Submissions to Government

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CCR’S WRITTEN SUBMISSION FOR THE PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE 2024 BUDGET

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: That the government increase funding to the base budgets of each of CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC for core programming by at least 10% annually for five years

Recommendation 2: That the government significantly increase the value and number of scholarships and fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to keep pace with increases to costs of living and with research trainee compensation trends around the world and to ensure that Canadian research and its scientific expertise remain proportional to its demographic weight across nations.

Recommendation 3: That the government enhance programming to support early to mid-career researchers to accelerate their pathway to becoming leaders of tomorrow, inclusive of committing to new research chair positions for tenure-track early career researchers.

Recommendation 4: That the government, in fulfilling the above recommendations, renew funding for EDI in research programming and data collection and analysis, to support a truly inclusive research environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences as relates to gender equity, racialized and Indigenous researchers, those living with disabilities, and francophones.

 

Canada, and the world, rely on strong science and research to investigate fundamental questions, drive innovation, make ground-breaking discoveries, and increase understanding of complex problems.

At present, Canada is not making the best use of our existing talent and capacity, and we are falling behind our peers internationally in investments in research and science, threatening our ability to attract and retain world-class researchers. Furthermore, Canada is not investing enough in training the next generation of talent.

The recently released Report of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System stated, “we must continue to examine ways to enhance the system of supports to ensure that Canada’s research and talent remain among the best in the world so that we can tackle challenges and seize opportunities facing us today and in the future.” In keeping with this, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) supports the following recommendations made in the report. If implemented, they will position Canada well to address the critical and complex research, economic, and societal challenges of today and tomorrow, and improve our collective well-being, competitiveness, and prosperity.

1: Solidify the base: invest in fundamental science

Basic research is the foundation of all science. Experts note that a minimum of $3 must be spent on discovery-based research to $1 of mission-driven or applied research for a thriving research ecosystem.

After a decade of neglect, Budget 2018 was a leap in the right direction. Canada has since plateaued, losing ground post-pandemic, as Canada’s international counterparts (i.e., US, Japan, Australia, UK, Germany, etc.) have significantly re-invested in research and science as a national pillar of interest. For example, the US recently committed US$200 billion over ten years for science; Japan created a US$87 billion fund devoted to science leadership, and the UK increased its annual government investment in R&D to £20 billion by 2024-25.

An increase in funding for basic research is also needed to increase compensation for students. A significant portion of support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows is paid, not through scholarships, but through stipends or salaries out of grant funding awarded to supervising professors. By involving trainees in their research, grantees train the next generation of highly qualified personnel (HQP), providing them with research experience and skills, which in turn develops greater research capacity. Roughly 35,000 trainees are supported indirectly in this way, totalling an estimated $726 million annually. This is almost three times the current annual spending by the granting councils for direct support via their scholarship and fellowship programs. Support for highly qualified personnel, including trainees and other technical research personnel, typically constitutes the majority of research grant funding awarded. The number and value of research grants are currently insufficient for the demand, and to support competitive salaries for trainees or staff scientists.

Investment in fundamental science is needed, not only to pay research students and staff fairly and to keep up with the rise in the costs of research, but to ensure that more research can be funded.

Currently, there are many peer-approved research applications that do not proceed due to a lack of funding – this impacts Canada’s overall research ecosystem and trainees.

Recommendation: Initial increase of at least 10% annually for five years to the granting councils’ total base budgets for their core programming to address a) the opportunities resulting from growth in the system (e.g., increasing number of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows many of whom are funded via research assistantships through professors’ grants); b) the effects of inflation; and c) the importance of nurturing a globally competitive research and talent base.

2.  Nurture the next generation of researchers

The value and number of the government’s awards (i.e., scholarships and fellowships) for university research trainees have not kept pace with increases to the cost of living nor with research trainee compensation trends around the world and retention of research-enabled talent. As a result of underfunding, student researchers – particularly those in marginalized or under-represented groups – are required to take on additional jobs, thereby negatively impacting their research output productivity, as well as their physical and mental health.

Recommendation: Significantly increase the value and number of scholarships and fellowships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to keep pace with increases to costs of living and with research trainee compensation trends around the world and to ensure that Canadian research and its scientific expertise remain proportional to its demographic weight across nations.

