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The Two Contradictions In Public Inquiries, Liora Salter

Dalhousie Law Journal

Given how frequently they are commissioned, it is surprising how little has been written about inquiries and, more particularly, about the role of science and advocacy within them.' The lack of serious attention paid to inquiries may be a product of their diversity. For example, inquiries include royal commissions and consultative committees and risk assessments. Some of these inquiries have wide-ranging mandates, commission extensive research and actively solicit public commentary, while others are more closely akin to legal proceedings. Grouping such different objectives and activities under a single category - namely, inquiries - is intrinsically difficult. Or the reason for …