Today, without naming the precise program, Bambi declined an invitation to act as a peer reviewer for the CIHR, which stands for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research). Why? She did it because she does not want to complete the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Self-Identification Questionnaire , that is now a requirement for peer reviewers of grant applications since September 23, 2022 (https://bit.ly/3UV6OPT).
Of note, our government has been increasingly driving what is called a pro-diversity ideology, that has led to documented new forms of discrimination based on identity, including the good example of Dr. Patanjali Kambhampati, Professor at the department of chemistry at McGill University whom Bambi had the honour to interview (https://bit.ly/3TTCAv9) following a National Post article about him (https://bit.ly/3EQOMZm). As a reminder, he was denied research grants because he clearly wrote that that he would hire researchers based on merit, not skin hue. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada turned down his grant application, worth $450,000, on the justification that “the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion considerations in [his] application were deemed insufficient.”
Now, the CIHR is telling us that “our research entreprise” is “systemically racist” (https://bit.ly/3tQFl62; https://bit.ly/3UTSQ0l); now our country is into the business of “eliminating systemic racism in Canada’s health research funding system“. No, it is no longer about merit and about advancing science. It is about advancing ideologies.
Can someone tell Bambi why should the CIHR, or any other funding agency, care to know about her identity, self- or otherwise, characteristics? The only metric that should matter must be the quality of the review, period.
This ”Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” crap is becoming pervasive. Since the Canadian constitution and especially Charter of Rights guarantees Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion among other rights since 1982, why should we need to have it hammered over our heads all the time? The answer is the ideology at play is imported from the United States.
I also read where several public figures are being publicly shamed for not having Native ancestry after making public affirmations to the contrary. I’d like to read Bambi’s take on that also.
Bambi thanks you Fred for sharing your insights. True indeed, if we have a Charter of Rights, why do we need all this then? Bambi read today about a new term called “equity-deserving groups” in programs/awards created by our federal government or awards in arts (i.e., TIFF–CBC Films Screenwriter Award). The word “deserving” is highly disturbing for Bambi. It implies that there are groups that are deserving and others less deserving. Once again, where is talent or merit to be rewarded for all/anyone?
You raised an interesting point and challenged Bambi with a question. She will take the time to reply. Count on her. Maybe not now, as it is getting late and she prefers to have an alert mind before answering. Thank you and stay tuned 🙂
Bambi did not forget to get back to you, Fred, with regard to your question about “public figures are being publicly shamed for not having Native ancestry after making public affirmations to the contrary”. She has been just too busy, but she took the time to quickly think about it. It is both sad and not surprising to hear about stories like this. Some well documented in the media. Not surprising because this is what risks happening in divisive societies, more and more relying on identity or sub-identity characteristics for this or that position, for this or that privilege. Bambi will give an example, which is not related to Canada. Take Lebanon, for example, where religious affiliations are used to determine the President of the Republic must be (Maronite) Christian, the Prime Minister Sunni Muslim, and the Parliament Speaker Shiite Muslim. Keep also in mind that all other public posts are also divided according to religious quotas. So, someone like Bambi can never get the chance to become neither president, nor prime minister, nor parliament speaker. Imagine that someone like Bambi that could officially change religion or “pretend” otherwise just to be able to do so. If we come back to Canada’s context, we now have here what we call “self-identification” and we have groups that are seen as holy more than others. The temptation will be bigger. Bambi hopes she answered your question. Thank you and have a good one!
Thank you Bambi. I didn’t know all that about Lebanon until this past weekend when I listened to this interesting podcast with Lebanese author Pierre Jarawan:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/writersandcompany/pierre-jarawan-probes-lebanon-s-troubled-past-in-his-affecting-new-novel-song-for-the-missing-1.6661369
Amazing Fred– Bambi was just typing your name in a forthcoming post related to this one; please stay tuned to see why :). Many thanks for your kind reply and for the link. She is eager to listen to author Pierre Jarawan!
Am I becoming ”the CBC article sharer” prototype? At least CBC Radio is still good on the weekends when it sounds like Canada. I definitely thought of Bambi when listening to Pierre Jarawan in conversation.
Bambi thanks you Fred, from the bottom of her heart, for this wonderful CBC interview and for the discovery: Mr. Pierre Jarrawan, a Lebanese-German author, is so interesting and obviously VERY talented! Ms. Eleanor Wachtel who interviewed him is fantastic too! Bambi is eager to read his novels and try to see if any of his oral performances could be found somewhere. Bambi is still listening to the end of the interview while typing now. What a moving and enriching chat. She could not help not to smile when he said if you think you understand Lebanon, it is because the person who told you about it did not explain it well :). It is a formal saying, it seems. He described Beirut and Lebanon’s political system so well. Bambi was moved to know that he tells the story of those who went missing during civil war (their families and friends are still waiting for them…). Also moving to hear stories of the second generation of Germans (children of immigrants). It is also fascinating to know how his two siblings and himself were born in 3 different countries after escaping the Lebanese war. He has a nice sense of humour. For instance, he is a father to infant twins. He said they are quarter Lebanese, but together (as twins) they are half-Lebanese. Cute :). Bambi will share the interview with her German cousin/aunt and family in Beirut. She wonders if they know him. She will follow his work from now on, thanks to you :)!