Science and Research Committee on June 8th, 2026

[Mona Nemer]

I served as the vice-president of research at the University of Ottawa for 11 years. As such, I was in charge of the Canada research chairs at the University of Ottawa.

I would like to assure you that we have never faced a situation where hiring excellence and inclusion were in conflict. There are a lot of talented people who—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

When you were at the University of Ottawa, it was before you were appointed chief science adviser in 2017, and before the Liberals implemented race quotas on diversity in—

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Stop the clock, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, MP Danko.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I don't know what the member is referring to, in terms of so-called race quotas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry. That's debate.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

This is out of the context of the study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

It's debate. It's not a point of order.

MP Ho.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

It's crazy, is what it is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I request that members be.... MP Ho has the time to—

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

It's also offensive.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Is the clock still running right now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

No. We have stopped the clock.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

They're just heckling me at this point. Come on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

MP Ho, I'm telling members.

MP Ho has the floor. I would request that all members speak one at a time.

MP Ho.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Dr. Nemer, when you hire an employee in the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, does race ever play a factor?

[Mona Nemer]

Excellence, need and integration into the team were the most important things.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Okay.

Before you became chief science adviser, you were a molecular geneticist by training. Is that right?

[Mona Nemer]

Yes.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Therefore, you know a thing or two about X and Y chromosomes.

I want to ask you what the definition of “woman” is.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, go ahead on a point of order, MP Danko.

[John-Paul Danko, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

It is Pride Month. I understand that Standing Order 18 prohibits personal attacks, insults and offensive language.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

How is that a point of order?