QUESTION PERIOD — Global Affairs
International Education Strategy
October 29, 2026
Senator Moreau, Universities Canada held its annual fall meetings this week. Many of us met with university presidents from our regions.
Prime Minister Carney is currently hosting the first Canada-European Union Summit in Montreal with the goal of leveraging our complementary strengths and delivering greater certainty, security and prosperity to both sides of the Atlantic.
Universities can play a central role in achieving these goals. They are recommending expanding Canada’s International Education Strategy to attract global talent, coordinating strategic investment in Canada’s domestic skills pipeline by ensuring that universities are integral partners in the design and delivery of federal workforce initiatives, and harnessing university research to advance national priorities.
Senator Moreau, will the government work with universities to take advantage of their strengths, as recommended?
Thank you, Senator Coyle, for your question. The federal government knows that educational institutions are essential for building a healthier, more prosperous Canada. They represent one of the strongest advantages Canada has on the international economic stage.
I am happy to inform you that last week, on October 23, the government announced an investment of more than $813 million to support world-class research through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. That foundation provides funding to universities, research and other educational institutions. This specific funding will support over 450 researchers across Canada, assisting research infrastructure and helping Canadian institutions with the indirect cost of research.
That is wonderful. Hopefully, the government will be interested in the other recommendations as well.
Senator Moreau, more than three quarters of Canadians support increased federal investment in universities. Would the government consider using existing tax mechanisms to increase the GST/HST rebate for universities to 100%, aligning the treatment of our universities with the treatment of municipalities and other public interest organizations? This would allow institutions to reinvest an estimated $240 million —
Thank you, Senator Coyle.
Senator Coyle, during Question Period yesterday, I repeated many times that I cannot comment on the government’s future financial commitments.
However, negotiations with the provinces on sharing the financial load with different orders of government and jurisdictions — notably, the costly ones, such as health and education — are always happening. The government takes a cooperative approach with its provincial counterparts and regularly consults them.
I will certainly bring your proposal to the minister.
