The CCR Comments on the 2008 Federal Budget

On preliminary examination of the 2008 Federal Budget, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) has identified several positive initiatives. In light of Canada’s slower economic outlook, the CCR acknowledges the importance of this budget’s support for post-secondary education and research.

The CCR acknowledges, with appreciation, an $80M increase to the granting councils: NSERC, CIHR, and SSHRC. We note that all three granting councils’ increases are targeted to specific government determined priorities. Although the identified priorities are important, we are concerned by the gradual erosion of the non-directed base. The CCR believes strongly that basic research is critical to maintaining Canada’s competitive edge. There is no inflationary increase to the non-targeted, base budget of the three granting councils.
The CCR welcomes the creation of the Vanier Scholarships, within the Canadian Graduate Scholarship program, which are designed to attract and retain in Canada the very best Canadian or international doctoral students. The $25 million over two years is expected to support up to 500 students and will be worth up to $50,000 per year for three years for top doctoral students.
The CCR similarly welcomes, in principle, the creation of the new Canada Global Excellence Research Chairs. However, we are interested in seeing how these 20 chairs will be awarded.
The CCR notes the budget’s $3.2B allotment to post-secondary education (PSE) as part of the Canada Social Transfer. The CCR continues to call for accountability mechanisms that will ensure the provinces spend these funds in the university and college sectors.
Although the budget is positive for research, the CCR believes that the Government must also reinvest in its own research infrastructure—research that underpins and supports regulatory decisions and is at the forefront of the science policy interface. The CCR anticipates further renewal initiatives of government based S&T activity based on its on-going review. This reinvestment appears to be missing in this budget.

The CCR has consistently advocated three priorities: a dedicated transfer for post-secondary education; sustained financial support for the granting councils and related agencies; and reinvesting in government science.

The CCR, established in 1976, is a coalition of 22 national organizations representing over 670,000 individuals on the front lines of knowledge creation and dissemination in Canada. Our members are from the academic, industry, and government sectors and engage in basic and applied research, study, and practice in the humanities and the natural, health and social sciences and engineering. The mission of the CCR is to communicate the importance to Canada of basic research and post secondary education.

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For more information:
Roland Andersson, Chair
Canadian Consortium for Research
randersson@cheminst.ca

Name: Roland Andersson Email Address: randersson@cheminst.ca

2008 Budget

An Open Letter to the 39th Parliament from Canada’s Research Community [published in The Hill Times]

Dear Parliamentarians,

In a changing world, Canada needs a strong research sector. Three steps by you can help our country meet the
challenges ahead.

One: Properly fund universities and colleges through the creation of a dedicated federal transfer to the provinces. Canada’s post-secondary institutions are cash-starved. Work with the provinces to solve this problem.

Two: Boost knowledge creation by increasing support for the basic research funded by the federal granting agencies
— the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
and the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.

Three: Strengthen federal government research capability. From drug safety to climate change, Canadians need their
own independent, expert advice. If properly supported, government departments and agencies can provide it.

Canada has elected you to help build a better country. A stronger research sector is an important part of this. We wish you success in the session ahead.

Yours Sincerely,

Roland Andersson
Chair, CCR

News Release: The CCR Comments on Federal Budget 2007

For Immediate Release
March 20, 2007

OTTAWA—The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) has consistently advocated three priorities: a dedicated transfer for post-secondary education; increased financial support for the granting councils and related agencies; and re-investing in government science.

➢ The CCR notes the budget’s initial $800M allotment to post-secondary education (PSE) as part of the Canada Social Transfer. This is an encouraging first step and the CCR looks forward to seeing the implementation of accountability mechanisms that will ensure the provinces spend these funds in the university and college sectors, as well as a return to transfer levels consistent with those prior to the decline in funding of the mid-90’s.

➢ The CCR acknowledges, with appreciation, an $85M increase to the granting councils: NSERC, CIHR, and SSHRC. We note that SSHRC’s and NSERC’s entire increase is targeted to specific Government priorities. We are hopeful that this will not become a model for future years as funding for broad-based basic research is critical to maintaining Canada’s competitive edge. We are pleased with the continuation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation program and the allocation of $510M for another major competition. The CCR remains hopeful that a positive outcome of the review of the funding programs will ensure that this new CFI competition does not create further stress on the granting councils operating grants.

➢ The support of an additional 1,000 students through the Canada Graduate Scholarships is positive. What is surprising is that the Government has chosen to allocate these spaces in an inverse relationship to the priorities established by Canadian students through enrolment choices (e.g. 55% are enrolled in social sciences and humanities but only 20% of the scholarships were allocated in these disciplines).

