HealthCareCAN | Coalition for Canadian Research open letter calls on Federal Government to fulfill Budget 2024 research commitments

September 25, 2025

The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance
Finance Canada
90 Elgin Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0G5

Dear Prime Minister:

The Coalition for Canadian Research represents the combined voice of post-secondary institutions, research hospitals, leading life sciences companies, university and hospital-based researchers, university academic staff, health charities, student leaders, graduate students, post-doctoral scholars and early career researchers across Canada.

Our associations are writing to you regarding the role of research in your government’s goal of securing Canadian sovereignty and prosperity, the upcoming federal budget and the ongoing spending review.

As a Coalition, we are calling on you to fulfill the Budget 2024 research commitments to enhance support for Canadian researchers through increased scholarships and fellowships, and the core research budgets of the federal granting councils.

We welcome your government’s commitment to making research a foundational pillar of a stronger Canada, including the Speech from the Throne’s goal to “build Canada into the world’s leading hub for science and innovation.” Canadian researchers stand ready to deliver bold ideas, cutting-edge technologies, and deeper insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping our country.

Your mandate letter calls for less spending on government operations and more investment in people to build the strongest economy in the G7. We believe that investment must be anchored in Canada’s highly qualified talent — researchers with the expertise to create new solutions and drive growth. Supporting them through scholarships, fellowships, and research grants will secure the talent pipeline Canada needs for long-term prosperity and resilience.

Prior to Budget 2024, the Coalition convened to advocate for ambitious and sustained investment in Canada’s research ecosystem as a foundation for a more prosperous, resilient and vibrant future. We were encouraged that the Government of Canada acknowledged this priority.

This important investment presented a long-term vision for a research system able to compete internationally for talent, support highly qualified researchers here in Canada and ultimately to foster innovations to our most pressing challenges.

Since last year’s budget, mounting international uncertainty and an evolving geopolitical landscape have only reinforced the urgency of sustaining a vibrant and successful Canadian research ecosystem, which can generate made-in-Canada solutions, retain highly qualified talent and preserve technological independence in emerging fields. It is clearer than ever that domestic research capacity and advanced technologies are fundamental to both national sovereignty and economic security.

That is why it is essential that the federal government’s research budget, including grants and scholarships delivered through the federal granting councils, be protected from disruption during the ongoing spending review.

Researchers in Canada and abroad have already seen the damaging effects of spending cuts and grant freezes to their vitally important work due to policy changes implemented by the current administration in the United States. In an increasingly competitive landscape, Canada cannot afford to make similar mistakes by cutting off support that highly qualified talent relies upon.

We know that you and your government share the vision of a strong, successful and sovereign Canada, anchored by highly qualified talent and advanced innovation across our economy, health system and society. As you make important decisions about the country’s future direction, we urge you to reinforce this vision by continuing to invest in research at this critical moment for the country.

Yours sincerely,