News & Views item - January 2006

AUCC Question

Reply Paul Martin Leader Liberal Party of Canada

Reply Stephen Harper Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

Reply Gilles Duceppe  Leader of the Bloc Québécois

Reply

Jack Layton, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

AUCC Question

1.  In constant dollars, per student operating funding from all levels of government for Canadian universities is at a record low. In the United States, governments invest $5,000 more per student in four year public universities and colleges.  One way for the federal government to help close this gap and to ensure that universities can offer high-quality education to growing numbers of students is to provide more resources to the provinces for higher education.  

If your party forms the next government, will you work with the provinces to negotiate a dedicated transfer for postsecondary education?

Liberal Party

The Liberal government is a significant and long-standing partner in post-secondary education. The current Liberal government contributes over $7 billion per year in cash transfers to provincial and territorial governments and through a range of programs to support students and research.

As for transfers, they are but one way in which the Federal government currently supports PSE. The Liberal government will continue to work collaboratively with its provincial and territorial partners to discuss the most appropriate way to support access to PSE institutions. In 2005-06, the Liberal government will provide over $14 billion through the Canada Social Transfer (CST), including $7.1 billion in cash and $7 billion in tax transfers.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party of Canada believes investing in education and training will be a significant component of Canada’s future prosperity and competitiveness. A Conservative government will remove post-secondary education funding from the Canada Social Transfer and create an independent Canada Education and Traning Transfer. The Transfer will be funded at a base level and increased annually according to inflation and demographic growth. The Transfer will be negotiated with the provinces and territories to ensure the funding is targeted to post-secondary education.

Bloc Québécois

Depuis l’arrivée au pouvoir des libéraux, les transferts à l’éducation et aux programmes sociaux ont été drastiquement coupés. Le gouvernement fédéral y consacrait 7,9 % de ses revenus en 1994-95, alors qu’en 2005-2006 cette proportion a été ramenée à 4,2 %. Le Bloc Québécois soutient depuis longtemps la nécessité de faire de l’éducation une priorité au Québec afin d’être en mesure de relever le défi de la mondialisation.

Jusqu’ici, malgré sa promesse électorale en 2004 de réserver 7 milliards $ à 8 milliards $ pour les paiements de transferts en éducation, Paul Martin a ignoré les demandes répétées pour une hausse substantielle des transferts en matière d’enseignement postsecondaire pour le Québec.

Le Bloc Québécois exhorte le gouvernement fédéral à augmenter le Transfert pour l’éducation et les programmes sociaux de 4,7 milliards annuellement et donne quatre ans au gouvernement pour atteindre ce montant (réinvestissement de 11,6 milliards sur trois ans, et 4,7 la quatrième année).

New Democrats

Yes.

AUCC Question

2.  The federal Indirect Costs program reimburses a portion of the costs (such as the general costs associated with operating facilities, managing the research process, and with regulation and safety compliance) that universities incur to conduct federally-sponsored research. Currently, the program provides support for indirect costs at an overall average level equivalent to 25 percent of direct costs funding.  This falls well short of the minimum 40 percent rate required to cover a significant portion of the indirect costs that universities incur.  Thus, they must find money in their general operating budgets to cover the remainder.

If your party forms the next government, will you ensure that the Indirect Costs program provides reimbursement of a minimum rate of 40 percent of the direct costs of federally sponsored research so that universities will cover fewer of these costs from their general operating budgets?

Liberal Party

In 2005–06, post-secondary institutions will receive $260 million under the Indirect Costs of Research program to help them meet the costs associated with research. On top of this, in the November 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update, the Liberal government committed $1.2 billion over five years to funding of research to over 40 percent of direct costs. Under the Liberal government, funding for the indirect costs of research will rise to $510 million per year.

Conservative Party

A Conservative Government would continue to fund the indirect costs of research and would look forward to discussing an increase in the funding level of the Indirect Costs program. We recognize that Canada’s universities are global leaders in research and we are committed to seeing that continue. Not only will this benefit Canada’s universities and researchers, all Canadians stand to gain from the ensuing advancements in science and technology.

Bloc Québécois

Le Bloc Québécois reconnaît le problème auquel sont confrontées les universités. Le Bloc Québécois estime par ailleurs que le principal problème est le sous-financement qui a suivi le désengagement du gouvernement fédéral depuis l’arrivée de Paul Martin au ministère fédéral des Finances. Cette situation prive le Québec et les provinces des revenus nécessaires pour remplir leurs responsabilités et, par le fait même, leur donne du fil à retordre pour soutenir adéquatement les institutions d’enseignement supérieur.

