FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, OCTOBER 25, 2017 – Minister Bill Morneau’s Fall Economic Update presented to Parliament yesterday committed the government to a fiscal agenda in support of a more skilled and innovation nation through investments in the Innovation Superclusters Initiative, the Strategic Innovation Fund and a Pan Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Missing, however; was recognition of the vital importance of fundamental science, which underpins innovation, educates innovators and is a path to new technologies, new businesses, new jobs and new value creation for Canada.

“Research Canada applauds the Government of Canada in taking definitive steps in support of innovation and equipping Canadians with the skills they need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy,” says Dr. Robert McMaster, Chair of Research Canada and VP, Research at Vancouver Coastal Health. “The government’s efforts will be stifled; however, if investment in publically-funded research stagnates in the 2018 Budget. Canada’s innovation engine requires enhanced public support of its primary fuel — basic science research — in order to attract and spur further investment and development by the private sector.”

“We call on the federal government to implement the recommendations detailed in Canada’s Fundamental Science Review including multi-year investments for renewal of fundamental science in Canada,” says Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO of Research Canada. “In particular, Research Canada fully supports the Report’s recommendation of an increased investment of $485 million over four years to fund investigator-led research.”
Research Canada looks forward to working with the Government of Canada in an effort to strengthen Canada’s research and science base by investing in the discovery research that will fuel the next generation of innovations, create new industries, spur job creation and fuel economic growth.

 

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For further information:

Sean Dillon-Fordyce
Communications Manager
Cell: 613-277-4757
E-mail: sfordyce@rc-rc.ca

 

Research Canada is a national, broad-based alliance dedicated to advancing health research and health innovation through collaborative advocacy. Our mission is to improve the health and prosperity of all Canadians by championing Canada’s global leadership in health research and innovation. Our key goals are to ensure that health research is a high priority of the Federal Government and to increase investments in health research from all sources.