Canadian Association of Physicists Reaffirms Unwavering Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research Amidst Contradictory Parliamentary Committee Report
OTTAWA, ON — The Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) reaffirms the fundamental importance of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to the excellence, rigor, and global competitiveness of Canada’s scientific ecosystem. This statement comes in response to the September 2026 report submitted to Parliament by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research (SRSR) Committee Report No. 4 – SRSR (45-1) – House of Commons of Canada.
The recent SRSR report has sparked significant concern within the scientific community by calling for a reduction to the impact of EDI on research funding decisions. The committee’s report stated that ‘discriminatory’ EDI policies are ‘weakening the quality of Canadian research’. This fails to provide the clear, evidence-based leadership required to support Canada’s researchers.
“The Canadian Association of Physicists firmly rejects the premise that equity and excellence are mutually exclusive,” said Dr. Wendy Taylor, CAP President. “Research has repeatedly demonstrated that diversity in teams and research design leads to more innovative, impactful, and globally relevant scientific breakthroughs. A commitment to EDI does not replace merit; rather, it ensures that genuine merit and potential for excellence is recognized in its various forms.”
CAP urges policymakers and federal granting agencies to reject the report’s contradictory statements and instead provide clear, strengthened support for EDI considerations in research funding criteria.