Le Bloc Québécois estime que le Transfert pour l’éducation et les programmes sociaux doit être augmenté de 4,7 milliards de dollars annuellement et donne quatre ans au gouvernement fédéral pour atteindre ce montant (réinvestissement de 11,6 milliards de dollars sur trois ans, et 4,7 milliards la quatrième année).

Cette mesure doit être couplée à la correction du déséquilibre fiscal qui étouffe financièrement le Québec et les provinces.

New Democrats

The federal government has under-funded research for more than a decade. New Democrats are committed to an increase in funding for research. Balance and fairness are important elements in getting education investment right and we’ll work with education groups like yours to balance out and bring our level of research investment to more adequately reflect the realities of today’s research community.

AUCC Question

3.  Student assistance is important to ensure that no academically qualified individuals are unable to pursue postsecondary education opportunities because they lack the necessary financial resources.  The student financial aid system in Canada is complex.  It involves the federal government, the provinces, universities and third party organizations and is delivered through a mix of grants, loans and tax credits. 

If your party forms the next government, what will you do to ensure that money invested in student financial aid is going to those students most in need and that it is sufficient to meet the need?

Liberal Party

The Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) is the primary instrument of the federal government for promoting access to post-secondary education. The CSLP has been very effective in promoting access to post-secondary education over the years, as evidenced by the fact that Canadians have the highest attainment rate with respect to post-secondary education in the world. In recent budgets we have introduced a number of important enhancements to the CSLP, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the program’s ability to keeps pace with the evolving financial needs of students and their families.

Some of these enhancements include the Millennium Scholarship Foundation, Canada Study Grants, Canada Education Savings Grant Program, the Canada Learning Bond, Canada Graduate Scholarships and the Canada Access Grant.

Conservative Party

During the mid-nineties the federal Liberal government cut billions of dollars in transfers to the provinces which limited provincial investment in post-secondary education and caused dramatic increases in tuition costs. These tuition increases have resulted in heavy student debt for many Canadian students and graduates. Unfortunately, this has also prevented some bright and talented Canadians from pursuing post-secondary education.

In order to help Canadian students to meet the financial challenges of attending university and technical college the Conservative Party of Canada has announced a number of initiatives. We have a comprehensive trades policy which includes a Tools Tax Deduction for up to $500 spent on tools; a $1,000 Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for two years for apprentices in approved programs; and an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit of 10 per cent of an apprenticeship’s wages for two years to a maximum of $2,000. A Conservative government would also introduce a tax credit for students or their parents on spending of up to $500 to help cover the costs of textbooks. We would also work cooperatively with the provinces to increase family income thresholds for student loan eligibility and exempt the first $10,000 of student scholarship or bursary income from taxation. We believe that our proposals are an excellent first step towards increasing Canada’s productivity and competitiveness in the global marketplace.

A Conservative government is committed to bringing balance to the fiscal relationship between the federal government, and provincial, territorial and municipal governments. We believe that only through a long term, comprehensive agreement which addresses both the vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalance can matters such as the funding of post-secondary education can be properly addressed.

Bloc Québécois

En optant pour un système parallèle de bourses, le gouvernement fédéral a créé plus de problèmes qu’il n’en a réglés. Plutôt que de transférer directement la part des fonds de la Fondation des bourses du millénaire qui reviennent au Québec et aux provinces, Ottawa a préféré instaurer une structure administrative supplémentaire, et cela s’est traduit par des frais de gestion qui ont fait perdre des milliers de dollars aux étudiants québécois.

En imposant un programme conçu pour aider les étudiants canadiens, le gouvernement libéral a ignoré la spécificité du Québec qui possède le régime de prêts et bourses le plus généreux en Amérique du Nord et qui offre des programmes de soutien adaptés à la réalité québécoise.

New Democrats

New Democrats are committed to improving student financial aid by properly investing in a long term financial grants program and overhauling the Canada Student Loans Program to make it comprehensive and accessible so that it reduces the burden of student debt.

AUCC Question

4.  This country can ill-afford to under-develop the potential and under-utilize the skills, knowledge and creativity of important segments of Canadian society.  Several groups such as low income individuals, Aboriginal Canadians and some recent immigrants are under-represented in the Canadian university system.

If your party forms the next government, what measures will you take to ensure that financial aid is available to under-represented groups and that universities can provide the necessary outreach and support to ensure that these groups can benefit fully from higher education?