3.  Support the talent continuum

In addition to increasing the support for Canada’s graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the development of Canada’s research talent across the continuum must also be nurtured and supported.

There is also a need for enhanced programming to support early to mid-career professors. Pre-tenure competitive programming to reward early-career research excellence will boost Canada’s capacity to retain top, diverse talent, while enabling the scientific leaders of tomorrow to build ambitious, world- leading programs that will attract and fund trainees at all levels.

It is estimated that one out of three academic staff are working in teaching-only contracts. The federal government can play a role to address the underemployment of Canada’s highest quality personnel by dedicating funding to support faculty renewal of top, diverse early career researchers through programs like the Canada Research Chairs.

Recommendation: Commit to enhanced programming to support early to mid-career researchers, inclusive of new research chair positions for tenure-track early career researchers.

4.  Accelerate equity, diversity, and inclusive research

In fulfilling these recommendations, it is critical that the government supports and fosters a truly inclusive research environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences as relates to gender equity, racialized and Indigenous researchers, those living with disabilities, and francophones.

The additional funding for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research, committed in Budget 2018 has now expired and must be renewed. This would renew the Dimensions program, which has shown early promise in supporting culture change, as well as the EDI capacity-building grants and funding for Statistics Canada to deepen its work in collecting EDI data on the student and science and research workforce.

Recommendation: Renew funding for EDI in research programming and data collection and analysis.

Click Read the full submission.

FEDERAL BUDGET MISSES OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE CANADA’S RESEARCH ADVANTAGE

(Ottawa) – The federal government tabled Budget 2023 on March 28th. While acknowledging the support provided in previous budgets, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) expresses its deep disappointment that no new investments in fundamental research were made which will negatively impact Canada’s global relevance, and the next generation of researchers.
“For Canada to be competitive through economic and social innovation, we must create new knowledge, and recruit and retain top calibre researchers. This budget is a missed opportunity to sustain robust and sustainable research science culture in Canada,” said Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker, Chair of the CCR.

Click here to read the full response

Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Budget

Building on Our Strength: Higher Education Research and Science

Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Budget

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation #1: Increase base funding levels of the Tri-Councils for investigator-led research by $200 million per year for the next five years.

Recommendation #2: Increase the number and value of scholarship awards by $185 million in 2023 and an additional $55 million per year, thereafter.

Recommendation #3: Renew investments in equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives related to research.

Recommendation #4: Expand the Statistics Canada academic staff survey (UCASS) to include data on part-time faculty and develop a Science and Research Human Resource Strategy.

Recommendation #5: Increase funding for government science by at least $740 million annually to return funding levels to 2010/11 levels and review barriers to government-academic partnerships.


INTRODUCTION

Higher education research and development, the strength of Canada’s research and science ecosystem, remains severely underfunded. The $1 billion investment in fundamental science in Budget 2018 restored some funding for basic research after years of neglect.  Budget 2022 saw an investment of $3 billion to initiatives to incent businesses to invest in research and development.  A further commitment of $1 billion over five years for fundamental science is needed to keep solid this foundation of our knowledge infrastructure.

In addition, Canada must take immediate steps to fix the shrinking pipeline of scientists and researchers by better supporting graduate students, developing a national research and science human resource strategy, and supporting government science.

Another key strength of Canada is our diversity. Our Budget 2023 submission calls for a modest investment of $30 million to programs aimed at increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion within our research and science community.

  1. Invest $1 billion over five years in fundamental science

The base of Canada’s research ecosystem is fundamental science. Basic research expands knowledge needed for progress and innovation. This was recognized by the government in Budget 2018 which noted that:

“Canada’s prospects are bright thanks in part to earlier investments in science, research, and innovation. These investments built world-leading Canadian universities and colleges and created a strong research environment—one that has resulted in global recognition and has succeeded in attracting top talent in important emerging fields like artificial intelligence. The next step is to build on this success and make Canada a beacon that attracts the very best researchers from across the globe.”

The funding commitments made in 2018 were essential to shore up the crumbling base of our research ecosystem. However, they fall far short of making Canada a beacon that attracts the very best.

  • When accounting for inflation, funding at CIHR and NSERC has not grown since 2012/13.[i]
  • The flagship inter-disciplinary, international, fast-breaking, and higher-risk research fund has a 17.2% success rate.
  • The value of grants has not increased in real terms.

