Normand to push for creation of Minister of Science

The push to re-establish a federal Minister of Science is being revived by Dr Gilbert Normand, secretary of state for science, research and development. Normand confirmed to RE$EARCH MONEY that he is making it a priority and will be actively pursuing the idea this fall. He has already discussed it with prime minister Jean Chrétien and has provided him with a model for the new elevated position. As conceived by Normand, a Minister of Science would have an umbrella function, coordinating the science activities of all the federal science-based departments and agencies, and “would receive delegation direction from the prime minister”. The idea has gained added impetus from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. In its recent report on innovation, the Committee recommended that the government review its current governance structure for science and technology and transform the existing secretary of state position to full minister status (R$, June 25/01). It made the recommendation as a way to overcome what it viewed as a number of deficiencies in the existing governance structure relating to overall coordination….