Liberal Party

The Liberal government has undertaken a number of initiatives designed to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to access post-secondary education. A key outcome of the 2005 First Ministers Meeting with National Aboriginal Leaders was the commitment of $1.8 billion over the next five years to further Aboriginal education, with $500 million of this money being used for Aboriginal post-secondary education. To assist Canadians living with disabilities to pursue higher education, the Liberal Government proposed a new Post-Secondary Education Innovation Fund. This fund in part will provide one-time funding to provinces and territories to improve the accessibility of Canadian post-secondary institutions for persons with disabilities. Finally, the Liberal government has committed $1.3 billion over this year and the next five to enhance immigrant settlement and integration programs. This initiative will provide new Canadians with access to language training and the tools to pursue further education.

Conservative Party

A Conservative government will work cooperatively with the provinces to ensure greater access to post-secondary education for all Canadians. Progressive changes to the Canada Student Loan Program, and changes to the tax system making books more affordable and allowing students to keep more of the money they receive from scholarships and bursaries will definitely help more Canadians from all backgrounds achieve their goal of receiving a university or college education.

Bloc Québécois

See response from previous question.

New Democrats

We are committed to a long term federal grant system that includes special grants for under-represented groups, especially Aboriginal youth

AUCC Question

5.  International education opportunities for Canadian students help them to develop the global skills and perspectives that are in high demand in the labour market and Canadian society.  Opportunities for students from other countries to study in Canadian universities create important linkages between Canada and the rest of the world. Currently, less than one percent of Canadian university students participate in short-term, for-credit study, internship, or research experiences abroad each year – far less than in other key OECD countries. Canadian universities have set a goal of having five percent of university students participate in an international educational opportunity. As a first step, universities aim to triple the number of students who participate by 2010 – moving from 6,000 to 18,000 annually.

If your party forms the next government, will you take the necessary measures to triple the annual number of university students who have an international education opportunity, and to ensure that the best and brightest students from other countries are attracted  to study at Canadian universities?

Liberal Party

Encouraging Canadian students to study in other countries broadens their horizons, and allows them to acquire diversified skills they can then apply in a Canadian context. In the 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update, the Liberal government committed to invest $150 million over five years to improve access to international education, and to enable institutions to participate in international networks. This will be accomplished primarily through the establishment of scholarship programs to enable young Canadians to study and pursue research opportunities in other countries by providing them with financial assistance. The Liberal Government will also develop and implement measures to encourage more foreign students to study in Canada.

Conservative Party

Having the opportunity to study internationally can greatly enhance and enrich a student’s education. Visiting scholars and students also enrich learning environments at Canadian universities. A Conservative government would work cooperatively with the provinces to discuss the development of additional learning opportunities for Canadian students to study abroad and for international students to attend Canadian institutions of higher learning.

Bloc Québécois

Le Québec a fait des choix sociaux différents de ceux du Canada et cela se reflète en éducation. Au Québec, les frais de scolarité sont trois fois mois élevés que la moyenne canadienne, l’endettement étudiant y est deux fois moins important et le régime des prêts et bourse y est le plus généreux en Amérique du Nord.

New Democrats

New Democrats will work with the provinces and territories to ensure stable, long term funding and build the capacity to attract more foreign students to Canada as well as send Canadian students abroad.

AUCC Question

6.  Many business leaders and analysts have identified the relative underproduction of graduate degrees in Canada as a barrier to increasing this country’s international competitiveness and productivity.  The United States produces more than twice as many master’s graduates and 50 percent more PhD graduates on a per capita basis than Canada.    

If your party forms the next government, will you undertake the necessary investments to begin to close this gap by supporting more students to pursue graduate studies and ensuring that universities have the faculty and infrastructure necessary to educate 25 percent more graduate students over the next four years?

Liberal Party

In 2003, the Liberal Government introduced the Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) to support students in pursuing graduate studies in Canadian institutions. The program is delivered by the three granting councils. In 2006–07 the program will support 2000 masters and 2000 doctoral students. In the 2005 Economic and Fiscal Update, the Liberal government committed to provide new resources totaling $210 million over the next five years to support a 50-per-cent increase in the number of CGS awards in all disciplines, including science and engineering. The new awards will be distributed equally among masters and doctoral students. When fully phased in, the CGS program will support 6,000 students each year.

Individuals with both strong science and business backgrounds often act as the key links between the research laboratory and the marketplace, facilitating the transfer of knowledge needed to translate research leadership into economic success; as such, 2,400 of the CGS awards will be specifically dedicated to the sciences and engineering.

