Budget 2018: Investing in Canada's innovators, scientists and researchers

March 6, 2018 – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Canadians have always understood that better is possible, and time after time we have used curiosity, courage, creativity and collaboration to create positive change for ourselves—and the world. But progress does not happen without commitment, effort and the innovative spirit of Canadians—from junior researchers and scientists to entrepreneurs.

Today, the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South–Mount Pearl, and Nick Whelan, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, were at Memorial University to discuss how, through Budget 2018, the Government is taking significant steps to support leading-edge science by investing in the new generation of research and researchers, including women, visible minorities and Indigenous peoples. The Government is investing in the people behind the ideas that will change the way we live our lives—new investments of nearly $4 billion over five years to support the next generation of Canadian research and researchers.

To transform government innovation programs so that they better meet the needs of Canadian businesses, Budget 2018 builds on the Government’s Innovation and Skills Plan, increasing its funding while consolidating business innovation programs to make them easier to navigate and more responsive to the challenges and opportunities businesses face today and will face in the future.

In Budget 2018, the Government is also introducing the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, which focuses on skills and access to capital, mentorship and networking to help empower women to more fully participate in and benefit from a growing economy. These investments will help more women-owned companies grow into world-class businesses so that they continue driving economic growth that benefits all.

With Budget 2018, the Government proposes to:

• Invest in the next generation of Canadian research and researchers by providing more than $1.7 billion over five years to:
  • support the granting councils and research institutes so they can provide increased support and training opportunities for the work of some 21,000 researchers, students and high-quality personnel every year, including funding targeted specifically at research that promotes collaboration and is international and interdisciplinary;
  • ensure researchers have the necessary space and support to undertake high-quality multidisciplinary research, providing funding for the Research Support Fund that provides universities with resources to cover the indirect costs of research; and
  • attract and retain leading, young and early-career researchers at post-secondary institutions across the country through new funding for the Canada Research Chairs Program.
• Invest $1.3 billion over five years to ensure researchers have access to the world-class research laboratories and equipment they need at Canadian universities, polytechnics, colleges and research hospitals, including $763 million for the Canada Foundation for Innovation and $572.5 million for a Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy.

With Budget 2018, the Government also proposes to renew its commitment to supporting scientific research:

• Enhance National Research Council Canada to reinforce its research strengths and its role as a trusted partner with large-scale national teams committed to exploring disruptive technologies and cutting-edge innovation.
• Bring together federal scientists and researchers across the country, proposing $2.8 billion on a cash basis over five years to build collaborative federal science and technology facilities.

Through Budget 2018, the Government also proposes to provide $2.6 billion over five years in additional support to make it easier for Canadians to do business and for entrepreneurs to access the resources they need to innovate, scale up, create jobs and reach new customers around the world.