Make science-informed decisions

This text is part of the special section Municipalities

Waste treatment, air quality, invasive species… Faced with a multitude of problems whose solutions are based on science, municipalities could greatly benefit from the presence of scientific advisors, while helping to stimulate research in Quebec.

This is what Rémi Quirion, chief scientist of Quebec, believes, whose position was created in 2011. In Quebec, the regions and cities do not yet have appointed scientific advisers. However, elected municipal officials are beginning to be aware of the issue, especially since the pandemic. At the beginning of April, the City of Longueuil also announced that it was opening a scientific advisor position.

“For the government of a country, province or region, science and evidence are important,” says Rémi Quirion. For four or five years, we have understood that the scientific council, present in several countries, would also be relevant for cities. »

However, the scientific council, at the municipal level, would be different from what it is for a country or a region. “Let’s take the example of climate change,” adds the chief scientist. At the national level, we will develop major policies, for example, on the reduction of GHG emissions. But in a city, if there is a problem resulting from climate change, such as a flood, the elected officials have their feet in the water. Scientific advice is more focused on the concrete and crisis management. However, we should not wait for an emergency situation to build these interventions. You need to have a structure that monitors to prevent crises and develop plans and strategies upstream. »

The various scientific disciplines requiring a set of very distinct knowledge, how to find an adviser capable of effectively addressing issues that do not fall within his field of expertise? “This is where the network becomes important,” says Rémi Quirion. The adviser must have a network of experts and colleagues capable of responding to requests when faced with problems that affect areas that he knows less about. »

Conference

On May 4, as part of the Assises de l’Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ), Rémi Quirion will present a conference on the subject, entitled The potential of scientific advice for the municipal sector.

“Three or four years ago, municipalities were not particularly interested in the subject, but the pandemic has fostered awareness,” adds the chief scientist.

This desire to bring science to the heart of decision-making is progressing all over the world. Rémi Quirion is also president of a network, the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), which brings together more than 5,000 members in 130 countries. The organization is developing chapters in North America, targeting cities.

At present, Quebec is only in its infancy in terms of scientific advice to cities, but according to Rémi Quirion, this practice is set to become the norm in the coming years. “There are also needs in the smallest municipalities, but they may not have the financial capacity to open such positions,” says Rémi Quirion. We could, however, develop a network with advisers who would be available for each region. We will probably also have a program of scientists in residence, which will target doctoral graduates to whom we will offer postdoctoral scholarships and who will be able to go and work in a city for a few years. »

Victoriaville at the forefront

Many challenges await Quebec cities over the next few years, including the possible arrival of the Asian long-horned beetle, an invasive and undesirable insect species that attacks maple trees.

“Cities have been through the experience with the emerald ash borer and should be better prepared and mobilized for the next invasive species, and a science advisor can help them deal with this threat,” says Simon Barnabé, Chief Science Advisor of Victoriaville.

He has been collaborating with the City of Victoriaville for several years. An environmental specialist, Simon Barnabé is above all a professor at the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières. In return for his work for the municipality, the City funds the Municipal Research Chair for Sustainable Cities, of which he is the holder.

In January, his appointment to Victoriaville was officially approved by the chief scientist of Quebec, making this city the first in Quebec to have a chief scientific adviser.

“Scientific advisors are another way for cities to communicate and work together on common issues,” says Simon Barnabé. It’s sort of value-added governance. Moreover, cities have a role to play in the research and innovation ecosystem. »

This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.

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