Decline in federal support for S&T now a long-term trend according to latest data

Federal spending on S&T has fallen 12% over the last four years — 3.3% in the current fiscal year alone — as deficit reduction measures continue to reduce outlays of support for all sectors. Federal S&T outlays for FY13-14 totalled $10.5 billion, compared to $10.85 billion the previous year and well off the high-water mark of $11.9 billion in FY2009-10.

Of the total, $6.8 billion is devoted to R&D, down just 0.6% from FY12-13, while related scientific activities account for $3.7 billion, a drop of 7.8% from the previous year.

Particularly hard hit are provincial and municipal governments and not-for-profit institutions. Other levels of government will receive just $70 million in FY13-14, a 38.6% drop from the previous year, while not-for-profits will collectively receive $286 million or 29.2% less.

The sole bright spot in the latest Statistics Canada data is support for industry, which is projected to grow 6.6% between FY12-13 and FY13-14 to $1.1 billion. The report attributes the increase "primarily from an increase in R&D activities" although it remains below business assistance allocated in FY 10-11 ($1.2 billion).

The StatsCan data have set off an unprecedented outpouring of media coverage. The government has yet to provide a meaningful response to the decline in federal S&T outlays — a ministerial spokesperson said the government has made "record investments in science and technology" — and the new minister for science and technology has been silent on the subject despite media requests for comment.

Federal intramural spending continues to fall, dropping 3% in FY13-14 for a 13.9% decline over the past four years. The spending reductions cover all activities from administration and capital to data collection and special services and studies. The area experiencing the smallest decline is information services which has remained relatively constant since FY09-10 at about $650 million.

At the departmental and agency level, the current year is a mixed bag, with a few receiving modest increases while the majority are experiencing cuts. On a year-over-year basis, funding is down for virtually all the major science-based line departments with the exception of Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

The federal granting agencies will also receive less this year. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is down 2.7% to $980 million, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is off 2.1% to $686 million and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council declines 2.8% to $1. billion.

The Canadian Space Agency's funding spikes upward by 36% to $468 million, although its funding is slated to decline in subsequent years. Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd is also up 5.9% to $505 million as the government prepares to shift the crown corporations's management structure to a government-owned, company-operated model (R$, July 11 & 30/13).

The National Capital Region remains the largest single location for S&T activity, accounting for $3.5 billion of 31% of the total, up 4.5% from the previous year.

The number of federal personnel engaged in S&T activities continues to fall, with a 2.9% drop in FY13-14 to 35,192 full-time equivalent positions. Since FY09-10, federal S&T personnel has dropped 3776 or 9.7%.. In that five-year period, R&D positions have declined 11% to 13,443 while personnel engaged in related scientific activities have declined 8.2% to 19,215. Administrative positions related to both R&D and RSA have also declined 11.9% and 11.6% respectively.

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