Members of the Canadian Consortium for Research gathered on Budget Night to determine the implications of the Budget for the research community. A press release from this meeting will be available to you as a separate item on our web-site (cfbs.org).

For those in the CFBS community, the budget contained many initiatives for the biological/biomedical sciences that were worthy of applause. There were, however, a number of items which were poorly addressed and which still need our attention if Canada is to be fully competitive internationally.

SUMMARY OF BUDGET ALLOCATIONS & CRITIQUE

I    Canadian Health & Social Transfers (CHST)

A one-time- supplement of $ 2.5 billion to the provinces for Health & Post- Secondary Education.

Critique:

Although this is a welcomed increase 1) it is only a one-time infusion of money and does not encourage long-term planning; 2) it fails to restore the cash floor to previous levels and 3) the CHST envelope is divided amongst health care, post-secondary education and social programs. Most importantly, there is no mechanism to guarantee that any of the increased allocation will be used by the provinces to fund post-secondary education.

II    Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

An additional $ 900 million over 5 years.

Critique:

We are very pleased to learn of the additional support to this program since it will allow for the modernization of research infrastructure and the additional funds should assist greatly this Country’s research capacity. At the same time it is important to realize that this extended program, no matter how welcome it may be, will produce some strains on the universities since these institutions will have to administer the funds allocated. Without, any provision for the overhead costs of research the universities will have to deplete their operating budgets even further without additional compensation from the provinces. At the same time, it must be recognized that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) received no additional funding, thus the increased CFI allotment will produce increased demands on the NSERC granting program for maintenance of this infrastructure and thus produce a strain on NSERC resources.

III    Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR)

Last years Budget continued.

Critique:

The Government should be praised for supporting this initiative.

IV    Canada Research Chairs

$900,000,000 has been allocated for 2,000 Research Chairs over the next 5 years. One half of the Chair awards will be for Junior Faculty positions and the remainder for senior positions.

Critique:

This is an initiative that will help redress the loss of faculty positions from all universities across the Country. Although it does not restore the numbers completely the Chair program will help attract and retain those talented individuals who would be encouraged to leave Canada. It will, therefore, be of help in stemming the “Brain-Drain”.

V    Genome Project

Critique:

This is an initiative which is long overdue given the importance of the area; this allocation will allow Canada to develop a greater presence in this area.

VI    Regulation of Biotechnology Products and Processes

$90, 000,000 over 3 years.

Critique:

Given the increased interest and concern expressed by the public in the products of biotechnology, it seems prudent to increase the investment in those Governmental Departments involved in the regulatory process. This action will help insure that these products are safe for humans, animals and the environment.

VII    Environment

$685,000,000 over 4 years.

Critique:

These funds will be used 1) to create a Sustainable Development Fund for innovation; 2) to establish a Climate Change Strategy Network, and 3) to develop environmental indicators by providing support to Environment Canada and Statistics Canada. It is refreshing to see the Government starting to move in this area. We shall have to learn how funds are to be specifically allocated/accessed to determine the eventual benefits to our Biological Sciences community.

While there is much to applaud in this budget, CFBS was disappointed that research in Government laboratories and national facilities was apparently overlooked. Issues of national concern exist that cannot be properly addressed by either industry or the granting councils.

Further information on details of the Year 2000 Budget is available on the web (budget2000 at cbc.ca).