“It’s a nice budget… if we’re allowed to enjoy it”: UCalgary grad students worry Bill 18 could scuttle new federal funding promises

CALGARY—The University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) applauds the 2024 federal budget for its commitment to research and innovation in Canada. The notable increases to graduate and post-doctoral scholarships within the Tri-Council Agencies are a long-awaited step to securing Canada’s top talent.

“These awards fund the work of our top developing researchers, and set the tone for what graduate funding looks like in Canada,” said A.C. Cameron, Vice-President External. “We applaud this budget’s commitment to supporting economic progress through innovation.”

Budget 2024 increases the available funding for federal research grants by $1.8 billion, over five years, with $743.8 million per year earmarked to the Tri-Council granting agencies: the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR). Additionally, $825 million will be spent over five years—equaling $199.8 million annually—on scholarships that directly support master’s and doctoral students. This is the first increase to the value of these scholarships since 2003, and further, adds an additional 1,720 awards to the pool.  

“The budget not only brings much needed financial support to researchers of all stripes,” said James Steele, GSA President, “but clearly affirms that graduate students are an indispensable part of Canada’s economic future.”

The GSA is additionally pleased to see the Canadian government act to maintain international competitiveness—with funding earmarked for research in highly strategic fields like artificial intelligence and green technology—as well as mental health funding and direct support for municipalities to combat the ongoing housing crisis.  

“From the worsening droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires, we see that ecologically conscious research is more important than ever,” said Cameron. “Liveable research funding empowers Canada’s graduate and post-doctoral scholars to focus on solving wicked problems like the climate emergency.”

He added, “integrated solutions are needed to tackle complex problems. The extra support for affordable housing opens the door for novel and multi-lateral developments such as integrated community spaces and urban food systems.”

The noteworthy wins in the federal budget are in stark contrast to the reckless politicking undertaken by Alberta’s provincial government.

“As much as we want to celebrate these hard-fought wins,” Steele said, “we’re reminding ourselves that Alberta’s Bill 18 could stand in the way of these promising funding supports.”

He added, “These scholarships offer a serious opportunity to fuel innovation to help stabilize and diversify the Albertan economy. However, Premier Smith’s ‘Stay Out of My Backyard’ Bill seems to insist that the research and innovation made possible by these federal investments should take place anywhere but Alberta.”

The GSA is concerned that the mere threat of Bill 18 might be enough to convince prospective graduate students to hunt for greener pastures, especially in jurisdictions that plan to work with the federal government on the housing crisis. “We’re already dealing with a brain-drain into the United States,” he added. “Now, with Bill 18, Alberta is at risk of creating a brain-drain into other provinces, too.”