In Favour of an Inclusive Chief Science Officer for Canada

A few months ago, the Prime Minister of Canada asked the Minister of Science, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, to "create a Chief Science Officer" position. The Canadian Evaluation Society has written the minister to let her know that it supports the submission of Evidence for Democracy in this regard. In particular, the CES emphasises that an office of the CSO should:

• focus on providing science advice to government;
• embrace the full spectrum of contemporary science which includes social science and hence evaluation;
• recognize the value of research based on scientific principles as well as well-established traditional knowledge; and,
• emphasize the importance of program and policy evaluation as meaningful components of evidence-based decision-making.

The CES also expressed support for the creation of a Parliamentary Evidence Officer position, as explained in its letter.