Briefing material for SSHRC’s appearance at the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance

November 7th, 2023, 9:00 – 11:00 am ET

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Table of content

• Purpose
• Background
• Membership
• Current Work
• Opening Remarks
• Responsive Lines
• SSHRC Finances
• Support to the Canadian Research Enterprise
• Science, Research and Society
• Support to Research and Publications in French
• Moonshot Programs
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Research Enterprise (Primarlily from the CRCC Progress Report)
• Indigenous Research and Truth & Reconciliation
• Research Security
• Annex A – NFFN Committee Membership
• Other Members

Purpose

On November 7^th, representatives from SSHRC (Ted Hewitt, Sylvie Lamoureux and Dominique Osterrath), NSERC (Manal Bahubeshi, Marc Fortin, Dominique Osterrath), and CIHR (Tammy Clifford, Jimmy Fecteau) will appear before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance (NFFN), to deliver opening remarks and answer questions (see responsive lines) related to the committee’s work on:

• Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.

Background

This committee is a long-standing Senate Committee, having been established in 1919. Its mandate is to examine matters relating to federal estimates generally, including the public accounts, reports of the Auditor General and government finance. In addition, the committee sometimes investigates other topics of interest and importance to the country. SSHRC previously appeared before this committee to present on Main Estimates in May 2013 and in April 2015, represented by Executive Vice-President Brent Herbert-Copley.

Membership

The committee is currently composed of the following members (see Annex A for committee member biographies):

• Chair: Percy Mockler (New Brunswick) (Conservative Party of Canada)
• Deputy-Chair: Éric Forest (Québec - Gulf) (Independent Senators Group)
• Jean-Guy Dagenais (Québec - Vicotria) (Canadian Senators Group)
• Tony Loffreda(Québec - Shawinigan) (Independent Senators Group)
• Kim Pate (Ontario) (Independent Senators Group)
• Rosa Galvez (Québec - Bedford) (Independent Senators Group)
• Jane MacAdam (Prince Edward Island) (Independent Senators Group)
• Larry W. Smith (Québec - Saurel) (Canadian Senators Group)
• Clément Gignac(Québec - Kennebec) (Progressive Senate Group)
• Elizabeth Marshall (Newfoundland and Labrador) (Conservative Party of Canada)

Current Work

• The study of the Main Estimates began on March 8, 2023, was on hold over the summer break, and resumed in September. There have been 16 meetings to date, with one more meeting scheduled after November 7^th.
• Officials from ISED have appeared before the committee:
  • Mark Schaan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Innovation Policy Sector
  • Douglas McConnachie, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Management Sector
  • Vien Huynh-Lee, Director, Strategic Program Management, Strategic Innovation Fund
  • John Fox, Director General, Strategic Innovation Fund
  • Jean-Philippe Lapointe, Director General, Business Development and Strategy, Strategic Innovation Fund
  • James Burns, Senior Director, Policy and Outreach, Investment Review Division
• Officials from the following organisations have also appeared before the Committee:
  • Canada Border Services Agency
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
  • Canada Revenue Agency
  • Canadian Heritage
  • Correctional Service Canada
  • Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
  • Department of Finance Canada
  • Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces
  • Employment and Social Development Canada
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • Health Canada
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Indigenous Services Canada
  • Infrastructure Canada
  • Natural Resources Canada
  • Office of the Auditor General of Canada
  • Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
  • Parks Canada
  • Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Public Safety Canada
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada
  • Statistics Canada
  • Transport Canada
  • Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  • Veterans Affairs Canada
  • VIA High Frequency Rail Inc.
  • VIA Rail Canada

