Ottawa—The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is encouraged by the 2025 federal budget’s acknowledgement of the importance of science and research to Canada. Though the budget was against a backdrop of government 15 per cent spending reductions, the federal granting agencies were spared the full brunt of the government’s cuts.
“The government listened to Canadian researchers and recognized our work is foundational to Canada’s success,” said Karine Morin, Chair of the CCR. “Research funding supports innovative and important research projects that have meaningful impact. Science and research are essential to build a stronger Canada.”
Budget 2025 also included significant funding for an international research talent recruitment plan. Though current members of the CCR are not the target of this ambitious recruitment initiative, this program will bring new colleagues and ideas to strengthen research and science. The government also signaled an intention to engage in an examination of Canada’s research ecosystem and whether further supports are required to retain talent. The CCR looks forward to engaging the government on this important topic.
“Along with attracting new talent, we must ensure our sector is attractive enough to retain our best and brightest,” says Morin. “Upon examination, the government might come to the same conclusion as the CCR: Canada is rich with homegrown talent, however, there are obstacles to leveraging our talent that need to be addressed. Canada doesn’t lack research talent; we lack research funding and opportunities.”
The CCR acknowledges that the following key measures in Budget 2025 will help enhance the Canadian research ecosystem:
- $1.7 billion for an International Talent Attraction Strategy and Action Plan, including:
- $1 billion over 13 years to recruit “exception international researchers to Canadian universities”.
- $400 million over seven years to establish a complimentary stream of research infrastructure support through the Canada Foundation of Innovation to support the talent that is recruited to Canada.
- $133.6 million over three years to enable top international doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows to relocate to Canada.
- $120 million over 12 years to the granting councils to support universities’ recruitment of international assistant professors.
- Commitment to implement the capstone research organization, as announced in Budget 2024, without any additional details.
- Maintaining last year’s significant budget commitments to increase grants, fellowships and scholarships.
- 2 per cent or $83 million funding cut to the federal granting agencies – Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). While less than other departments, this cut exacerbates a shortage of funding for Canada’s research ecosystem.
Though our community did not expect to see increases in research funding as part of the 2025 budget, we now urge the government not to delay in the formation of a talent retention strategy or in releasing details of the new capstone agency. There is no doubt: Canadian talent retention requires sustained federal research support and addressing the chronic under-funding of the post-secondary sector is critical. As Budget 2025 expressed clearly, research is of “foundational importance” to “improving our global competitiveness and contributing to the economy of the future”.
The CCR stands ready to engage with and assist the government on the implementation of these investments.