Federal budget due out February 27

Finance minister Bill Morneau has announced that the 2018 federal budget will be tabled on February 27. Morneau said pre-budget consultations reached record participation with more than 1.5 million people reached and nearly 38,000 submissions received. The R&D and innovation communities, in particular, are eagerly anticipating Budget 2018 with the hopes of increased funding in fundamental research as recommended in the report on Canada's Fundamental Science Review, popularly called the Naylor report. The report calls for an additional $1.3 billion in the federal budget to boost the capabilities of federal granting councils and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Various organizations  – from health groups to academia -- have thrown their support behind the report, urging the government to adopt its 22 recommendations.