Advocacy
Federal Budget | Humanities and Social Sciences | Informing Public Policy

As the voice of the Human Sciences in Canada, the Federation champions the interests of the social sciences and the humanities by actively representing the interests of researchers and graduate students to federal decision- and policy-makers. The Federation promotes teaching, research, and scholarship and a better understanding of the importance of such work for Canada and the world.

The Federation has a long history of successful advocacy achievements. In recent years, the Federation has championed many issues, including the Canada Graduate Scholarships, funding for indirect costs and the sustained campaign to achieve additional funding for SSHRC.

 

Representing the interests of our community

Research funding is a central theme of the Federation’s advocacy work. The portion of federal funding going to research in the social sciences and humanities has decreased in recent years in relations to the funding for other disciplines. The Federation is constantly seeking opportunities to meet with decision-makers—mainly at the federal level—to make the case for a sustained investment in social sciences and humanities research. In all its activities, the Federation seeks to show the value and relevance of research in these disciplines to the cultural, social, political and economic life of our country.

Issues currently at the top of the Federation’s advocacy agenda include:

  • The funding for social sciences and humanities research
  • The narrow targeting of research funding in the social sciences and the humanities
  • The need to increase the base budget of the granting agencies, particularly the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
  • The need to support the capacity of Canadian researchers to compete internationally
  • The need to support the launch of the research careers of young Canadians

Federal Budget

Each year, the Federation is actively involved in the consultation surrounding the preparation of the federal budget. Its contribution normally takes the form of a written submission and a presentation to the House of Commons Permanent Committee on Finances.


Humanities and Social Sciences

Each year, the Federation develops and distributes various advocacy material intended to show the value and importance of social sciences and humanities research in every aspect of Canadian life. The Federation also submits editorial articles for publication in various media.


Informing the Development of Public Policy

From time to time, the Federation is invited to develop and submit briefs as part of various consultations on a range of topics of interest to the research community. These documents are developed with input from the Federation Board of Directors and from its membership. These submissions to groups such as the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology or party caucuses on post-secondary education, help advance the interests of our community by showing the tangible benefits for Canada of a healthy social sciences and humanities research and training enterprise