Minister Morneau and Minister Duncan Host Pre-Budget Roundtable on Science in Toronto

December 15, 2017 – Toronto, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

When you have an economy that works for the middle class, you have a country that works for everyone. The investments the Government of Canada has made in people, communities and the economy are working. Almost 600,000 new jobs have been created since 2015 and the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in nearly a decade. Canada has the fastest-growing economy in the G7, giving the Government the ability to reinvest the benefits of that growth back into the people who contributed most to that success.

Today Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Science Minister Kirsty Duncan held a roundtable at the Royal Ontario Museum as part of the Government of Canada's consultations for Budget 2018. Science leaders discussed the importance of innovation and research excellence in positioning Canada as a leader in the economy of tomorrow. The Government is committed to supporting world-leading research that generates new breakthrough ideas. That is why it has established a Chief Science Advisor; published a Fundamental Science Review, the first of its kind in more than 40 years; and has made significant investments in post-secondary research and research training, including providing more work-integrated learning placements for Canadian post-secondary students and graduates with innovative companies and expanding eligibility for student financial assistance.

As Canada's economy continues to grow, it is important to ensure that the middle class and those working hard to join it have an opportunity to contribute to and benefit from that growth. That means continuing to make smart investments in people and communities to ensure continued progress for the middle class, and investing in lifelong learning to give Canadians the tools they need to find good, well-paying jobs in the economy of tomorrow. It also means ensuring that government policy and budget decisions consider impacts on different groups of women and men.

Over the coming weeks, Canadians can submit their ideas as part of pre-budget consultations in person and online through the website www.budget.gc.ca/pbc18.