversity science front.

I'd just like to say that science is not only about identifying the cause of the problem; it's also about proposing potential solutions, about monitoring progress and about implementation science as well. We do quite a bit there.

Right now, we're also updating the guide on science advice for the federal government, which dates back to 1999. We're continuing our work on open science. Specifically, right now we're looking at a framework for the research data. That's something that is very important, among other things.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Thank you for that.

I understand that you have a youth council. Can you talk to us about your youth council? What are the issues that are top of mind for our young people? How are they contributing to the work done by your office?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

We have the second cohort of the youth council. The first cohort, you may have noted, actually provided a substantive report on their vision for science in the country. I think it's really important to engage youth.

With regard to the new youth council, usually we involve them with the different reports that we're doing. They also carry out a project on their own. I believe the new cohort is actually interested in indigenous knowledge. I can't remember what other thing they have decided to do.

I would encourage you, actually, to have them here one day. They're really a great bunch of very enthusiastic, smart, caring individuals.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

What's the age range on your youth council?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

When we recruit them, if I'm not mistaken, it's 18 to 30. It's not about what they're doing or whether they're students or not. It's the age range.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

How do you go about recruiting them? How is the outreach done?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

It's an open call.

We get a lot of help from the youth organizations, universities and institutions. The institutions are very proud when one of their students is selected for the committee, so we get a lot of help. The first time, we had over a thousand applications. The second time, we decided to make it a bit harder.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Do you ensure there's a broad range from across Canada so that it's not just one region that participates?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Yes, absolutely. We ensure we have a gender balance and that it's representative of the entire country. We have indigenous people on the committee, and we have people from visible minority communities.

This is the approach we have for all of our committees, not just the youth committee. We strive to have as much diversity and inclusivity as possible.

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

Thank you so much. It's interesting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lloyd Longfield]

Thank you.

We're now going into the second half of the meeting.

By the routine motions, we'll be following the same format as this last round, with five minutes, five minutes, two and a half minutes, two and a half minutes, then five and five.

We're starting off with Mr. Soroka for five minutes.

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Can it be six minutes?

[The Chair, Liberal, Lloyd Longfield]

The committee can decide to change that, but....

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

That's fine.

Thank you, Dr. Nemer, for coming today.

Were you or your office asked for advice on policy about sensitive technology research and the related banned entities list?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

We have been involved with the government in the general area of research security and the identification of sensitive technologies, but that's the extent of our involvement. We haven't gone any further.

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

What was the nature of your advice to them?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Our advice was around the identification of sensitive technologies, engaging with post-secondary institutions and the importance of harmonizing our approach with our allies and similar-minded countries.