Council of Canadian Academies ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 DATA LITERATURE INFORMATION INFORMATION PEER REVIEW LITERATURE EVIDENCE ANALYSIS EVIDENCE KNOWLEDGE EXPERTSANALYSIS DATA EXPERTS LITERATURE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE DATA KNOWLEDGE LITERATURE PEER REVIEW PEER REVIEW INFORMATION DATA EXPERTS ANALYSIS KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE CONVENING EXPERTS. ASSESSING EVIDENCE. INFORMING DECISIONS. MEMBER ACADEMIES Council of Canadian Academies ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17 IV CONVENING EXPERTS. ASSESSING EVIDENCE. INFORMING DECISIONS. CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD 1 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO 2 WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO 4 MEMBER AcADEMIES 5 THE YEAR IN REVIEW 8 CONVENING EXPERTS 10 ASSESSING EVIDENCE 14 INFORMING DECISIONS 22 ANNEX I: CORPORATE PROFILE 24 ANNEX II: BOARD OF GOVERNORS, SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND STAFF 26 ANNEX III: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 29 scienceadvice.ca @Scienceadvice Council of Canadian Academies — Annual Report 2016/17 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD t’s been another active and productive year at the CCA. The reports we launched in 2016/17 were characteristically diverse, exploring everything from the risks of marine shipping to strengths in regenerative medicine to subnational science policy. We also received eight new assessment referrals on a wide range of topics, such as policing in Indigenous communities, integrated natural resource management, learning experiences offered by Ibusiness schools, and medical assistance in dying. As an independent, not-for-profit On behalf of the CCA and the Board, University of Newfoundland, and a organization, we have built our I would also like to thank departing valued member of our Board from reputation over the past 11 years on members, whose contributions and July 2015 until shortly before his our ability to convene the best experts commitment are greatly appreciated: death. He was President of the CAE in their respective fields to assess the Henry Friesen, C.C., FRSC, FCAHS, from 2012 to 2014, and joined evidence on complex topics of public Distinguished Professor Emeritus Memorial in 2013 after a distinguished interest. Our rigorous process ensures and Senior Fellow, Centre for the career as an academic and professional quality and objectivity. The support Advancement of Medicine, Faculty engineer. Dr. Marceau was a true of our Member Academies has been of Medicine, University of Manitoba; champion of the work of both the invaluable — the Royal Society of Claude Jean, Executive Vice President CCA and the CAE, and his passing Canada (RSC), the Canadian Academy and General Manager, Teledyne marks a tremendous loss for many. of Engineering (CAE), and the DALSA, Foundry Operation, Semi- Canadian Academy of Health conductor; Peter MacKinnon, O.C., Collectively, the contributions and Sciences (CAHS) — and their Former President and Vice-Chancellor, commitment of all of our dedicated Fellows, including many of our University of Saskatchewan; and Ted expert volunteers have helped shape expert volunteers. Members of our Morton, Executive Fellow at the the CCA into the well-respected Board of Governors and Scientific School of Public Policy, Professor of organization it is today. We look Advisory Committee also provide Political Science, University of Calgary. forward to the year ahead and are valuable oversight and strategic The Scientific Advisory Committee confident that the combined knowl- thinking critical to the good also saw some departures this year: edge and skills of our expert panel governance of the CCA. Sarah P. Otto, FRSC, Professor and members, Board of Governors, Director of the Biodiversity Research Scientific Advisory Committee, In September 2016, we welcomed Centre at the University of British Member Academies, and staff will two new members to our Board: Columbia, and Norbert Morgenstern, only enhance the CCA’s success Pierre Lortie, C.M., FCAE, Senior C.M., FRSC, FCAE, Professor in the years to come. Business Advisor at Dentons LLP Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the and Past President of the CAE; and University of Alberta. Sincerest of Tom Brzustowski, O.C., FRSC, thanks to both for their contributions. FCAE, member of the Board of the Institute for Quantum Computing at We were deeply saddened to learn of Margaret Bloodworth, C.M. the University of Waterloo and of the the passing of Dr. Richard Marceau Chair, Board of Governors Waterloo Global Science Initiative. in September. Dr. Marceau was the Council of Canadian Academies Vice President, Research, at Memorial 2 CONVENING EXPERTS. ASSESSING EVIDENCE. INFORMING DECISIONS. