CFBS & CCR 2005 Federal Buget Responses

Updated March 3rd, 2005

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Canadian Federation of Biological Societies (CFBS)Response | Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) Response (Press Release)

Canadian Federation of Biological Societies (CFBS)Response

THE 2005 FEDERAL BUDGET
“A Mixed Blessing”

Prepared by:
Dr. Bruce H. Sells
CFBS Executive Director

The following analysis of the 2005 Federal Budget is based on CFBS’ belief that much of our economic and social benefits will accrue from the creative activities of the research community. Their endeavours will ensure the underpinnings for future global competitiveness.

FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH

1. The three granting agencies received a total of $75 million for 2005-06. Of this allocation CIHR received $32 million (a 4.4% Increase) with a resultant total budget of $699 million. NSERC also received an increase of $32 million. However, when the recent cuts enacted in Industry Canada’s reallocation exercise are factored in, their increase amounts to 3.3%. We welcome the budget increases since they signal the Government’s commitment to innovation. We, nevertheless, remain concerned that they are insufficient to meet the needs created by the influx of new researchers into the system to replace those scientists retiring and the increased demands on the granting agencies to expand support of different areas of investigation.
   
   
2. An additional $75 million was provided to support the indirect costs of research. While this increase is important, we note that this level of support based on a percentage of research grants allocated over the past 3 years has dropped from 26% to approximately 20%. This slippage, if it continues, is of concern since it places additional financial pressures on the operating budgets of universities and research institutes especially considering the fiscal restraints under which the universities have had to function.
   
   
3. We view as positive the new money, $165 million, for Genome Canada. This agency now has a budget of $225 million. Given the rapid growth of Biotechnology in Canada these funds should spur research that can contribute to new initiatives in this expanding field.
   
   
4. The Government’s commitment to Kyoto is at a level of $ one billion/year over 5 years is an important initiative. No indication has been provided, however, on how these funds will be used to support research into the environment.
   
   
5. The National Research Council’s budget for the Atlantic Initiatives Program remains unchanged at $110 million/year over the next 5 years which translates into a drop when inflation is taken into consideration. Failure to improve the economic outlook for NRC will have a negative impact on their ability to attract and retain high quality personnel.

CANADIAN ACADEMIES OF SCIENCE

POST SECONDARY EDUCATION (PSE)

In summary, while some of the messages from the budget are positive, future actions will be required to reflect more dramatically the essential role that the research community has to play in ensuring the advancement of Canada as a innovative society. CFBS will be encouraging movement on these actions.

Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) Response

COMMUNIQUE

For immediate release

2005 BUDGET - MIXED REACTION FROM RESEARCH COMMUNITY

(Ottawa - 2005 February 23) – The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) greets the 2005 Federal Budget with a mixture of caution and disappointment.

On the research front, modest increases in granting council budgets and the indirect costs of research suggest continued Federal Government support for the research enterprise in Canada. However, the level of these increases is not sufficient to meet the needs created by the influx of a new generation of faculty and students.

In post-secondary education, the lack of any initiative to address federal transfers, infrastructure renewal and tuition pressures is profoundly disappointing. Post-secondary education continues to rate second to health care as the most significant concern of Canadians, and the CCR expected this would be acknowledged in this budget.

“We are looking to the Federal Government to take leadership on these issues,” stated CCR Chair Paul Ledwell. “By strengthening its commitment to all areas of research and addressing the needs of our institutions of higher education, the Government will be responding to a clear priority of Canadians.”

The formal inclusion of funding for the Canadian Academies of Science and Genome Canada are both positive initiatives. “These are welcome by the research community, but collectively we must do more. We are committed to working with the government to build greater capacity in research, post-secondary education, and government science in Canada,” emphasized Ledwell.

The Canadian Consortium for Research (CCR) was established in 1976. It consists of the 18 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 450,000 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.

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

Canadian Consortium for Research

Chair
Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Steering Committee Members

Canadian Association of Physicists
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Canadian Federation of Biological Societies
Canadian Psychological Association
Chemical Institute of Canada