With Parliamentarians already returning to their respective chambers this week, here’s a look at what we’re keeping our eyes on this fall.

1. Evaluation of Research Funding Criteria at the SRSR Committee 

The Standing Committee of Science and Research (SRSR) is back in action this week, continuing their study on the “Impact of the Criteria for Awarding Federal Funding on Research Excellence in Canada”. Earlier this year we published our summary report on the SRSR’s committee’s study, highlighting – in particular – the concerning messaging by some committee members around introducing political ideology into research funding decisions. 

SRSR Committee Chair Salma Zahid will be leading at least four meetings on this study, and ultimately delivering findings to the House of Commons. In its mission statement, the SRSR committee committed to investigate the following:

A. Evaluate whether the federal funding criteria used:

• are still appropriate within the evaluation committees; 
• allow for the achievement of program objectives;
• strengthen the development of knowledge, and;
• contribute to innovation, research, and science in Canada. 

B. Determine whether modifications should be made to these criteria. 

E4D will be closely monitoring the activity of this committee in the weeks to come. 

2. Upcoming Bills on Democratic Reforms

There are also a number of important bills being proposed in the legislature this fall session that are of particular interest to E4D’s mission. 

• Voting Age Reform – Interim NDP Leader Don Davies presented his Private Members’ Bill titled “An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age), which aims to lower the voting age to 16 – a measure that has been backed by FairVote Canada, UNICEF Canada, and other civic engagement advocates. This move occurs after a similar proposal has been introduced in the United Kingdom over the summer.
• Increased Accountability Measures for Elected Officials – MP Davies’ private members bill also coincides with two similar bills recently proposed in the Senate: Senator Marilou McPhedran’s S-222 bill proposes lowering the voting age to 16; and Senator Donna Dasko’s S-213 bill proposes greater accountability measures for political parties during elections, including improved public availability of data on election candidates.

3. Upcoming Budget Release

Last but not least: Budget 2025. The Prime Minister has previously signalled that the fall’s budget will feature a deficit bigger than last year’s. There is strong speculation that this budget will contain a heavy focus on security, defence, and streamlining big builds and infrastructure projects.  

We have already seen evidence that the federal government is shifting away from science and evidence as policy priorities, in its elimination of science from the Minister of Industry’s title, decision to fast track Bill C-5 Building Canada Act through Parliament, and elimination of Minister mandate letters.  

In this context, E4D’s priority will be to protect the hard-won gains for science and research from Budget 2024, and we will be monitoring upcoming developments closely.