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO n simple terms, annual reports present opportunities for organizations to look back on their accomplishments and activities in the previous year, and describe these to the community. To do so, it is easiest to use metrics that can be counted and compared from year to year. In the case of the Council of Canadian Academies, we measure ourselves by the work we are mandated to carry out: since 2005 we have been Iconducting assessments of the evidence on some of the most interesting and important topics facing Canada. So, how did we do this year? and International Reputation; Building more deeply into the state of the We received eight assessment on Canada’s Strengths in Regenerative science. Building on Canada’s Strengths referrals — the most we’ve received Medicine; and Science Policy: in Regenerative Medicine was com- in a single year — on a range of Considerations for Subnational pleted in a timely manner to inform fascinating topics: the transportation Governments. federal discussions about funding for needs of an aging population; the this exciting area of science. And our state of S&T and industrial R&D in These are the CCA’s tangible Preliminary Data Update on Canadian Canada; integrated natural resource outputs and by such measures, Research Performance and International management; regenerative medicine; 2016/17 was a good year. Indeed, Reputation has informed the Funda- subnational science policy; medical the five completed assessments brings mental Science Review, Investing in assistance in dying; policing in our total productivity since our 2005 Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Indigenous communities; and inception to 43 evidence-based Foundations of Canadian Research. learning experiences offered in reports — a substantial body business schools. This list reflects of knowledge. Over the last year, some assessments how diverse the needs are when it challenged us to think more broadly But as with all numbers, the story about what we mean by evidence. comes to taking a science-informed behind them provides further insight approach to policy development. Often, assessing evidence is straight- about an organization’s accomplish- forward: review the literature on a If referrals are a function of the ments. For instance, Science Policy: subject; bring experts together to perceived value of CCA expertise, Considerations for Subnational Govern- deliberate on it; assess the breadth, completed projects are evidence ments reflects a recognition of the depth, and quality of the evidence; of it. We completed five projects importance of provincial science and publish findings and conclusions in 2016/17: Commercial Marine policy and its connectedness to in a report. The referral by Health Shipping Accidents: Understanding federal investments in science; we Canada and Justice Canada to the Risks in Canada; The Value of can imagine it may stimulate further undertake an assessment on Medical Commercial Marine Shipping to discussion. The Value of Commercial Assistance in Dying (MAID) reflects Canada; Preliminary Data Update Marine Shipping to Canada used a new an accomplishment of a different on Canadian Research Performance type of economic modelling to delve kind, and may require an expansive Council of Canadian Academies — Annual Report 2016/17 3 approach to assessing evidence. look for methodologies outside We look forward to another year MAID is permitted across Canada, of traditional science-based of delivering key information to following the passage in June 2016 of approaches. If defining evidence help inform decision-making, and Bill C-14, but three distinct circum- is challenging, weighing the continuing to think about how stances were not included in the evidence is equally difficult. we can become more relevant and legislation: MAID for mature minors; responsive in our approaches to advance requests for MAID; and No account of the CCA’s year providing evidence to policy-makers. MAID when mental illness is the would be complete without sole underlying medical condition. acknowledging the central impor- These issues were identified as tance of our Member Academies, particularly complex and worthy of without whom there would be further study, prompting the federal no CCA. The Royal Society of Eric M. Meslin, PhD, FCAHS government to seek independent Canada, the Canadian Academy President and CEO reviews. In the case of MAID, there is of Engineering, and the Canadian Council of Canadian Academies a modest but not exhaustive number Academy of Health Sciences and of published empirical and social particularly their senior leadership science papers and related literature (Maryse Lassonde, Douglas Ruth, to review; there are a small number and Carol P. Herbert respectively) of jurisdictions where legislation have brought wisdom and commit- exists; and there are professional ment to envisioning how best we practice guidelines, codes of conduct, should function. Moreover,