Opening Remarks

• Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• I would like to start by highlighting that the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council—"SSHRC” for short—is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports research and research training in the humanities and social sciences—disciplines that range from economics to psychology to history.
• With grants to researchers, fellowships and scholarships for students, and partnerships with community stakeholders, SSHRC advances knowledge and understanding of people and society, and contributes to a better future for Canada and the world.
• Through special initiatives such as “Imagining Canada’s Future”, we also aim to strengthen policy and decision-making to address global challenges such as health and wellness systems, work in the digital economy, and effective governance.
• A considerable part of our mandate also involves the delivery of several highly prestigious, globally recognized programs on behalf of the three federal research funding agencies (what we call the “tri-agency”), such as the Canada Research Chairs Program, the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program, and the New Frontiers in Research Fund, among others. These programs cross all academic disciplines and drive Canadian research excellence and impacts.
• It’s also important to note that SSHRC shares with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council a Common Administrative Services Directorate that oversees key corporate services for both agencies, including information technology, human resources and financial operations. My colleague Dominique Osterrath oversees these functions for both agencies.
• SSHRC’s 2023-24 Main Estimates amount to $1.15 billion, which includes $1.1 billion in grants and $48.2 million in operating expenditures. This represents a net increase of $81.9 million from the previous year's Main Estimates.
• The $1.1 billion grant authority includes $347 million for the delivery of SSHRC grants and scholarship programs to support researchers and trainees in the social sciences and humanities.
• For the committee’s awareness, I will note that during the previous fiscal year, SSHRC supported more than 4,800 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows directly through scholarships and fellowships, representing $125 million in funding for early-career researchers.
• Our Main Estimates also include funds for several tri-agency programs administered at SSHRC. For example:
  • $452 million for the Research Support Fund, which provides financial support to universities, colleges and their affiliated research hospitals and institutes to reimburse a portion of indirect costs associated with the funded research, such as maintaining labs and equipment, securing research from threats, and providing administrative support.
  • $123 million for the New Frontiers in Research Fund, which supports world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk / high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research in areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, artificial intelligence and cancer treatment.
  • $53 million for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund, which aims to boost the strengths of Canadian postsecondary institutions so they can achieve global success in research areas that create long-term social and economic advantages for Canada.
  • $37 million for the Canada Biomedical Research Fund, which was originally announced in Budget 2021 as part of Canada's Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy and is designed to help ensure Canada is prepared for future pandemics by increasing domestic capacity through investments and partnerships across the academic, public, private and not-for-profit sectors to produce life-saving vaccines and therapeutics.
• In addition, SSHRC is pursuing, in collaboration with the other federal research funding agencies and key stakeholders, a number of priorities that are enriching Canada’s research ecosystem. Some of the chief areas where SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR are making considerable progress together include:
  • ensuring research excellence through equity, diversity and inclusion—or EDI—initiatives and the engagement of early-career researchers in the research enterprise;
  • advancing reconciliation through strengthening Indigenous research capacity; and,
  • promoting high-risk / high-reward, rapid response, interdisciplinary international research.
• We are also working with other government departments in Canada and internationally on issues of global importance, such as research to promote sustainable agriculture and mitigate the effects of climate change.
• On that note, I will gladly answer any questions you may have on our 2023-24 Main Estimates and key priorities. Thank you.

[664 words = approx. 6 minutes]

Responsive Lines

N.B. while the opening remarks relate to the mandate of the study on Main Estimates, questions from committee members have spanned a wide number of topics and interests. Accordingly, we are providing responsive lines related to main ongoing topic of interest in government at the moment, many of which are based on issues which have been discussed by other committees.

SSHRC Finances

N.B. Questions related to SSHRC’s main estimates or other financial matters should be answered by Dominique Osterrath. The Finance team has prepared separate briefing material for that purpose.

Support to the Canadian Research Enterprise

In its report, the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System recommended relocating the talent programs currently administered by the granting agencies within a new foundation to better harmonize and simplify these programs and reduce their administrative burden reported by the research community. What is your perspective on this recommendation?

• The granting agencies are working shoulder-to-shoulder to modernize and harmonize our suite of talent funding opportunities and are ready to work with the government as it considers its response to this recommendation.
• To support the Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) priorities, the agencies are collaborating to develop a Tri-agency Training Strategy built on five emerging themes:
  1. equity, diversity and inclusion;
  2. evolving career paths;
  3. harmonization and streamlining efforts;
  4. indigenous research and training; and,
  5. international mobility and globalization.
• The agencies are also in the final reporting phase for a tri-agency strategic evaluation of scholarship and training support programs. This evaluation took place over two years with an unprecedented approach that reviewed talent programming at SSHRC, NSERC and CIHR, including both direct funding (i.e., scholarships and fellowships) as well as indirect funding with explicit training objectives (for example, SSHRC Insight Grants and Partnership Grants). The evaluation assessed student access to agency support and the extent to which this funding enables students to prepare for research-intensive careers. The evaluation will inform the development of the Tri-agency Training Strategy.

