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.

-30-

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

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

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.

- 30 -

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

(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.

- 30 -

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