Canada’s research intensity was 1.70% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of 2.68%.[ii] When examined, our key strength is in Higher Education Expenditures on Research and Development (HERD) and we lag on Business Expenditures (BERD). To address the latter, the government invested $3 billion in Budget 2022 to initiatives to incent businesses to invest in research and development.

Meanwhile HERD, the strength of our research and science ecosystem, is not where it needs to be, even after a $1 billion Budget 2018 investment to restore some funding for basic research after years of neglect. To build on our strength of higher education research and development, an additional $1 billion over 5 years to granting council funding is needed.

This recommendation is echoed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research in its report, Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for Science in Canada, released in June 2022, “the Government of Canada increase its investments in fundamental research through increases to the budgets of the three granting councils.”

  1. Increase support for graduate students

Graduate scholarship awards have remained unchanged for nearly 20 years, and postdoctoral fellowships had only a small increase in the same timeframe. As the cost of living has steadily increased, these scholarships and fellowships provide inadequate support or incentive to continue to do this work in Canada.

We recommend that the government increase scholarship and fellowship award amounts for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers by $185 million in 2023 and an additional $55 million per year thereafter, to increase both the value and the number of awards, and to index to the consumer price index (CPI).

  1. Renew investments in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives

A diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and thought breed great science and research. This government has made progress in ensuring that publicly supported science and research is equitable and diverse. Budget 2018 committed $21 million to seeding change.  These initiatives are just taking root and the commitment must be renewed with additional funding to ensure these EDI initiatives flourish.

Specifically, the government should commit $30 million over five years to continue the following:

  • The EDI Capacity Building Grants
  • The Dimensions program
  • The Survey on Post-Secondary Researchers to assess impact of CoViD-19
  • The University and College Academic Staff Survey (UCASS) and increase to include data beyond gender
  1. Expand Statistics Canada academic staff survey to include data on part-time faculty and develop a Science and Research Human Resource Strategy

The limited data[iii], [1] we have shows that Canada’s science and research workforce is shrinking. Since 2006, we have seen a 21% decline in tenure-track positions and a near doubling of ‘off the tenure-track’ contract positions. The off-track positions are employed on teaching only contracts with no support for research. In the words of one observer, “Canada is hemorrhaging early career research capacity.”[iv]

As noted by the President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), “[There are] minimal opportunities for starting academics to undertake meaningful research…The real challenge…lies…specifically in finding ways to expand academic offerings to accelerate onboarding of early career researchers in an environment that is increasingly constrained financially.”[v]

The number of researchers in Canada has declined over the last six years—the only G7 country to experience a decrease. Between 2014 and 2018, the number of full-time researchers per million inhabitants in Canada declined by 4.8%. During that same period, the number of researchers in the U.S. increased by 4.9%, in the United Kingdom by 9%, and in Germany by a full 20%.[vi]

As a recent Council of Canadian Academies report concluded, cultivating a robust, resilient, and diverse scientific workforce is central to the development of a nation’s research capacity and requires supporting researchers throughout their careers.[vii], [viii]

  1. Restore funding for government to 2010/11 levels and review barriers to government-academic partnerships

Science undertaken by the government complements, contributes to, and benefits from the work of academic researchers. Government science facilities, like the Experimental Lakes Area, welcome post-secondary researchers and students alongside government scientists. When government science is well funded, supported, and allowed to be freely shared with the broader scientific community, there are direct and indirect benefits for Canada’s academic research community and, ultimately, all Canadians. For this reason, the CCR joins other stakeholders to recommend that funding for government science be increased by at least $740 million annually to return funding levels to 2010/11 levels.[ix]

In addition, to make it easier to carry out joint research with government scientists, the granting agencies should review barriers for partnership with government scientists, including those presented by industry linkage and cost-sharing requirements.

Contact:
Lisa Votta-Bleeker, Ph.D.
Chair, Canadian Consortium for Research executiveoffice@cpa.ca
613-237-2144, ext. 323


[i] Statistics Canada. Federal extramural expenditures on science and technology, by performing sector and major departments and agencies.