What is SSHRC doing to help Canada attract and retain talent in the context of increasing global competition?

• SSHRC, and other granting agencies, are taking several actions to attract and retain talent to help drive science and innovation, and help ensure a sustainable and equitable post-pandemic economic recovery in Canada.
• First, SSHRC continues to support researchers and students at Canadian institutions through various research and talent funding opportunities. In 2021-2022, SSHRC supported:
  • over 4,900 students directly through scholarships and fellowships;
  • more than 11,000 researchers directly; and
  • approximately 4,300 additional students indirectly through grants at postsecondary institutions across Canada.
• Second, SSHRC, on behalf the granting agencies, administers internationally recognized funding opportunities such as the Canada First Research Excellence Fund which draws leading scientists from around the globe to Canada. In April 2023, the Minister announced an investment of $1.4B through this fund for 11 large-scale research initiatives in strategic areas. SSHRC also administers the Canada Research Chairs. This program invests approximately $295M per year to attract and retain world-class researchers, to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canadian postsecondary institutions. This program supports research in various areas that can contribute to Canada's global competitiveness and well-being.
• Thirdly, the granting agencies are also developing a Talent Strategy to renew and guide our investments in scholarships and fellowships. Tri-agency investments in research talent ensures Canada can address the labour shortage, fill next-generation jobs in emerging industries, fuel the recovery and improve diversity in the talent pipeline. SSHRC, in collaboration with other granting agencies, is also working to increase opportunities for Indigenous students, through the implementation of a strategy to promote Indigenous research and research training. Also, beginning in 2023-24, the agencies are delivering targeted funding to support Black scholars through established scholarship and fellowship programs.
• Fourth, as a research support ecosystem, we must prepare trainees for a wide range of possible career paths that will strengthen the connections between academia and other sectors, as well as bolster the economy and the scientific culture within Canada. SSHRC’s Partnered Research Training Initiatives bring together institutions from the academic, public, private and/or not-for-profit sectors, to support the research training experience of students and postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities, while facilitating their transition to academic or non-academic workplace settings.

How many students and fellows does SSHRC support?

• In 2022-23, SSHRC supported more than 4,800 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows directly through scholarships and fellowships, representing $125 million.
  • Through scholarships, SSHRC directly supports about 2.8% of Canada’s masters and doctoral students in the social sciences and humanities. In 2019, the total SSH student population included 68,000 full-time Master’s students and 19,000 full-time Doctoral students in SSH.
• In 2022-23, SSHRC-funded researchers reported having previously supported 5,200 students and fellows throughout the duration of their grants^{Footnote 1}. Researchers often use their grants to hire students at various levels of study in their research project.
• In 2021-2022^{Footnote 2}, indirect support to students and fellows accounted for $72 million and represents approximately 43% of the funds awarded as grants to researchers. Researchers often use their grants to engage students at various levels in their research project.
• SSHRC houses the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat which administers tri-agency programs which also provide research training opportunities to students and postdoctoral fellows
  • For example, the 11 applications that were successful in the 2022 competition of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund have identified at least $250M to support students and postdoctoral over the 7 years of the awards. This represents an estimated 17% of the total $1.4 billion awarded.

Should award levels be increased?

• SSHRC is aware that the value of scholarships and fellowships have been stagnant since 2003 and that their effective value has declined due to inflation during that period. We recognize also that, for some students and depending on the supports provided by universities, this has created financial hardships and is a barrier to pursuing graduate-level studies and developing research skills.
• SSHRC has heard the calls from the research community to increase the value of the scholarships and fellowships. We will continue to work closely with the other federal granting agencies (my counterparts here with me today) and with postsecondary institutions and the broader research community to explore ways in which we can better support trainees and fellows, remove barriers to access to research training and careers.
• It is important to note that the scholarships and fellowships provided by the federal granting agencies are one of several sources of funding available to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Other actors, including provinces and universities, also play a critical role and should be engaged in these important discussions to ensure that we collectively support the next generation of researchers.

Why have the granting agencies not increased the value of these awards for the past 20 years?

• SSHRC, like other granting agencies, frequently re-assesses its funding programs to strike a balance between the number and value of awards within the available funding.
• The granting agencies have conducted a strategic evaluation of their talent funding programs, including the Canada Graduate Scholarships (master’s and doctoral programs) and agency-specific doctoral awards, as well as grants to researchers with associated training objectives (e.g. SSHRC’s Insight Grants and Partnership Grants). The evaluation has assessed student access to agency support and the extent to which this funding enables students to prepare for research-intensive careers. The evaluation is in the final reporting phase. It is intended to inform the development of the Tri-Agency Training Strategy and recommendations from this evaluation will focus on supporting decisions at the tri-agency level.
• While the value of Canada Graduate Scholarships has not changed, the value of other awards has increased. For example, between 2017 and 2018, the value of SSHRC’s postdoctoral fellowship was increased from $40,500 to $45,000/year for 1-2 years.
• Also, in 2019 the federal budget invested in the granting agencies to create 500 more master’s-level scholarship awards annually and 167 more three-year doctoral scholarship awards annually through the Canada Graduate Scholarship program as well as investments to expand parental leave coverage from 6 months to 12 months for students and postdoctoral fellows who receive granting council funding. 210 of the 500 CGS M awards were for students in the SSH.
• Along with NSERC and CIHR, we also increased the duration of our doctoral scholarships from '2 or 3' years, depending on circumstances to '3 years for all'.
• As announced in Budget 2022, the granting agencies are also providing additional awards through existing scholarship and fellowship programs to support Black scholars a all stages of their careers. At SSHRC, this represents:
  • 95 new awards per year for the Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) program;
  • 20 new awards per year for the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s (CGS M) program;
  • 10 new awards per year for the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D) program;
  • 6 new awards per year for the SSHRC postdoctoral fellowships.

What percentage of SSHRC’s funding goes to researchers?

• SSHRC’S total budget was $1.15 billion in 2023-24, of which 95.8% went to researchers and institutions as grants and scholarships.
• SSHRC operating cost represent 3.7% of its budget, which makes it a very lean organization.

What are currently the main risks that SSHRC is facing as an organization?

• At the moment, one of the main concerns for SSHRC is the aging technology infrastructure that is currently in place for the management systems of grants and scholarships. SSHRC is exploring solutions to modernize the granting systems addressing the critical risks around operational stability and cybersecurity

What is SSHRC / the granting councils doing to promote international research collaborations?

• International research collaboration is a shared priority for the CRCC and SSHRC. The CRCC has an International Framework which supports international collaboration in research.
• SSHRC also understands the importance of Canada being globally competitive, and that it needs to collaborate with funders abroad to support international and interdisciplinary research. SSHRC’s international activities fall under three main mechanisms:
  • Lowering barriers to international collaboration: in all SSHRC’s regular funding opportunities, with the notable exception of Insight Grants, foreign-based researchers at postsecondary institutions are eligible to be named as co-applicants or collaborators. In 2020-2021, the proportion of SSHRC-funded researchers involved in international collaborations was 64%. SSHRC also encourages international collaboration by allowing transfer of funds to international co-investigators in certain programs such as in the Partnership program and the tri-agency New Frontiers in Research Fund.
  • Opening doors through international joint initiatives: SSHRC is engaged in several bilateral and multilateral joint initiatives at the international level, such as the Trans-Atlantic Platform or the Open Research Area initiative.
  • Positioning Canadian SSH research on the world stage: namely by participating in international networks, joint science and technology coordination meetings and ensuring Canadian SSH research is meeting emerging international standards of excellence.

Does SSHRC partner with other organizations to support research?

• Through joint initiatives, SSHRC is able to leverage the resources and expertise of other organizations in the public and non-profit sectors to support Canadian researchers. In 2022-23, partner organizations contributed $10.6M to domestic joint initiatives involving SSHRC. This represents $1.76 of leveraged partner contributions for every $1 that SSHRC contributed to these joint funding initiatives.

Science, Research and Society

What is SSHRC/the granting councils to understand and address the issue of online disinformation and the erosion of trust in science in parts of the Canadian population?

