How to Support Canada's Crumbling Campuses? Expert Panel Responds

Ottawa - Despite recognition in government circles that Canada's crumbling university campuses need increased federal support, constitutional problems seem to stand in the way of any effective action. To find constitutionally feasible ways for the federal government to fund research and teaching at Canadian universities, the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada convened a panel of economists, political scientists and university administrators expert in government finance, constitutional issues and post-secondary education. The Expert Panel on University Funding today released a report submitted to Mr. Peter Adams, MP and Chair of the Government Caucus on Post-Secondary Education and Research, that dentifies fifteen constitutionally viable ways to support Canadian universities.

"The report describes concrete mechanisms for funding university research and post-secondary education in Canada," declared Dr. Louise Forsyth, President of the Federation. "Building our national capacity for university teaching and research is essential to our success in a knowledge-based economy."

The need for greater public support for Canadian universities has been increasingly obvious since 1995 when the federal government took over $2 billion out of the post-secondary education system. "Two years ago, at the University of Saskatchewan, a building had to be evacuated in a matter of minutes when the roof structure failed - threatening the safety of everyone in it," said Dr. Forsyth. Inadequate public support has also contributed to an 11 per cent drop in the number of faculty members nation wide in the past seven years. At the same time, tuition increases worth $1 billion nationally have limited student access to higher education. Universities have had to cut spending on books, journals and technological infrastructure too; all at a time when they should be helping Canadians prepare themselves better for the knowledge based economy.

The Expert Panel Report guides government around constitutional problems that might prevent them from redressing the funding crisis in Canadian universities. Proposals cover a wide range of options but focus on five broad funding mechanisms that address key areas of concern. These mechanisms include increasing transfers to the provinces under the Social Union Agreement, student assistance, funding the full costs of research through the granting councils, supporting university libraries through the National Library of Canada and the National Archives of Canada and connecting campuses electronically.

The Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada Expert Panel on University Funding includes Dr. Claude Bédard, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at Concordia University; Dr. Robin Boadway, Economist at Queen's University; Dr. Claire de la Durantaye, Rector of the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières; Dr. Livio Di Matteo, Economist at Lakehead University; Dr. Leslie Pal, Political Scientist at Carleton University; Dr. Jacques Plamondon, Professor at the École nationale d'administration publique; Dr. Allan Tupper, Political Scientist at the University of Alberta and Dr. Richard Van Loon, President of Carleton University.

"I want to thank the Expert Panel," concluded Dr. Forsyth, "their report demonstrates once again the valuable contribution of humanities and social sciences research to good government in Canada."

The Federation is a non-profit organization that promotes teaching, research, and scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and a better understanding of the importance of such work for Canada and the world. It represents 68 learned societies, 69 universities and colleges, and over 24,000 scholars and graduates active in the study of such disciplines as history, sociology, philosophy, political science, literature, economics, psychology, law, classics, and education.

For more information and to obtain a copy of the Expert Panel's proposals, please contact:

Garth Williams
Director of Public Affairs
Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada

Tel: 613-238-6112 ext. 306
Fax: 613-238-6114
E-mail: gwilliams@hssfc.ca