Editorial - 19-2

All eyes will be on Finance minister Ralph Goodale on February 23rd when he brings down the first Budget by a minority government in decades. After a year of pronouncements on innovation, commercialization and the changing role of federal laboratories, the time has come to see exactly what Paul Martin & Co. has in store for Canadian S&T and our evolving role in the global economy.

The need for proactive measures is undeniable. Corporate R&D is apparently in decline — an indication that innovation is not sufficiently part of the Canadian social and economic fabric. The rise of US protectionism has hurt many of our industries from lumber to beef. And the rapid economic emergence of China, India, Brazil and others demands a new suite of targeted policies and programs to sustain and enhance Canada’s competitiveness.

At the same time, several successful programs are up for funding renewal. CANARIE, Precarn Inc, the Canadian Microelectronics Corp and others have contributed greatly to Canadian S&T and education and must continue.

And then there are Canada’s post-secondary institutions. When the academic community heard that increased support for research may be sacrificed for a major push on commercialization, the hue and cry was enough that the government moved quickly to quell dissent with the necessary reassurances.

Paying for the appropriate public role in innovation will be expensive and requires hard work. But unless this government demonstrates leadership and the willingness to act decisively, Canada will pay dearly in the long term.