• Debate and skepticism are essential components of both democracy and science. However, debates can be misled when based on false or incomplete information, often originating from the internet.
• Accordingly, SSHRC is making several efforts to address the issue of online disinformation in Canada and to promote scientific literacy:
  • SSHRC supports research on understanding and addressing disinformation through open competitions and targeted initiatives. For example, SSHRC partnered with Canadian Heritage to launch the Joint Initiative for Digital Citizen Research which promotes research on the impacts of online disinformation in Canada in order to better inform programs and policies. SSHRC also supported several projects on disinformation as part of its Partnership Engage Grants addressing responses to societal challenges posed by COVID-19, and will support international teams addressing this issue through the current international call on Democracy, Governance and Trust.
  • SSHRC also funds scientific knowledge mobilization efforts, namely through connection grants which fund outreach activities to promote research and exchange knowledge between academia and other sectors of society, including on the topic of online disinformation and its impact in the Canadian context.

Should the granting agencies provide more investigator-led research relative to priority-led research?

• Fundamental research is the foundation of a strong research ecosystem. Curiosity-driven research has fueled invaluable discoveries which have in turned contributed to greater understanding of some of the most important issues in Canada.
• SSHRC funds investigator-led research, undertaken by individuals and academic teams as well as in larger partnerships. Research in the social sciences and humanities provides the foundation for a vibrant, healthy and prosperous society. It advances knowledge and builds understanding about individuals, groups and societies—what we think, how we live, and how we interact with each other and the world around us.
  • That is why sustained investments are essential to sustain the momentum in science and ensure a robust funding-base for investigator-led research. This would also support the Canadian Research Coordinating Committee’s priorities on measures such as improved access to funding to early career researchers (ECR); fostering an inclusive access to research funds; strengthening Indigenous research; and supporting interdisciplinary and international research.
  • That being said, there are areas where priority-led research is critical and contributes to finding solutions to challenges such as climate change and post-pandemic recovery. At SSHRC, both are compatible. We fund extensive research through open competitions on researcher-led topics as well as targeted initiatives – often addressing policy priorities through our joint initiatives with other government departments. We support the critical mass so that they can respond when there is a need (such as a pandemic) where research takes time to deliver outcomes. In order to be ready for any emergency and crisis we need a strong academic force that can respond to any priority driven call. To that end, we also deliver many joint opportunities with different organizations in Canada and abroad.

Support to Research and Publications in French

How does SSHRC ensure that applications in French are reviewed at their full value as part of the merit review process?

• SSHRC provides information on the application processes for its funding opportunities in both official languages, and candidates can submit their applications in the official language of their choice.
• SSHRC’s merit review process has the capacity to review applications submitted in English and in French equitably. Except for a small number of unilingual committees formed as part of larger funding opportunities, all SSHRC merit review members are recruited with the requirement that they be functionally bilingual, and 25% of reviewers use French in their correspondence.
• SSHRC’s ability to deliver merit review in French depends on francophone and bilingual researchers accepting our invitation to review a proposal or to serve on an adjudication committee. Merit review burden is real, and so we have to acknowledge the service that francophone researchers voluntarily provide. SSHRC is very grateful to the service provided by all members of the research community; we certainly need them to continue to say “yes” when SSHRC calls.

What are the granting agencies doing to support research training in French?

• SSHRC ensures that applications received in French are reviewed at their full value as part of the merit review process, just like applications in English. SSHRC provides information on the application processes for its funding opportunities in both official languages, and candidates can submit their applications in the official language of their choice.
  • SSHRC’s merit review process has the capacity to review applications in English and French equitably. Except for a small number of unilingual committees formed as part of larger funding opportunities, all SSHRC merit review members are recruited with the requirement that they be functionally bilingual (self-reported), and 25% of reviewers use French in their correspondence.
  • In 2022, 19.6% of scholarships allocated through award funding programs at the master’s and doctoral levels (CGS Master’s; CGS Doctoral; SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships; Vanier CGS) were for applications in French. Also in 2022, the application rate in French for the CGS Master’s program was 17.6%, indicating that the success rate for applications in French was higher than average.
    • For reference, these are the application rates in French for other SSHRC programs for 2021, calculated in a recent analysis:
      • Research Training and Talent Development: 25.7%
        • SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships
        • Canada Graduate Scholarships (doctoral)
        • SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships
      • Research Partnerships: 24.6%
        • Partnership Development Grants
        • Partnership Engage Grants
        • Partnership Grants
      • Connection Grants: 15.7%
      • Insight Program: 14.4%
        • Insight Development Grants
        • Insight Grants
      • New Frontiers in Research Fund: 2%
        • