As the 10-year mandate of the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) is set to expire, its interim president Janet Bax is optimistic that the government will refund its operations when the next Budget is tabled. With its $30 million over 10 years from Industry Canada nearly exhausted, the CCA has five assessments ready to go including health data, wind turbines, oil sands technologies and sustainability, energy use and climate change and the science, technology, engineering and math skills for the future.

But the government's decision to delay the Budget at least until April is raising concerns about a funding gap for organizations whose funding expires at the end of the current fiscal year.

"I am extremely optimistic about our funding renewal. The delay in the Budget does pose a challenge for the organization but we're not the only ones impacted by the delay," says Bax, who is a CCA program director. "Industry Canada is our funding organization and we expect them to find a way to bridge us until the Budget comes in."

Bax says the CCA is part of a group refered to by Treasury Board as "Sunsetters" — programs reconfirmed periodically by the government in order to remain in the fiscal framework.

This time around, the CCA is requesting $30 million over five years, effectively double the amount it was awarded in 2005 (R$, March 9/05). In return, the CCA commits to undertake 25 assessments for the government.

Bax says the value-added impact of the CCA's work has been noted by two audits and two assessments. In its pre-Budget submission, it notes that the volunteer input of 850 experts contributed $167 million worth of value. She also points to the impact several expert panel reports have had on government policy, particularly those specifically aimed at various aspects of S&T performance and business innovation.

"These are peer-reviewed reports that present findings, not recommendations. I'm realistic about the role our reports play. Science is one input out of several in policy making," she says.

The government process for selecting new areas for assessment has been suspended until the government decides on whether or not to approve CCA refunding.

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