ACCRU answers call for input on Budget 2019

Canada’s research and innovation ecosystem has benefited from recent historic investments that ACCRU has warmly welcomed.  In response to the Government of Canada’s invitation to share our priorities for the 2019 federal budget and in keeping with this year’s theme of Economic Growth: Ensuring Canada’s Competitiveness, we are pleased to offer the following recommendations, which if adopted, will have tremendous potential for the country’s competitiveness.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Support the next generation in acquiring the skills required by the knowledge economy by providing Canada’s granting councils with a budget to award or enhance Undergraduate Student Research Awards in all disciplines; and by providing MITACS with the necessary budget to open its Accelerate internships to applications from undergraduate students who are currently excluded from the program.

Why? In addition to contributing to Canada’s economic interests, these investments would help offset two current inequities: one towards undergraduate students in general (in the case of MITACS), and one towards undergraduate students in the social sciences, humanities, and health sciences (in the case of the granting councils).

RECOMMENDATION 2

Stimulate innovation and growth across Canada by strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing financial incentives and enhancing the federal government’s requirements for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the distribution of Canadian granting council’s award budgets to include, among the target groups, faculty and students and trainees working in small- and medium-sized institutions or located in regions or communities outside major Canadian urban centres.

Why? Doing so will contribute to harnessing all of Canada’s strengths for enhancing social and economic development across all regions of the country.

RECOMMENDATION 3

Strengthen university research environments by increasing the amounts allocated to the Research Support Fund to align with the Naylor Report.

Why? This investment will provide a high rate of return in skill development, international attractiveness, and engaged society.

Click here to read the full submission.