Concerns mount over Quebec's support of academic research and innovation

Province aiming for zero deficit by 2016

Concern is mounting in Quebec's research community that the current government's drive to balance its books could result in cuts to research support for students, science culture and the province's new National Policy for Research and Innovation (PNRI). Acfas, a not-for-profit organization representing the province's academic researchers, says the government's silence on the issue is leading to worries that the next provincial Budget could contain some unpleasant surprises.

The PNRI is also part of a larger government-wide review being undertaken by a special commission headed by ex-Liberal cabinet minister Lucienne Robillard. It has filed an interim report and is expected to submit a final report in June.

"If we knew what was happening we would be happy or angry right now, but we don't know anything … It's absolute silence," says Acfas president Louise Dandurand.

Even the province's chief scientist, Dr Rémi Quirion, is playing down expectations of any budget hikes in the near future. In the latest edition of his ‘Message to the Community', Quirion said FY15-16 will be a "period of transition" as the government works to eliminate red ink, although previously approved spending is going forward.

The communique states: "I am therefore focused on the 2016-2017 budgets with the real hope that new funds will be injected into the three agencies (comprising the Fonds de recherche du Québec -FRQ) and higher sums will be dedicated to research into major social challenges," wrote Quirion. "Success is far from guaranteed but … I remain quite optimistic."

Relations between the research community and the new government got off on the wrong foot shortly after the Liberals won a majority government in April/14. In announcing its new Cabinet, the research and innovation portfolios were split over two ministries. Innovation is now part of the Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Export (MEIE) under Jacques Daoust while research remains attached to the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Research under Dr François Blais (R$, May 7/14).

"There was unanimous support for PNRI and now the prime minister (premier) says he will revise it. People were surprised after all this work and consensus for the policy. Now the ministry is divided. It's a joke," says Dr Yves Gingras, Canada Research Chair in the History and Sociology of Science at the Univ of Quebec at Montreal. "The national policy is likely to be renamed a strategy ... It looks too much like politics."

If the 2014 Budget is anything to go by, Finance minister Carlos Leitao appears willing to take tough action. Last year, his first Budget committed to reduce public spending by more than $5-billion over two years through measures such as cuts to operating and administrative expenditures at all ministries and government bodies, as well as imposing a government hiring freeze.

Gingras says the Robillard commission is charged with finding another $2-3 billion in additional savings, leading to concerns from the university community that research support could be reduced.

"The obsession of government is zero deficit ...We need to make sure that the budgets of the three (provincial) granting councils will not be cut. That's the maximum we expect to get in the next Budget."

Acfas itself was the target of budget cuts last December when MEIE announced that support to science culture organizations through its NovaScience program would be reduced or eliminated. For Acfas, the decision meant a $300,000 reduction in its budget

The government quickly reversed its decision, but Dandurand says the message the flipflop sent was sobering.

"The minister changed his mind but even though he backtracked, it's a worrisome indication for how they will treat research, innovation and science," she says. "We know the budget is tight, Everyone can understand that. But the national policy (PNRI) is a result of wide consensus and we want to hear they are committed to it, it's a good policy and they will keep the funding levels as they are. We want a statement of commitment on the importance of science, research and innovation and that it will be a major part of their thinking."

Gingras says Quebec premier Philippe Coulliard made have had a hand in reversing the cuts out of respect for his father, the late Joseph Couillard, an esteemed biologist at the Univ of Montreal and an active advocate of science culture in the 1960s and 1970s.

"Cuts are now being negotiated in the corridors. That's not the way to do it," he says.

The provincial Budget was initially expected before the end of March but with the delay in the federal Budget, Quebec may push back its own economic blueprint until it sees what the federal government is planning for the new FY.

Quebec has long been considered a leader in research and innovation policy and has the highest gross expenditures on R&D as a percentage of GDP in the country (2.3% as of 2012).

"We're very proud of how governments of both parties over the decades have treated science, research and innovation as a key factor in social and economic innovation," says Dandurand. "What is astounding with this government is their silence and absence of interest in even discussing it."

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