➢ The CCR believes that the Government must also re-invest in its own research infrastructure—research that underpins and supports regulatory decisions and is at the forefront of science policy interface. The CCR anticipates that the Government will use its initiatives on the environment and climate change to re-invest in its internal research programs.

The CCR looks forward to continuing to work with the federal government to further establish a well-balanced research program in Canada.

The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) was established in 1976. It consists of 16 organizations that represent researchers in all disciplines across Canada. While the majority of these researchers are based in universities, the constituent organizations have numerous members in government laboratories and in private sector research centres. With approximately 50,000 researchers and 500,000 students represented in these member groups, the CCR is the largest organization in Canada whose primary concerns are the funding of research in all sectors and support for post-secondary education.

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For more information:
Roland Andersson, Chair
Canadian Consortium for Research
randersson@cheminst.ca

CCR submission to the 2007 pre-budget consultations

Executive Summary
Canada’s social and economic success, and its global competitiveness, depends on a vibrant research sector and strong post-secondary education institutions. We know that the government understands this and is reviewing how best to boost our country’s capabilities in these areas. The Consortium, reflecting the views of Canada’s front-line researchers, advocates three steps to help us all build a stronger and more competitive Canada:

One – Create a dedicated federal/provincial transfer mechanism to increase funding for the core operating costs of post-secondary education institutions.

Two – Increase the budgets of the federal granting agencies to support basic research, including an additional, asymmetrical increase to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Three – Invest in government research infrastructure and the rejuvenation of science human resources.

CCR submission to the 2006 pre-budget consultations

The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is a coalition of 15 national organizations representing over 500,000 individuals on the front lines of research and study in Canada. Our members are from the public and private sectors and engage in basic and applied research, study and practice in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The working experience of our members has informed the Consortium’s deliberations and shaped our recommendations to the Committee.

Our advice is straightforward. To build a dynamic and productive economy – one in which Canadians enjoy the best quality of life and the highest possible standard of living – the federal government must significantly increase its spending to support:
– the core operations of post-secondary institutions through a dedicated transfer;
– the federal research granting agencies; and
– its own research infrastructure.

News Release: The CCR comments on the 2004 federal budget

For immediate release
2004 March 23

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) welcomes the recognition the Federal Government has given today to the role of post-secondary education and research as vital foundations to Canadian’s social and economic well-being and Canada’s place in the world.
“The Government has taken steps to advance research and education in Canada, and we anticipate further strides in meeting the urgent needs of keeping Canada’s universities strong and raising our research standing internationally. There’s much more work that needs to be done,” stated Paul Ledwell, Chair of the Consortium.
The Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to university-based research through 6.5% increases to the federal granting council budgets, plus a small additional increase for the historically underfunded Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council — increases which begin to meet the escalation of demand. These steps, together with the $20 million increase for the indirect costs of research, are all items advocated by the CCR. A $60 million increase for Genome Canada and increased funding of $5 million for the Industrial Research Assistance Program at NRC are also welcome news.
While these additional investments are important, they do not address the underlying crisis in post-secondary education – lack of core funding for universities and their consequent ability to provide high quality education and research for Canadian society. We look forward to the Federal Government addressing this issue in partnership with the provinces in the coming year, including a clearly defined transfer for post-secondary education.
Efforts in this budget to respond to the question of student access to post-secondary education do not begin to address the problem. Issues of affordability, institutional capacity and debt load require immediate attention if Canada is to advance in creativity and innovation. The budget’s modest increases in loan limits, grants and educational savings programs are not a substitute for increased core funding.
The CCR notes the allocation to Industry Canada of $50 million for the purpose of commercializing federally sponsored research at universities and $25 million for commercializing research performed in federal labs, and looks forward to working with the Government on the mechanisms for the distribution of these funds, including the peer review process which must guide it.
The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) was established in 1976. It consists of the 22 organizations listed below that represent researchers in all disciplines across Canada. While the majority of these researchers are based in universities, the constituent organizations have numerous members in government laboratories and in private sector research centres. With approximately 50,000 researchers and 400,000 students represented in these member groups, the CCR is the largest organization in Canada whose primary concerns are the funding of research in all sectors and support for post-secondary education.