[ii] OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators, March 2022 Edition

[iii] Data on the academic workforce is drawn from Statistics Canada, University and College Academic Staff System Survey and the long-form census.

[iv] Wright, Julia. (2017).  How to invest in our PhDs? Through faculty renewal. University Affairs.

[v] Hewitt. Ted . (2018). Underemployment of PhDs hurts research. This article was originally published in The Chronicle Herald on January 3, 2018.

[vi] Sylvain Charbonneau. Vice-president of research and innovation at the University of Ottawa, (2021) Oral Testimony. House of Commons Committee on Science and Research, February 10.

[vii] Council of Canadian Academies, (2021.) Powering Discovery: The Expert Panel on International Practices for Funding Natural Sciences and Engineering Research.


[ix] McGrath, Eleanor. (2021). A decade of defunded public science: preparing for the next crisis. Sciencepolicy.ca


Click here for the full submission as a PDF.
 

CCR’s WRITTEN SUBMISSION FOR THE PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE 2022 BUDGET

COVID-19 showed that science is relevant and impactful at all levels, from individuals and businesses to municipalities, nations and the world. Science knows no boundaries; it has been, is, and will continue to be relied upon by decision-makers for continued management of the pandemic, for important discoveries and new knowledge, to re-start Canada’s economy, and to innovate and compete internationally. This is dependent on sustained support of a broad spectrum of research carried out in various environments (academic, industrial, research institutions, government laboratories, NFPs). Science innovations that enhance the economy and work to address issues such as those that have arisen as a result of COVID-19 happen when students and researchers from all disciplines and sectors (e.g., universities, government departments, data collection agencies, libraries) are supported with graduate scholarships, research funding, infrastructure support, institutional support, and career development opportunities – investments that show the government’s support for a prosperous science culture.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation #1: That the federal government address the outstanding recommendations from the 2017 Fundamental Science Review report. The Government of Canada has acted on some of the FSR Report’s recommendations; however, the government needs to address the critical 60% gap between the recommended increase to base funding for basic science and what has been implemented to date.

Recommendation #2: That the federal government increase its research and development (R&D) investments in Canada to re-start Canada’s economic recovery and find solutions to the many pressing and complex challenges facing Canada and society, including:

  • a 1% increase in Canada’s gross domestic expenditure in R&D which, at 1.56%, is at its lowest since 2001 (OECD average is 2.4%)
  • increased funding to the base budgets of each of CIHR, SSHRC, and NSERC for fundamental basic and applied research by at least 10% yearly, until commensurate with other G7 countries
  • increased support for diversity in research particularly as relates to gender equity, visible minorities, researchers with disabilities, and Indigenous researchers

Recommendation #3: That the federal government provide better coordination and oversight for science and research in Canada so that Canada is effectively positioned to address the next major issue impacting Canada that requires scientific input and analysis by:

  • establishing the National Advisory Council on Research and Innovation
  • ensuring that the Chief Science Adviser is established as a permanent position within the Canadian government

Recommendation #4: That the federal government increase its support for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, early career scientists and international students by:

  • increasing funding for graduate scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships by $185 million in 2022 to increase both value and number awarded, with an additional $55 million per year phased in over the following three years
  • extending the temporary funding packages introduced to assist students impacted by COVID
  • restoring funding of the Canada Research Chairs program to 2012 levels with an investment of $140 million over the next two years ($35 million in fiscal 2022/23; $115 million in fiscal 2023/24), asymmetrically allocating new chairs to Tier 2 awards to help early career researchers

Recommendation #5: That the federal government increase its support for facilities and administrative costs of research by:

  • increasing the Research Support Fund from 21% to 40%
  • increasing funding to meet the small-medium equipment needs of individual researchers
  • ensuring the viability of research labs and institutional settings in which research is conducted

The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is pleased to provide this 2022 pre-budget consultation submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

Read the full submission…


CCR Response to 2021 Federal Budget

Basic Investments in Canada’s Research Ecosystem Pay Many Dividends

(Ottawa, ON) April 23, 2021 – The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) recognizes the significance of this week’s federal budget, which identified a series of social, health and economic investments meant to place Canada on the road to recovery from the COVID-19 global pandemic.  While science contributed significantly to the management of the pandemic, Canada’s research community was itself significantly impacted by the pandemic. We remain concerned that there were too few measures introduced to continue re-building Canada’s research ecosystem.

