When Arthur Carty left my university in 1994 to head the NRC, the only good thing about the move from the perspective of the locals was that while we were losing an eminently sensible person, a remarkably intelligent scientist, and a clearly gifted administrator, Canada was gaining a strong voice of science advocacy. When Carty was later made the national science advisor by Paul Martin's government, I rejoiced. I couldn't imagine a better choice for such a role. Now that Carty is retiring, we learn that the shoes of science advisor, already considerably diminished by a move from Privy Council to Industry Canada, are not to be re-filled.
We live in a time when all of our futures are more dependent than they ever have been on the interpretation of scientific findings. Decisions that will influence the lives of every member of this country should be made based on clear-eyed assessment of scientific evidence rather than on wishful thinking, denial, the skill of lobbyists, or our own deep insecurities about what the future might hold. In such times, the office of national science advisor is being phased out.
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