Renowned Harvard cognitive scientist Steven Pinker testified before a House of Commons research committee, expressing concerns that diversity mandates in Canada are undermining basic science and discrediting the academic system. During a meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Research, Pinker stated, "Allocating funding to scientists based on their race or sex works against the interest of science and the nation." He urged universities to shift their focus from enforcing ethnic diversity to promoting "viewpoint diversity."

Pinker, who was born and educated in Montreal, is a prominent Canadian academic known for his bestselling books, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist "The Blank Slate." His testimony primarily critiqued diversity quotas, which he traced back to the 1970s in the United States. In recent years, Canadian universities have increasingly implemented race-based quotas for admissions, hiring, and grant funding. A report from the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy indicated that many Canadian universities require candidates to submit "diversity statements" or screen applicants based on race or sexuality.

For instance, Toronto Metropolitan University recently mandated that 75 percent of its medical school admissions be allocated to Black, Indigenous, and other "equity-deserving" applicants. Pinker noted that some of his Harvard students have resorted to using AI tools like ChatGPT to complete mandatory diversity statements, as they felt unable to express their true opinions without jeopardizing their job prospects. He remarked, "They could not honestly fill them out; it would go against their conscience to say things that they knew were not true."

Pinker highlighted that many of these identity-based policies are driven by federal mandates. He pointed out that over $300 million in annual funding for Canada Research Chairs requires universities to adhere to strict hiring quotas based on race, sex, and ability. Specifically, 50.9 percent of the funds must go to women, 22 percent to visible minorities, and 7.5 percent to persons with disabilities. He argued that expecting every scientific discipline to reflect the ethnic makeup of the general population is unreasonable, stating, "It leads to rather monstrous consequences like saying 'there are too many Asians on this committee.'"

He further criticized universities for fostering a culture that suppresses dissenting opinions, describing it as a chilling "monoculture." Pinker explained, "The strongest is the 'my side' bias, the conviction that my tribe or coalition or party is correct and that a rival coalition is ignorant or evil or both." He advocated for an intellectual environment where biases can be openly challenged, allowing for a more rational community.

Despite identifying as a "liberal Democrat," Pinker has become a vocal critic of what he terms a "social justice monoculture" in North American universities. He co-founded the Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard, which promotes free speech and viewpoint diversity. Following recent events where multiple Harvard organizations endorsed Palestinian terrorism, Pinker proposed a five-point plan to "save Harvard from itself," which included calls to reduce the influence of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officials.

Also testifying at the committee was Azim Shariff, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia. Shariff's research examines how politicization affects public trust in institutions. He shared findings from a 2024 study indicating that perceived politicization leads to decreased trust in institutions, regardless of political alignment. Shariff stated, "Canada, unfortunately, has a reputation for having a somewhat politicized academy," likening politicization in science to bacteria in an operating room, emphasizing the need for efforts to minimize it.