March 2009

The Federation speaks out:

In recent weeks, the university community has been very vocal in responding to the new infrastructure-focused federal budget and the government’s decision to cut the budgets of the granting councils. The social sciences and humanities research community is especially affected by the federal government decision to take away funds from the base budget of SSHRC to finance new business-related scholarships for graduate students.

On many occasions over the last three months, the Federation has taken a public position on the importance of mobilizing knowledge from every discipline to turn ideas into public knowledge, stronger institutions, better policies, and innovative services, products and technologies for the 21st century economy. As we face the worst recession in decades, now is not the time to adopt short-sighted policies that undermine our ability to contribute to the long-term prosperity and quality of life of Canadians.

Support for research and training in the social sciences and humanities is not a luxury or a privilege for a few academics. It is fundamental to success in the global knowledge economy. Research in our disciplines is the underpinning of our social programs and democratic institutions, the witness to Canadian achievements, and an essential partner in innovation.

Today more than ever, our community needs to speak with one strong voice and make sure its message is heard by decision-makers and elected officials. In the weeks ahead, the Federation will continue to advocate on behalf of the community, making the argument that narrowly targeting funding for research is detrimental to the long-term interest of our country. Our message to government is clear: the social sciences and humanities constitute a substantial and integral portion of the intellectual infrastructure Canada needs to build a more competitive, productive economy and a stronger society.