The rise of populist movements has impacted political struggles over marquee policy challenges such as climate change. As a result, the question of where expertise and “evidence-based policy” fits into democratic political life has attained a new pertinence.

Most recently, in Canada, opposition to carbon pricing from the Conservative Party, amid an increase in the Liberal government’s levy, prompted hundreds of economists to sign an open letter defending the measure. They used the occasion to “encourage governments to use economically sensible policies to reduce emissions at a low cost, address Canadians’ affordability concerns, maintain business competitiveness, and support Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”

In reply, the Conservatives declared that they won’t be heeding the advice of “so-called experts.” They took the opportunity to remind anyone who’d listen that taxes are bad and the country’s ongoing affordability crisis makes them worse, whatever climate change might have in store for us. The reply was reminiscent of Trumpian MAGA politics south of the border — sneering, anti-intellectual, and counterproductive. The economists who signed the letter weren’t signing as political partisans or even as defenders of the government. They signed as experts supporting a policy tool.