Leaders and advocates in the university sector decry the latest federal budget as a missed opportunity to support early-career researchers and to heed the recommendations of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System.
Despite the emphasis placed on innovation for a green economy by senior government officials at Tuesday's federal budget reading, Canada's postsecondary sector barely factored into the Liberals' 2023 fiscal plan - for the second year running. Budget 2023, which was tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland amid a global economic slowdown, broadly focused on the areas of affordability, health care and clean technology but was met with disappointment from the university community.
Graduate and postdoctoral research funding was left out of the budget despite continued efforts by lobbyists and advocates for significant increases to federally funded research grants that have remained stagnant for two decades.
Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada, was quoted in a news release admonishing the government for a "lack of any significant support for Canadian research." Such investments are "urgently needed to keep Canada competitive," he added.
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