“The budget stops short of recognizing the concurrent contributions and impacts of the pandemic on Canada’s research community, and the role that research plays in Canada’s economic recovery”, says Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker, CCR Chair. “Today’s investment in basic research is tomorrow’s discoveries and innovations which drive our future competitiveness and prosperity.”

Budget 2021 invests in targeted research committing $2.2 billion over the next seven years to boost Canada’s biomedical and life sciences research sector to in part increase vaccine development. While these investments are welcomed, Budget 2021 did not include any new funds for the base operating budgets of Canada’s tri-councils for investigator-driven research, nor did it consider the critical funding still needed to support researchers, trainees and students such as was provided by the 2020 Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund.

In its 2021 pre-budget submission, CCR members noted “…it is more critical than ever that the federal government increase its support for Canada’s research funding agencies, students, early career researchers, academic institutions, international research, and research labs”.[1]

Canada’s research ecosystem was significantly impacted by the pandemic. Research labs, studies, careers, particularly among women, and post-doctoral fellowships were halted and, in some cases, ended entirely. Physical distancing requirements created undeniable difficulties for many research projects in academic and non-academic settings. Reduced research funding from charities and non-profits left early career researchers with years of decreased funding opportunities. International students left Canada, and in some cases have yet to return. All these combined have not only impacted Canada’s academic and scientific resources in the short-term, but will be felt for many years to come.

“The inclusion of researchers in health sciences in the emergency wage subsidy program was helpful, but Budget 2021 fails to provide the ongoing research support and kickstart needed to regain the fundamental science that stalled or stopped in the pandemic,” notes Votta-Bleeker. “We were behind where we needed to be before the pandemic, and the gap has just widened.”

Canada’s current government expenditure in R&D is the lowest it has been since 2001 at 1.54% compared to the OECD average of 2.47% (a 55% gap), putting Canada 23rd among the 37 OECD countries. Investment in R&D is necessary to Canada’s economic recovery. The CCR called on the federal government for an increase of at least 10% to the base funding of CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC, until commensurate with other G7 countries, for investigator-driven research. R&D includes fundamental research undertaken in academia and industry; applied research directed towards specific objectives; and experimental development to produce new, or improve existing, products and processes. Together these boost economic growth and drive innovation, the impacts of which are better jobs and higher productivity.

“Canada’s research community will continue to call for increases in basic research, as it is needed to both cultivate a strong and viable science culture, domestically and internationally, and to support and secure current and future generations of researchers who will ultimately contribute to Canada’s economic strength and recovery.”

———–

The CCR is the largest advocacy coalition in Canada, focusing on research funding in all disciplines and support for post-secondary education. CCR includes 20 organizations that represent more than 50,000 researchers and 500,000 students across disciplines.

For more information:        Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker
Chair, Canadian Consortium for Research
executiveoffice@cpa.ca


[1]Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2021 Budget, Canadian Consortium for Research, p.4, https://ccr-ccr.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CCR_Pre-Budget_2021Consultation_Submission_FINAL.pdf

Download the full Press Release here

CCR’s Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2021 Budget

The global response to the pandemic has shown that science is relevant and impactful at all levels, from individuals and businesses to municipalities, regions, nations and the world. Science knows no boundaries; it has been, is, and will continue to be relied upon by decision-makers for continued management of the pandemic and to re-start Canada’s economy.

Canada’s capacity to innovate and compete internationally, and in turn recover and thrive economically, is dependent on sustained support of a broad spectrum of research carried out in various environments (academic, industrial, research institutions, government laboratories, not-for-profit settings). Science advances and innovations that enhance the economy and work to address issues such as those that have arisen as a result of COVID-19 happen when students and researchers from all disciplines and sectors (e.g., universities, government departments, data collection agencies, libraries) are supported with graduate scholarships, research funding, infrastructure support, institutional support, and career development opportunities.

The FSR report represents a detailed, well-researched, and measured roadmap for how the federal government can boost the economy via fundamental science and research. What must happen now is that the remaining recommendations of the FSR Report are implemented quickly with continued monitoring and assessment to significantly mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and thereby ensure that Canada’s needs are met and researchers are able to address society’s most pressing questions.

