FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, February 27, 2018 — Canada’s health research community is celebrating Federal Budget 2018’s nearly $4 billion historic investment in Canada’s research system to support the work of researchers and to provide our community with state-of-the-art facilities.
“This is an unprecedented investment in Canadian research and innovation,” says Dr. Robert McMaster, Chair of Research Canada and VP Research, Vancouver Coastal Health and Executive Director of VCH Research Institute. “The investment of $925 million over five years to Canada’s granting councils including $354.7 million over five years ($90.1 million per year ongoing) to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) provides the single largest investment in fundamental research in Canadian history! Fundamental research pushes the knowledge frontier to ultimately lay the foundation for innovations that drive the development of new products and services for a global market. We applaud the government for its vision and its confidence in our scientific community demonstrated in Budget 2018,” says Dr. McMaster.
Research Canada is also pleased with the new Tri-Council fund of $275 million over five years to support research that is international, interdisciplinary, fast-breaking and higher-risk.
“Our community is thrilled with the new investment of $210 million over five years for the Canada Research Chairs Program to attract and retain leading early-career researchers including increasing the number of women who are nominated for Canada Research Chairs,” says Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO of Research Canada. “This funding could result in 250 additional Chairs for early-career researchers by 2020–21, which will go a long way towards ensuring that Canada’s future Nobel Prize winners remain on Canadian soil.”
Research Canada welcomes the investment of $763 million over five years and a permanent funding of $462 million per year by 2023-24 to the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This includes $160 million for increased support to Canada’s nationally important research facilities through the Foundation’s Major Science Initiatives Fund.
Following Research Canada’s Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Reception on Indigenous Health Research in Canada (June 2017), where Indigenous health researchers showcased their groundbreaking research to Parliamentarians, we are delighted with Budget 2018’s $1.5 billion investment in Indigenous health and the $3.8 million investment through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council to develop a strategic plan that identifies new ways of undertaking research with Indigenous communities.
The growing number of overdoses and deaths caused by opioids is a public health emergency in Canada. Research Canada applauds Budget 2018’s timely investment of $234.1 million over five years for the opioid crisis in this country.
Research Canada also welcomes Budget 2018’s $11.5 million over three years’ proposal to reform the regulatory process in support of innovation and business investment.
Research Canada looks forward to continuing our work with the Government of Canada to strengthen Canada’s research and science base by investing in the fundamental 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
www.rc-rc.ca
Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery
Research Canada is a national, broad-based alliance dedicated to increasing investments in health research through collaborative advocacy. We believe health research is a shared benefit, shared responsibility and an investment in Canada’s future. We engage government, academia, industry and non-profit sectors to build support for balanced and long-term health research funding – investments that strengthen Canada’s innovation system and lead to better health, sustainable health care, new commercialization opportunities, and skilled jobs for Canadians. Website rc-rc.ca.