CAGS Statement on the 2023 Federal Budget

4 April 2023

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS) is disappointed by the recently released 2023 Federal Budget, and troubled by its lack of investment in the Canadian research ecosystem.

CAGS members anticipated modest but important increases in funding for the federal research granting agencies (SSHRC; NSERC; CIHR), as well as meaningful increases to graduate student and postdoctoral scholarships. Despite numerous calls to action from researchers and student-led coalitions over the past year, and against the recommendations of the government’s own Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System, the 2023 Budget ignores Canadian graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and the higher education community more broadly. This decision of not investing in current and future generations of researchers will undoubtedly hinder Canada’s ability to successfully navigate future challenges like climate change and the use of artificial intelligence, while weakening the country’s competitive edge in attracting top research talent from around the world to our universities.

CAGS joins the statements of concern released by our colleagues and partner organizations in the Canadian higher education community, including Universities Canada, U15 Canada, the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, ACFAS, and the Support Our Science movement, and will continue to work in pursuit of its mission to provide leadership, foster community, and promote adequate financial support for graduate education, research, and scholarship.

CAGS believes in the transformative power of graduate education and postdoctoral training, and underscores its support for all individuals who, through scholarship, research, innovation, and practice contribute to the flourishing of societies in Canada and the world.

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies