Universities Canada urges feds to adopt Naylor report recommendations

A pre-Budget submission from Universities Canada (UC) is urging the federal government to “lead in higher education, research and innovation … at a time of closing borders and closing minds” by implementing “all financial recommendations of the fundamental science review panel” headed by Dr David Naylor. UC is requesting that the government focus its “urgent attention” to three priority areas: sustained increases in direct support for discovery research through the granting councils, a dedicated support fund for international research collaboration and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.  The submission is entitled Canada’s Global Moment and was submitted to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on August 4. “At a time when Canada’s brand is rising globally, a significant response to these recommendations will be crucial in enabling Canada’s universities to drive productivity, increase Canadian competitiveness and seize our global moment,” states the submission.