1999 Federal Budget (fwd)

[Richard Plant]

Hello all:

Here is a recent communique from HSSFC which speaks in response to the
Federal budget. You may find it useful in identifying places where the
budget can be seen to have reference to research. No doubt there will be
more details emerging as the larger text of the budget gets unravelled
over the next days. 

Richard Plant
Dept of Drama, Queen's University
and
Graduate Centre for Study of Drama, 
University of Toronto

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 16 Feb 1999 21:23:48 -0500
From: Fedcan <fedcan at hssfc.ca>

Communiqué

For immediate release
16 February 1999


"A Step in the Right Direction"
Federal Support for Research
in the Humanities and Social Sciences


Ottawa - The Humanities and Social Science Federation of Canada (HSSFC)
applauds the Government's determination to increase its investment in all
areas of research.  "We are particularly pleased that the Government's
vision for the new Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the most
significant research initiative in the Budget, specifically recognizes that
the social and ethical aspects of health care call for research done by
scholars in the humanities and social sciences.  Working with community
groups and examining cultural practices allows humanists and social
scientists to address many of the most important determinants of health,"
said Dr. Louise Forsyth, President of the HSSFC.

"The Federation worked hard to ensure that the CIHR would define "health" in
the broadest possible terms," she added.  "It is good to see that this
initiative will allow the humanities and social sciences community to use
its expertise to better serve Canadian society.  We are well placed to
provide insight into health issues particular to first nations citizens,
into health risks associated with poverty, and into the meaning of health
service delivery for Canadian women as patient and care-givers."

The government proposes to spend $65 million in 2000-1 and $175 million in
2001-2 on the CIHR  as an independent entity. 

While the CIHR proposal is being further developed, the Budget stipulates
that $ 7.5 million per year for three years will be added to the SSHRC
budget for health related research in the humanities and social sciences.
This represents 15 per cent of the Government's overall investment in health
research of  $50 million per year for three years.  "It is a wonderful way
to integrate social and cultural determinants of health into medical
research," commented Dr. Forsyth. "I encourage all researchers in the
humanities and social sciences to think about how their scholarly work
serves the health needs of Canadian society and how it might be supported
through the CIHR."

In 1999-2000, SSHRC will receive a budget increase of $ 5 million per year
for three years for research over and above that announced for health.
While encouraging, this falls far short of redressing the historical
under-funding of the humanities and social sciences.  "In our knowledge-
based economy, it will be increasingly important to place government support
for Canadian research in the humanities and social sciences on an equal
footing with the natural and medical sciences," warned Dr. Forsyth.  In
recent years, SSHRC has only been able to fund 15 per cent of researchers
and 5 per cent of graduate students, severely constraining the development
of Canadian solutions to Canadian social problems and the endangering the
vitality of Canadian cultural values.

Dr. Forsyth welcomed the increase in federal transfer payments to the
provinces for health spending, but she noted that the Social Union Framework
Agreement also specifically recognized a federal interest in post-secondary
education.  "Federal cutbacks have forced provinces to drastically reduce
their support for post-secondary education," she said, "at a time when
university enrollments are increasing."  In the past five years, core
support for universities was reduced by $1 billion or 23 per cent.

Next year, the HSSFC will be looking for the Government to redress SSHRC
under-funding and increase transfers to the provinces for post-secondary
education.  "They have taken a step in the right direction," concluded Dr.
Forsyth, "but there is much more to do to ensure a viable research community
in Canada."

- 30 -

The Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada represents 68
learned societies and 69 universities. The Federation 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.

Additional information on the Federation's activities and programmes is
available at the Federation's Website (http://www.hssfc.ca).


For more information please contact:

Mr. Garth Williams
Public Affairs Coordinator
Tel: 613-238-6112 ext. 306
Fax: 613-238-6114
gwilliam at hssfc.ca

Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada
Federation canadienne des sciences humaines et sociales
151 Slater Street, Suite 415, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3
Tel:  (613) 238-6112; Fax:  (613) 238-6114
Email/Courrier electronique:  fedcan at hssfc.ca