The Government of Canada's Chief Science Advisor is a post in the Canadian government that was created in 2017 by the Justin Trudeau government. The current advisor is Mona Nemer, who is a specialist in the genetics of heart disease and was vice-president of research at the University of Ottawa for 11 years.[1] Dr. Nemer served an initial three-year term from September 2017 to September 2020, and has twice been reappointed to additional two-year terms.[2][3] Her third appointment is scheduled to end in September 2024.
The Chief Science Advisor is distinct from the discontinued National Science Advisor, which was abolished under the Stephen Harper government in 2008.[4]
The main functions of the advisor are to develop guidelines, advise the government on science and improve processes within the government related to scientific research.
Dr. Nemer's second term is effective September 25, 2020, for a period of two years.