MAY 2002 ADVOCACY REPORT

Dr. Bruce H. Sells, FRS(C)

Updated: August 9, 02

INTRODUCTION

In this year's discussions we also expressed our concerns regarding the "Species at Risk" legislation and ratification of the "Kyoto Protocol". Our meetings included exchanges with 14 different groups both on Parliament Hill and in the offices of government officials in the Ottawa area. Involved in these visits were the executive from the Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs (CCUBC) and the President of the Canadian Society of Zoologists, as one group, and representatives from several of the CFBS Societies, in a second group (CSBMCB, CSEP, CSNS, STC and GC).

Need for Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP)

The sessions in which Canada's requirement for HQPs was discussed included visits with the Director, Post Secondary Education, Skills and Learning (Ministry of Human Resources); the Director of the Strategic Policy Branch of Industry Canada; President of NSERC; Senior Scientist, Health Canada;' Peter Adams, MP, Caucus Chair, Post Secondary Education & Research; President, CIHR; Monte Solberg, MP, Alliance Finance Critic; and the Senior VP CFI.

HUMAN RESOURCES

With the Department of Human Resources we discussed Canada's need for HQP and CCUBC's mini-survey of graduating honours students. CCUBC's analysis indicated that 82 % of the graduating honours students, from biology departments across Canada, expressed a desire to proceed to graduate work. Of these, however, only 44 % will do so in the coming year. Among those that are delaying entry into graduate programs approximately half cited financial considerations. From the Department of Human Resources we heard that it was attempting to contribute to universities through the Trudeau Scholarships, job placement and summer programs. Concern was expressed, however, by the CCUBC group that, although there was great value in summer programs, the HRD summer program support was announced too late in the spring after summer employment decisions had already been made. Furthermore, the level of support was insufficient to have a major impact.

INDUSTRY CANADA

Industry Canada is apparently well aware of the student debt problem and, we were told, is exploring ways to deal with the issue. Industry Canada officials advised us that the Minister was meeting with Provincial counterparts to discuss the problem. Officials in government departments and MPs, suggested to us that universities could do more to garner community support for education and make a greater effort to identify university obligations and priorities in the training of HQP.

CIHR & NSERC

Both CIHR and NSERC, we learned, are concerned about the development of HQP. NSERC wishes to double the number of PhD graduates, increase the number of scholarships and double their value. CIHR has initiated a Training Grant Program in an attempt to focus on specific needs. In terms of attracting new faculty members into universities, the question was raised, why should "potential faculty members" incur massive debt in obtaining the education/training and use the prime of their lives to obtain a university career in science if there is not adequate compensation, compared to, for example, industry and/or Bay Street. We were also made aware that, in the minds of many non-academics, Universities need to display new models of teaching and encourage entrepreneurship to show government that they warrant increased support and can contribute to Canada's productivity.

Because of the needs of Industry and the changing perspectives of PhDs many potential academics are being redirected to Industry for both financial and career opportunities. Government laboratories are facing similar problems and given the low salaries the ability to recruit quality scientists is being jeopardized.

We were encouraged to continue to promote partnerships between university researchers and industrial scientists (joint institutes on university campuses) and to consider initiatives such as SRED to encourage industry to be more active in Canada to developing their research activities. Finally in the needs for HQP it was suggested that more precise data are required regarding real retirement numbers and needs if the arguments being advanced are to be taken seriously.

ENVIRONMETAL ISSUES

To further our discussions regarding environmental issues we met with the Senior Deputy Minister, Environment Canada, the Policy Advisor to Minister David Anderson, Members of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (dealing with environmental affairs and climate change), legislative assistant to Bob Mills MP, Member of House Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

The main thrust of our interactions was to discuss the Species at Risk Legislation and the Kyoto Protocol. We emphasized our support for the Species at Risk Legislation and our approval of a number of the amendments that have been made. We were told that rapid passage of the legislation was important "before it gathers too much lint", as one of the senior government officials stated, and before parliament adjourned for the summer otherwise it may die. We are pleased to note that the legislation has passed the House with a number of amendments.

Environment Canada is especially interested in the creation of a Canadian Environmental Sciences Network that would bring together environmental scientist from across Canada in various constituencies (Government, Academe and Industry) to work as partners on particular themes. There is a good deal of support in the life sciences community for these types of partnerships. Concerning the Kyoto Protocol we found a large number of the government officials/scientists are promoting ratification. The official opposition we were informed is against ratification.

OTHER COMMENTS/ISSUES

During our meetings with MPs and government officials a number of issues were raised which bear further consideration:

1. While estimates have been made regarding Canada's need for HQP, precise numbers are currently unavailable. Data are required to give a more exact indication of the number of individuals retiring from various sectors (academe, government and industry) over the next 5-10 years to provide base-line information on which to build.
   
   
2. Universities are urged to consider other forms of delivery of education that will answer the Country's needs while, at the same time, insuring that quality is maintained. Universities need to show that they can contribute to Canada's productivity by proposing imaginative forms of education for students in the new millennium.
   
   
3. While support was strong for the "indirect costs of research" program a mechanism that is both transparent and accountable is needed to ensure that the funds are spent for the purpose designed.
   
   
4. For the most effective use of Government 's allocations to granting councils a new mechanism should be devised. This mechanism should employ allocations based on a three-year rolling average. The current funding of granting councils one year at a time reduces Councils' flexibility in developing and administering programs.
   
   
5. Given that many HQP who would have considered careers in academe are now selecting industry the question was raised, what is the value of a professor compared to a similarly trained individual in industry? Are academics sufficiently well compensated?
   
   
6. Given the HQP requirements for Government laboratories does the current level of compensation permit the Government to attract the quality personnel needed to ensure that the Canadian public are properly served?