Editorial - 30-5

Say what you will about the Liberal government's deficit-fuelled Budget of social and stimulus spending, the decision to inject $1.2 billion into science, innovation, clean tech and trade is a most welcome departure from the past several years. After nine Budgets of declining science, technology and innovation (STI) spending, quiet desperation has turned into widespread optimism that the Decade of Darkness is indeed over.

Better still, the government has indicated that STI investments will be even larger next year, once it completes a new Innovation Agenda, reviews its spending on fundamental science and launches a new "high-impact firm" initiative to help companies scale up and compete globally.

It's a tall order which some observers have criticized for being overly ambitious. But shooting high and settling for something in-between has been something of a Liberal hallmark. Remember Finance minister Paul Martin's aspirational call in 2000 to move Canada's R&D spending from 15th to 5th over OECD nations in 10 years? (R$, October 2/00).

Innovation has supplanted R&D as the holy grail and the government is correct to hold off on STI spending until it has a more nuanced understanding of where Canada can best succeed and which mechanisms and policies are required to unleash that untapped potential.

Canada has great research, skilled talent and many organizations well-designed to foster and exploit our knowledge resources. Combining those assets with a robust industrial strategy and enlightened leadership are top priorities. This Budget is an important first step.