Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI/EDI) policies in Canada’s federal research system have weakened academic research and reduced overall academic performance at Canadian universities, according to a new report by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
The report, released Sept. 1, bases its conclusions on an analysis of Canada Research Chair (CRC) holders from 2016 to 2025, comparing their research output and citation rates. The researchers also examined EDI-related language in chair descriptions and compared results across demographic groups and research fields.
The authors argue the increased emphasis on EDI targets in awarding Canada Research Chairs has resulted in an “equity-excellence trade-off.”
“Our analysis reveals that EDI has actively weakened Canadian research and reduced overall academic performance at Canadian universities,” writes the report’s authors Eric Kaufmann, Leif Rasmussen, and Jonah Davids….