Federal S&T Councils armed with new mandates

Canada's two federal advisory bodies for science and technology have been given new mandates that will occupy their energies until the fall of this year. The mandates reflect the attention government is beginning to focus on its own role within the innovation system, and respond to growing calls from the S&T community for such action.

The Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACST) has been handed its largest mandate ever with a request to examine the increasingly crucial issue of the cost of federally funded research. The task will be handled by the full council and will report to the Cabinet Committee of Economic Union in September. It will not issue a public document.

The project follows Ontario's decision to cover up to 40% of overhead costs associated with provincially sponsored research. Federal officials say the decision to study the issue was made well before the provincial announcement, which came complete with a challenge to Ottawa to follow suit (R$, May 12/00).

The Council of Science and Technology Advisors (CSTA) will also be given new marching orders when it meets at the end of this month. It will be asked to examine excellence in federally performed S&T.

The subject's parameters will be defined over the next several weeks, and the work plan for the 22-member Council will be established. The May 31 meeting will be a first for three new CSTA members, as part of its regular turnover. Joining the Council are: John de la Mothe, a professor of science and government at the Univ of Ottawa; Penny Gambell, VP Canadian Horticultural Council and VP British Columbia Fruit Growers Association; and, Ray Price, president Trochu Meat Processors Ltd and director of the Sunterra Group of Companies.

At the meeting secretary of state for science, research and development, Dr Gilbert Normand will discuss the Council's two previous reports and elaborate on the government's response to the first report: Science Advice for Government Effectiveness (SAGE).

The CSTA has never operated at full strength, due to the failure of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to nominate a representative.

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