Carleton University commends the Government of Canada for its impactful investments announced in yesterday’s federal budget focused on the broad themes of growth, progress, reconciliation and advancement.
“I would like to commend the Government of Canada for listening to the needs of the university sector and taking action,” said President Alastair Summerlee. “These significant investments confirm that this government recognizes that universities are contributing in substantial ways to Canada’s society and economy through their pursuit of science, research and innovation.”
The budget included significant investments in research, science and granting councils. The three federal research granting councils will receive $925 million in new funding over the next five years to support investigator-led research.
The National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) will receive $354.7 million over five years. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) will receive $354.7 million over five years. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) will receive $215.5 million over five years. While SSHRC usually receives 15 per cent of total granting council funding, yesterday’s allocation was increased to 23 per cent.
The budget includes $210 million over five years for the Canada Research Chairs (CRC) program and $763 million over five years to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), along with permanent funding at an ongoing level of $462 million per year by 2023-‘24.
A number of measures are included in the budget addressing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion.
The federal government committed up to $5.5 million over five years to the Status of Women Canada to work with stakeholders to develop a harmonized national framework to ensure consistent, comprehensive and sustainable approaches in addressing gender-based violence at post-secondary institutions. To ensure continued federal funding, all campuses will be required to have best practices in place by 2019 to address sexual assaults.
Included in the budget is $3.8 million to provide one year of funding for SSHRC to develop a strategic plan that identifies new ways of doing research with Indigenous communities, including strategies to increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to conduct research and partner with the broader research community.
New investments will also support greater diversity among research funding recipients, including improved support for women, under-represented groups and early-career researchers. New funding for the CRC program will target increasing diversity among nominated researchers, including increasing the number of women who are nominated for a CRC.
The president added that the budget’s investments addressing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion and supports for Indigenous peoples will positively impact the Carleton community.
“Universities Canada deserves full marks for presenting a compelling case for reinvesting in Canada’s universities,” said Summerlee. “The budget underscores how universities and government, working together, can support research, innovation and change in society.”
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Wednesday, February 28, 2018 in News Releases
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