Round Table Report

That said, responsibility for the conclusions drawn and the recommendations made in the report remains that of the IRPP and the CAE. [...] While we acknowledge the importance of public funding for scientific and technological research, it was made clear that the focus of this series was to be on the contribution of science to the formulation of public policy. [...] In sum, the role of science in policy development is to do the following: > Provide an evidence base for decisions; > Confirm the soundness of a policy in areas in which the evidence is conclusive; > Define the contours of uncertainty and trade-offs when the likely outcomes can- not be known for sure; and > Inform the decision-making process while allowing for other considerations. [...] On the other hand, the system must better acknowledge the public benefits of providing more information to citizens on the options being considered and better distinguish between sharing information in a technical briefing and advice to the minister. [...] Indeed, one of the strongest recommendations made at each of the six round tables in the series (all held prior to the start of the federal election campaign) was to reinstate the long-form census immediately.