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For more information:
Paul Ledwell, Chair
(613) 238-6112, ext. 307

CCR submission to the 2004 pre-budget consultations

The Consortium believes that a research intensive economy will provide Canadians with the best quality of life and the highest possible standard of living. We also believe that achieving this success depends on an accessible and high-quality post-secondary education system and a strong research sector.
The recent reports of the Standing Committee on Finance, and their emphasis on the need to invest to strengthen our knowledge-based society, have been applauded by the Consortium and its members. In this brief, the Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is seeking to underline several issues regarding post-secondary education and advanced research so that the progress begun by the Government of Canada in 1996 is continued. These issues are the following:
– That the Government of Canada continue to increase research activity in all sectors so that we meet the needs of Canadians and keep pace with our international competitors.
– That the Government of Canada pay particular attention to the social sciences and humanities, where there is presently an opportunity to advance Canada’s existing leadership in these fields, and in order to effectively invest in this chronically underfunded sector of research.
– That the Government of Canada move to quickly redress the question of core support for all Canadian universities by developing a pan-Canadian mechanism that ensures adequate, accountable and transparent funding support.

News Release: The CCR comments on federal budget 2003

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) welcomes the 2003 federal budget as a serious investment in Canada’s future well-being and prosperity. As a coalition of both public and private sector research groups, the CCR is particularly pleased with specific funding announcements in the post-secondary education and research sector.
The creation of the Canada Graduate Scholarships shows a commitment from the federal government to preparing the next generation of scholars and other highly-qualified personnel for the role they will play in advancing Canada’s prosperity. The move towards making the funding of indirect costs permanent is also an significant step and will partially address the chronic under-funding of Canada’s universities. The increase to the base budgets of the granting councils is a further critical element in ensuring Canada’s research community is a world leader. Additionally, increased funding for the National Research Council, the Canada
Foundation for Innovation, and the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences are important investments.
In the broader perspective, the Consortium takes a positive view of the planned split of the CHST to a CHT and CST. We view this as an opportunity for the federal government to strengthen its partnerships with the provinces in support of post-secondary education. A logical progression in the trend towards greater accountability and transparency in government spending would be a further split of the CST into a specific transfer for post-secondary education and a social transfer. The creation of such a dedicated post-education transfer, together with the restoration of Federal post-secondary education funding to the levels of the early 1990’s, would begin to address the chronic core funding needs of Canada’s universities.
Another essential element in the broader research picture that still needs to be addressed is the under-funding of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council relative to the other granting councils. While the 10% across-the-board increase to the councils begins to address the pressing demand, the $15 million for SSHRC versus the $55 million increase for NSERC and CIHR does not represent the relative population of Canadian researchers.
The CCR looks forward to continuing to work with the federal government to further establish a well-balanced research support program in Canada. The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) was established in 1976. It consists of the 22 organizations listed below that represent researchers in all disciplines across Canada. While the majority of these researchers are based in universities, the constituent organizations have numerous members in government laboratories and in private sector research centres. With approximately 50,000 researchers and 400,000 students represented in these member groups, the CCR is the largest organization in Canada whose primary concerns are the funding of research in all sectors and support for post-secondary education.
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For more information:
Paul Ledwell, Chair
(613) 238-6112, ext. 307

CCR submission to the 2003 pre-budget consultations

Summary of Issues and Recommendations
Core Funding for Post-Secondary Education: The Canadian Consortium for Research recommends that the Government of Canada recognize the crucial role that universities play in the education and training of the next generation of researchers and develop a renewed mechanism that delivers increased core-funding levels to these institutions.

Granting Council Funding: The Canadian Consortium for Research recommends that the Government of Canada increase funding to all three federal granting councils to ensure internationally competitive research opportunities, and that a larger percentage increase be made to the budget of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council than the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Support for Students: The Canadian Consortium for Research recommends that the Government of Canada address the issues of adequacy, accountability, transparency and fairness of the post-secondary education system in this country, and ensure effective support for all students, and graduate students in particular, by establishing strong funding and scholarship programs that minimize the heavy debt load for students that result in restricted education opportunities.

Government Research: The Canadian Consortium for Research recommends that the Government of Canada re-commit to supporting government science and national facilities that provide Canada with leading-edge research and open doors to international collaboration.

Open letter to provincial governments

August 15, 2002

Re: A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY: THE FUTURE OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH IN CANADA, an open letter to the Provinces from the Canadian Consortium for Research

Dear Premier,

The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) is an advocacy coalition comprised of front-line researchers in both the public and private sectors, as well as the down stream users of research in government, private businesses and public institutions such as schools and hospitals. Our goal is to ensure that Canada is a world leader in the full spectrum of research: in the bio-medical
sciences, the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities. The Consortium believes that a research intensive economy will provide Canadians with the best quality of life and the highest possible standard of living. We also believe that achieving this success depends on an accessible and high-quality post-secondary education system and a strong
university research sector.

