QUESTION PERIOD — Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Research Funding
December 7, 2022
Senator Gold, the October 2022 report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research recommended:
That the Government of Canada increase the number of scholarships and fellowships to graduate students and post‑doctoral researchers, increase their value by 25% to reflect increases in cost of living since their last adjustment in 2003 and index the amount to the consumer price index.
Will the Government of Canada implement this recommendation in the upcoming budget?
Thank you for your question, senator.
The government understands, as I’ve said before in this chamber, the importance of investing in research and our students, including graduate students. Indeed, the government has made historical investments in fundamental research over the last five years.
Colleagues, I note that the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System was launched on October 6, 2022, and this panel will provide the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Health with policy advice on the structure, the governance and the management of the federal system that supports research and talent. As well, the panel will advise how to ensure that federal support for Canada’s academic research enterprise is coordinated, cohesive, responsive and agile.
The government looks forward to the panel’s work, and it is always looking for ways it can better serve Canadians.
Details of the upcoming budget for this initiative will be made available once it has been tabled.
Thank you very much, Senator Gold. Sadly, we are all aware of the number of panels and reports that have happened before with little action resulting from them. I’m hopeful that it won’t be the same with this one.
But that same report lamented Canada’s inadequate and globally lacking investment in fundamental research; we are way behind. It recommended:
That the Government of Canada review and increase its investments in fundamental research through increases to the budgets of the three granting councils.
Thousands of scientists from across Canada have called for a doubling of the funding for the Tri-Council. Will the Government of Canada heed those calls and provide that essential funding for the upcoming budget, or will we continue to languish behind other countries?
Thank you for your question.
The government has been steadfast in its financial support of all scientists and research. That’s why Budget 2022 proposes $38.3 million over four years to the federal granting councils to add new internationally recruited Canada Excellence Research Chairs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Since 2016, the government has provided more than $14 billion in new resources to support science and research.
As I have said, the government is committed to continuing to support a robust science and research ecosystem that reflects Canada’s strengths and advances Canada’s interests. As I mentioned a moment ago, once the upcoming budget has been tabled, details of that budget will be made available to the benefit of all senators.