Contact:
Lisa Votta-Bleeker, Ph.D.
Chair, Canadian Consortium for Research
executiveoffice@cpa.ca
613-237-2144, ext. 323

Read the Full Submission

The CCR has drafted the following statement to speak to the government’s support for research during COVID-19

The Canadian Consortium for Research welcomes federal support for research during pandemic

(Ottawa – May 15, 2020) The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) applauds the Government of Canada’s efforts to support research and researchers in light of current COVID-related challenges. Most recently, the federal government announced $450 million in funding to support universities and health research institutes.

As a result of COVID-19, many researchers across the country have been forced to suspend, and in some cases, end their work. “The granting councils as well as other funding agencies have helped the research community greatly by offering grant extensions and allowing exceptions to the rules governing the use of grants. Most recently, there was concern for the health researchers and research staff who were falling through the cracks of government programs and facing layoffs,” said Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker, Chair of the Canadian Consortium. “It is very encouraging to see the government address this issue and provide essential support to the research community.”

It was estimated that up to 15,000 health researchers, research nurses or lab technicians who were researching cancer, cardiovascular health, dementia, and many other areas of health would face layoffs because universities and health research institutes who were funded through industry and philanthropic donations were not eligible for the federal wage subsidy program or other government supports for research.

Last week’s announcement allows universities and research institutes in these situations to access this federal support, which offers 75 per cent per individual to a maximum of $847 a week. Additionally, 75 per cent of total eligible costs to maintain and restart essential research related activities, such as safe storage of dangerous substances and restarting data sets, will also be covered.

“Ensuring that research staff are retained, that research funds are available, and that research activities are supported during these challenging times means that vital work and innovation can continue as our country begins to recover,” said Dr. Votta-Bleeker. “The CCR applauds the research community for its advocacy on these matters, and the government and funding agencies for hearing the concerns of the research community. We look forward to continuing to work with the federal government and the funding agencies to ensure that all researchers, students, trainees and research staff, and ultimately the research they conduct, are supported through this difficult time.”

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker
Chair, Canadian Consortium for Research
science@cpa.ca

Canadian Consortium for Research Looks Forward to Advancing Science Agenda for Canada

OTTAWA, October 24, 2019 — In the recent federal election, the Liberal Party of Canada won a second mandate, claiming 157 seats for a strong minority parliament. The Conservative Party claimed 121 seats, the Bloc Québécois took 32 seats, the NDP won 24, and the Green Party claimed three seats.

“We congratulate the government on its second mandate and look forward to working with new and returning Members of Parliament to advance a strong and vibrant science agenda and culture for Canada,” said Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker, Chair of the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR).

In its previous mandate, the government made significant strides in improving Canada’s position as a world-leader in fundamental research for the natural, health and social sciences by commissioning the Fundamental Science Review (FSR) under Dr. David Naylor; making record new investments for fundamental science and research infrastructure in Budget 2018; and providing a means for high level scientific expertise to interact with the Government, through the creation of the Chief Science Advisor and subsequent appointment of Dr. Mona Nemer to it.

The FSR panel’s final report included 34 recommendations that covered the following areas: improved governance and coordination; improved prospects for the next generation of researchers; restoration of core funding for independent research grants; new investments to attract and/or retain top-flight established researchers; and phased investments to strengthen the overall research environment and stabilize Canada’s Big Science facilities. Thus far, some key recommendations have been addressed only in part.

“As outlined in the Fundamental Science Report, there are numerous steps still to be made in terms of investments in fundamental science, tangible commitments by both government and business to fostering research and development, and training the next generation of researchers,” said Dr. Votta-Bleeker. “The CCR looks forward to continuing our work with the government and all parliamentarians to capitalize on the important steps made – and still to be made – to position Canada as a leader in advancing knowledge and innovation, and a country that cultivates a strong science culture, domestically and internationally.”

Click here for the PDF.

Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2020 Budget

The CCR is pleased to provide this 2020 pre-budget consultation submission to the House of
Commons Standing Committee on Finance. The CCR and its member organizations and members
are of the belief that the themes for Budget 2020 of climate change, national research, and
development and innovation, are inter-dependent themes that are critical to progressing on the
goal of growing and sustaining Canada’s prosperity.

Click here for the full submission.

