Science and Research Committee on June 8th, 2026

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

She was not appointed chief science adviser in 2013. How will she be able to speak to that matter? The office wasn't even—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You're getting into debate. It is his time. He can ask questions.

MP Noormohamed, please go ahead.

[Mona Nemer]

I'm sorry, I'm unable to put a precise number. As a scientist, I strive for precision, but in this case, I'm unable to provide you with an answer.

One of the first mandates that I had was to ensure that we had the science integrity policy, so that scientists could speak about their research.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

That's perfect. That sounds great.

Obviously, one of the things that we had seen in previous governments was a cut to science and research.

What does that do in terms of the recruitment of talent when there is a concern that the stable funding will not be available? How important is it to have the stable funding that we've articulated now?

[Mona Nemer]

This is a very important question, but it has nothing to do with the government in place, because all governments have provided money, cut money and all this. To answer your question, I want to emphasize how important it is to have stable funding, because you just can't start a research project and then cut it and then start it again. We cannot send contradictory messages to the world that we want to have the best talent, but at the same time not be consequential with our other actions.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

That's perfect.

You're a scientist. You're the chief science adviser of this country. You have helped to run research at a university. What are the damaging—and I shouldn't say damaging, because I don't want to prejudice the answer—implications when politicians start to question science and start to question the credibility of science for political gain?

[Mona Nemer]

We don't have to go very far to answer your question. We just need to look at what's happening in some of the most developed countries around the world when ideology doesn't go well with science. I think science and politics should remain separate. Of course, science needs science policy and politics can use science, but I don't think that overriding scientific evaluations is the right thing to do.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

I want to thank you for being here. You should rest assured that, on this side, we will always support science and scientists.

While the clip factory opposite will do what it does, we're going to keep working hard to ensure that scientists and the top researchers can come to this country and feel that they are safe and secure to do the important research they need to do.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We will now proceed to MP Blanchette-Joncas for two and a half minutes.

Please go ahead.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Nemer, were you or other members of your team consulted before the closure of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's only laboratory in Quebec that specializes in the analysis of marine biotoxins?

[Mona Nemer]

No.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I see.

Were you or your office consulted before the government designated or expedited projects of national interest?

[Mona Nemer]

No. Are some of them expedited?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Yes. We could talk about the Contrecœur project, the Species at Risk Act and the copper redhorse, among others. We could make a list.

We asked ourselves the same question last November. I was hoping the government had listened to reason and consulted you, but you're confirming that there were no discussions with the government on those projects.

[Mona Nemer]

No, there weren't.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

There were none. That's fine.

I'd like to go over the government's artificial intelligence strategy with you.

Currently, members of Parliament and the public have no real way of knowing who participated in the public consultation to define the artificial intelligence strategy. How can public trust truly be strengthened if we lack the necessary information to understand what influenced the government's decisions or strategies?

[Mona Nemer]

I'm sorry, but I find it difficult to answer that question.

I would still like to highlight a few aspects of the strategy that are quite important and on which everyone probably agrees. For example, I think we all agree that improving AI literacy is very important.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Since my speaking time is very limited, let me come back to the question: Does a transparent public consultation process build public trust? That's all I'm asking.

[Mona Nemer]

Again, I'm not privy to the details of that consultation.

If I understand correctly, thousands of people participated in it. We have to acknowledge that consultations did take place.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I would request that members be quiet. The person who has the floor has the right to speak. I would request no crosstalk, please.

MP Blanchette-Joncas, you have 15 seconds.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm just letting you know that I'll be yielding my speaking time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

We will now proceed to MP Mahal for five minutes.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Dr. Nemer. It's good to see you again.

When you attended this committee in November of last year, you may recall that I asked whether you had met the Prime Minister since the election. Your answer was that, no, you had not. I would like to know if that has changed and how many times you have met with the Prime Minister since April 2025.

[Mona Nemer]

I have met many members of the Prime Minister's Office, including his chief of staff and several of his cabinet ministers on regular interactions with his office and many ministers' offices. I look forward to meeting the Prime Minister in the coming weeks.