PUBLIC POLICY

The CCR is uniquely placed to bring the experience of researchers to the public policy debate. In carrying out this task our voice has traditionally been directed towards the federal government. As Ottawa’s transfer payments for post-secondary education declined, the Consortium took up the provinces’ cause, arguing that continued excellence in post-secondary education depended on the federal government maintaining its long-standing commitment to bearing a share of the costs of the
university system.
Unfortunately, our effort in this regard has met limited success. Ottawa’s position has been that lack of provincial accountability with respect to such transfers is a powerful disincentive to restore funding levels. For front-line researchers, the dispute between the two levels of government is the source of great concern. As jurisdictional arguments continue, the post-secondary education system in Canada is falling further and further into disrepair. To reverse this decline the Consortium has decided to broaden its efforts by reaching out not just to the federal government, but to provincial capitals as well. Our hope is that our voice can encourage both levels of government to accept a shared responsibility for the health of post-secondary education and to work together for the benefit of all Canadians.

POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION – RESEARCH’S CRITICAL LINK

Universities are the backbone of Canada’s research enterprise. Two thirds of all scientific papers published in Canada emanate from universities and much of the country’s cutting edge research is performed by university faculty. Universities are also where the next generation of researchers prepare for their careers. To continue in this crucial role, three components of the post-secondary education system require particular attention. Students, the future of research, need low tuition and generous support to pursue both graduate and post graduate studies.

At the staff level, universities need the resources to attract and keep the best minds and to allow faculty to do the best possible job – both as teachers and as researchers. Finally, the success of universities is also dependent on the condition of university infrastructure – laboratories, libraries and teaching facilities. Crumbling buildings and empty book shelves are not conducive to pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge.

ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS

All governments in Canada have spoken out strongly about the importance of research and education. However, these words are not matched by deeds. The federal government sharply reduced transfers to the provinces for post-secondary education, reductions that, when inflation and population growth are factored in, have not yet been restored. The provinces, in turn, have steadily decreased their own spending on education. The combination of funding cutbacks by these two levels of government is creating a crisis in Canada’s research community.

THE PROVINCIAL RECORD

The numbers speak for themselves. Provincial funding for post-secondary education, on a constant dollar per capita basis, is 27% below 1992/93 levels. The biggest declines have occurred in Canada’s two richest provinces, Ontario and Alberta. Interestingly, two of Canada’s smaller provinces, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, have actually managed to increase spending in this sector.

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

The damage caused by these funding cuts is manifesting itself in a number of ways. The cuts are leading to significantly increased student tuition, which in turn results in diminished access to a university education and an increase in the size of student loans at graduation. High fees and high student debt are a growing impediment to equal access to university by Canadians and a serious disincentive to students who would like to pursue graduate programs. The consequence is a great loss to Canada’s research capacity.

Funding cutbacks are also taking their toll on staff. Universities have seen a decrease in the number of faculty, which in turn has increased class size and diminished the quality of student teacher interaction.

To cope with financial shortfalls, university administrations are deferring the maintenance of physical infrastructure. A recent Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO) report conservatively estimates the accumulated deferred maintenance at Canadian universities at $3.6 billion. As the learning, living and research environment on campuses deteriorates, Canada’s research capacity declines.

The financial crisis has also damaged university libraries. Of the top 111 research libraries in the United States and Canada only thirteen are Canadian institutions. Even more disturbing, of the 111 only twelve have reduced their total library expenditures in the last decade and of this twelve, eleven are Canadian.

THE WAY FORWARD

Canada’s future depends on a vibrant post secondary education sector. At no time in our country’s history has this been more important.

To ensure that the challenges of providing accessible university education and high quality university research are met, the Canadian Consortium for Research urges both senior levels of government to come to transparent and accountable arrangements that allow for the adequate funding of our universities. Without this cooperation, Canada’s educational institutions will continue to struggle.

The CCR urges provincial governments to reinvest in post-secondary education at levels that will adequately sustain it now and in the future. This investment needs to return to 1991/1992 per capita levels and then be adjusted upwards in constant dollars to account for inflation and population growth.

Ottawa and the provinces must co-operate on the development of a renewed federal/provincial funding mechanism specifically for post-secondary education that addresses the issues of adequacy, accountability, transparency and fairness. The development and implementation of this mechanism needs to be accomplished quickly as our universities struggle under current conditions. Canada’s universities are essential to enhancing social and economic growth. They need your help and they need it now. Canadians in every province value universities, university based research and a university education. They want their governments to take action.

Please join with us and your fellow governments to ensure a healthy, productive and adequately funded university sector that helps Canada meet its challenges of today and tomorrow. Canadians want this for themselves and their children.

Yours sincerely,
Paul Ledwell, Chair
Canadian Consortium for Research