Written Submission for the House of Commons Standing Committee of Finance Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2019 Budget

RECOMMENDATIONS

Students and Early Career: Students and early career researchers represent the next generation of researchers who will contribute to Canada’s science culture, productivity and competitiveness by making ground-breaking discoveries and tackling the many economic, social, and cultural challenges facing Canadians. The CCR recommends

  • enhanced personnel support for students and trainees at different career stages (total base increase of $140 million per year be phased in over four years, in equal increments of $35 million per year to harmonize, upgrade and strategically focus the system of graduate student and post-doctoral fellow supports)
  • the creation of research chairs for excellent scholars and scientists with a focus on early career researchers making the transition to mid-career, with a $35 million investment this year and a $105 million the following year.

Institutional Research Support: To enhance the environment for science and scholarship by improved coverage of the institutional costs of research, the CCR recommends

  • adding $314 million to the existing $1.7 billion per year the federal government currently pays through the Research Support Fund.

Research Infrastructure: Targeted spending is required for: i) infrastructure-related start up (small-scale equipment) costs; ii) ongoing costs to support major science facilities; and iii) replacements costs for research tools and instruments that are outdated. The CCR recommends

  • that in addition to a stable annual budget for CFI of $300 million, an additional $35 million annually be provided to CFI for major research facilities (MRFs) matching ratio funding, and an additional $5 million for research tools and instruments replacement costs
  • that appropriate support be provided to national research facilities funded through other federal mechanisms (e.g., TRIUMF’s operational funding that flows through the National Research Council), and that the Government move forward in a timely manner to implement the Fundamental Science Report’s recommendation to better coordinate planning around national big science infrastructure.

ASSISTING CANADIANS AND BUSINESSES TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND COMPETITIVE

Consistent with last year’s theme of fostering productivity and competitiveness for Canadians, as part of the prebudget consultation in advance of the 2019 budget, the government is seeking input on what steps the federal government can take to support and/or encourage Canadians and their businesses to grow the economy – from a productivity and competitiveness perspective – in the face of a changing economic landscape.

With 20 member-organizations, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) represents more than 50,000 researchers and 650,000 students across disciplines. It is the largest advocacy coalition in Canada focusing on research funding in all disciplines and support for post-secondary education. It commends this Government’s continued commitment to:

  • fundamental science via the recent review conducted by a panel that was overseen by Dr. Naylor;
  • the record investment of $1.6 billion over 5 years for independent, investigator-led research made to increase the base funding of the research councils as part of the 2018 budget;
  • the requirement that the above investment of funds is disbursed in a manner that supports diversity in research;
  • creation of the Chief Science Advisor and subsequent appoint of Dr. Nemer;
  • support for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education and excellence in Indigenous research; and
  • expanded eligibility criteria for the Canada Student Grants program to support more part-time students and those with dependent children (beginning in 2018-19).

These commitments have been needed to help the research community – and Canada as a whole – prosper and thrive.

These commitments notwithstanding, more can and needs to be done, and as such the CCR maintains its stance that ensuring Canada’s competitiveness can be further advanced by implementing the recommendations in the report from Canada’s Fundamental Science Review – “Investing in Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research” – which was released on April 10, 2017. The report was prepared by an independent, expert advisory panel and was commissioned by the federal Minister of Science, Kirsty Duncan.

Through its recommendations, the report offers a comprehensive plan to both change and improve Canada’s research ecosystem and, in so doing, restore the position of Canadians as research leaders on the international stage. To date, unfulfilled recommendations include:

Support for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows. The report identified the need for harmonizing, upgrading, and bringing strategic focus to the system of graduate student and post-doctoral fellow (PDF) supports. To this end, it recommends that a total base increase of $140 million per year be phased in over four years, in equal increments of $35 million per year. The report also recommends the creation of research chairs for excellent scholars and scientists with a focus on early career researchers making the transition to mid-career, with a $35 million investment this year and a $105 million the following year.

Infrastructure. The report also proposes a bold and much needed plan to strengthen Canada’s research ecosystem through recommendations for stable annual funding for CFI ($300 million) and another $35 million annually for major research facilities (MRFs) matching ratio funding; increased support for facilities and operations (targeted 40% reimbursement rate for all institutions with more than $7 million per year of eligible funding – additional $314 million to the current $1.7 billion currently paid); and consolidated long-term funding for a merged entity to oversee national digital research infrastructure.

Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research. The report also outlines a comprehensive agenda to strengthen the foundations of Canadian research. Among its recommendations is legislation to create an independent National Advisory Council on Research and Innovation (NACRI) that will work closely with Canada’s new Chief Science Advisor (CSA).

The CCR supports efforts to improve coordination and harmonization, promote collaboration, and share best practices among CIHR, SSHRC, NSERC and CFI. Consistent with the CCR’s recommendations to the panel, the report also called for balance across all research disciplines (social sciences and humanities, health, and natural sciences and engineering) as a foundational principle for funding; new forms of support for multidisciplinary and international funding; support for indigenous researchers, diversity in research, and research that cross-cuts disciplines; and improved agility and timeliness in responding to emerging research issues.

Conclusion

Science – social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health – is a fundamental part of Canada, having relevance to societal well-being, human functioning, health, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, productivity and the economy; its relevance can be measured at the individual, business, and community levels.

It is critical to develop, promote and support a culture that values discovery and innovation in all sciences – including but not limited to natural sciences and engineering, technology, social science and humanities, health, and mathematics – to foster an interest in Canada’s youth and underrepresented segments of society, and to achieve and benefit from the vast impacts of scientific inquiry. Achieving this requires continued and sustained investments in funding for research.

Students represent the next generation of researchers who will contribute to Canada’s science culture, productivity and competitiveness by making ground-breaking discoveries and tackling the many economic, social, and cultural challenges facing Canadians; these contributions will ultimately help Canada’s people, businesses and communities. Supporting graduate-level (masters, doctoral and post-doctoral fellows) teaching, research, and real-world experience through internships and fellowships, across diverse disciplines and settings, will encourage Canadians to pursue graduate-level education and build a foundation for economic and social development.

Equally important to supporting students and early career scientists is supporting the institutions that house them and the facilities/equipment they use to conduct their research. The Government has made significant, strategic investments in establishing world-class research facilities that have positioned Canada as an international leader in many areas (e.g., Sudbury Neutrino Observatory which led to the co-awarding of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics). While funding for individual research projects carried out within these facilities are available through the granting Councils (NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR), and capital costs are available through the CFI, there is no specific program to fund the ongoing operational costs of these facilities (salaries, utilities, infrastructure stewardship and facility maintenance, repair and overhaul). For example, CLS and SNOLAB obtain their operating funds through the CFI-MSI program, along with matching funds from several other Federal organizations and Provincial awards to the partner universities. The Government needs to ensure that adequate funding for the operations of Canada’s national research facilities – which accounts for inflation, new infrastructure, future planning, staff growth, and increasing client demand – is made available through their funding providers at the time of renewal. As the fundamental science report notes, all post-secondary research depends upon maintaining and replacing common-use equipment; meeting regulatory standards; regularly upgrading institutional information technology services; keeping libraries stocked; cleaning, lighting, and heating laboratories and research spaces; and administering grant awards. The Government is urged to move forward in a timely manner to implement the recommendation in the Fundamental Science Report to manage its investments in Big Science in a more coordinated manner from conception/approval, building, and operations through their lifespan to decommissioning.

Science advances and innovations happen when students and researchers from all disciplines and sectors (e.g. universities, government departments, data collection agencies, libraries), are supported with graduate scholarship, research funding, infrastructure support, institutional support, and career development opportunities. Implementation of the remaining recommendations outlined in the report from the Fundamental Science Review would help Canadians be as productive as possible in their workplaces and their communities; help Canadian businesses to be more productive and competitive; enhance the well-being of Canadians; and support a strong science culture upon which the development of good policy and programming is based. The CCR extends its thanks to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for welcoming input as part of the 2019 pre-budget consultation. We also once again thank the Minister of Science for convening this necessary review of Fundamental Science in Canada, and the distinguished panel of scientists for conducting the review in as systematic, transparent, and inclusive a manner as possible. For further information contact the CCR Chair, Dr. Lisa Votta-Bleeker, at 613-237-2144 ext. 323 or executiveoffice@cpa.ca.


Click here for the PDF: https://ccr-ccr.ca/ccr_2019pre-budget_submission_30july2018_final/


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