News Release
The Council of Canadian Academies welcomes the 2016 federal budget introduced by Finance Minister Bill Morneau yesterday afternoon.
“We are very pleased with the investments made in this year’s federal budget,” said Dr. Eric Meslin, President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies. “This is a clear signal of Canada’s commitment to supporting science and the benefits that will flow to Canadians in the long term.”
The 2016 federal budget, introduced to the House of Commons yesterday, throws substantial weight behind Canada’s science and research community. Investment in a bold new Innovation Agenda, reinvestment in the Tri-Council and granting agencies like Genome Canada, and funds allocated to Mitacs, Perimeter Institute, and the Stem Cell Network are a few key examples. Continued support for Canada’s leadership role in space, and its work in agriculture and agri-food, ocean research, and clean technology are additional highlights, all of which support findings from previous CCA assessments. The CCA welcomes the references to the vital role of science in Canada’s economy as well as the importance of evidence-based decision-making and the advice of experts.
“The acknowledgement by the government of the importance of evidence-based decision-making is a strong reinforcement of the role played by the CCA and its Member Academies. I’m also extremely pleased to see that many budget commitments build out themes or serve to address issues identified in past CCA expert panel reports,” noted Dr. Meslin. “Addressing climate change, investing in green infrastructure, improving data, bolstering Canada’s science and innovation capacity, ocean research, and assisting the food-insecure North, are all topics recently covered by the CCA. It was gratifying to see the government’s recognition of the importance of independent expert advice in developing sound policy decisions. This government is serious about the importance of using evidence to inform policy.”
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About the Council of Canadian Academies
The Council of Canadian Academies is an independent, not-for-profit organization that began operation in 2005. The Council undertakes independent, authoritative, science-based, expert assessments that inform public policy development in Canada. Assessments are conducted by independent, multidisciplinary panels (groups) of experts from across Canada and abroad. Panel members serve free of charge and many are Fellows of the Council’s Member Academies. The Council’s vision is to be a trusted voice for science in the public interest. For more information about the Council or its assessments, please visit www.scienceadvice.ca.
For more information please contact:
Samantha Rae Ayoub
Communications and Publishing Director
Council of Canadian Academies
613.567.5000 x 256
samantha.rae@scienceadvice.ca