Conservative Party

To ensure Canada’s competitiveness in the global marketplace we must provide more opportunities for students to pursue graduate studies. A Conservative government would work cooperatively with the provinces to address this challenge. We believe that improving the funding structure to universities and restoring balance to the fiscal relationship between the provinces and the federal government will go a long way in helping universities enhance both under-graduate and graduate program opportunities.

Bloc Québécois

Le Québec a fait des choix sociaux différents de ceux du Canada et cela se reflète en éducation. Au Québec, les frais de scolarité sont trois fois mois élevés que la moyenne canadienne, l’endettement étudiant y est deux fois moins important et le régime des prêts et bourse y est le plus généreux en Amérique du Nord.

New Democrats

New Democrats believe in post secondary education as a way to build a strong and prosperous economy. We will work with the provinces and territories to ensure stable, long term funding to build the infrastructure necessary to educate 25 percent more graduate students over the next four years.

AUCC Question

7.  In 2004, Canada invested 1.89 percent of its GDP in research and development – far below the OECD average of 2.26.  The United States stood at 2.73 percent in that year.  Universities are the lynchpin of Canada ’s R & D effort, performing more than one third of all research and educating the country’s highly qualified research personnel.  They are the only sector to perform research for all other sectors, across the full range of disciplines and with a significant presence in all regions.  Funding for university research through the three federal granting agencies (the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research) has increased significantly in recent years.  However, competitor countries around the world are not standing still.  For Canada to compete in the global race for talent and ideas, funding for university research must be internationally competitive. 

If your party forms the next federal government, will you ensure that university-based research in Canada is funded at internationally competitive levels through the federal research granting agencies?

Liberal Party

Since 1997, the Liberal government has invested close to $12 billion to improve the research environment at our universities and research hospitals - helping our country to reach first place among G7 countries in research performed at universities.

Conservative Party

Research at Canada’s universities helps to drive our economy and improve our lives. In this era of increasing global competitiveness we must ensure that Canada’s universities have the resources they need to continue this valuable contribution to Canadian society. A Conservative government will continue to fund research through the granting councils and will work toward improving the percentage of GDP invested in research and development at Canada’s universities.

Bloc Québécois

Le Bloc Québécois estime d’une part que la solution la plus simple et la plus efficace pour financer correctement les infrastructures et la recherche universitaire, qui consiste en une augmentation substantielle des transferts au Québec, est ignorée par le gouvernement fédéral alors même qu’elle fait consensus au Québec.

New Democrats

New Democrats are committed to an increase in funding for university research. Balance and fairness are important elements in getting education investment right and we’ll work with education groups like yours to ensure Canada’s university based research is internationally competitive.

AUCC Question

8.  Competing effectively in an internationalized R&D environment requires investments in cutting-edge university research infrastructure. The Canada Foundation for Innovation, in partnership with provinces, universities and the private sector, has been the major funder of new university research infrastructure in Canada in recent years.  The international standard for supporting research infrastructure is 20 percent on top of the direct costs of research.

If your party forms the next government, will you ensure that the Canada Foundation for Innovation is able to meet and maintain this international 20 percent standard for funding of university research infrastructure?

Liberal Party

The Liberal government is committed to reinvesting in research and development across Canada. In 1997 it created the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to help spur research and development throughout Canada’s postsecondary institutions. In also includes significant increases to the budgets of the three main research agencies. In our Innovation Agenda, released by the Liberal government in February 2001, we continued the commitment of helping Canada’s research and development sector grow by establishing the Indirect Costs of Research Program, allowing post secondary institutions to reduce the impact that federally funded research has on their overall budget.

Then in the Economic and Fiscal Update of November 2005 the Liberal government committed additional money to help university institutions and research agencies like CFI meet their needs to complete internationally. These monetary commitments include:

• $1.2 billion over the next five years for the Indirect Costs of Research program that will bring the Liberal government’s level of support to over 40 percent of direct federal research funding;
• $1 billion for post secondary infrastructure to help Canada’s educational institutions modernize and improve facilities;
• An increase of $85 million increase to the granting agencies’ research budgets;
• $500 million for the Canada Foundation for Innovation to continue its research and development over the next five years; and,

Conservative Party

We recognize the importance of organizations such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation and want to see their work continue. A Conservative government will ensure that the Canada Foundation for Innovation meets and maintains the 20 percent standard for funding of university research infrastructure.

Bloc Québécois

See response from previous question.

New Democrats

New Democrats will guarantee the provinces and territories stable, predictable funding for post-secondary education. We’re committed to innovation and investment in all areas of education including improvements in research infrastructure funding.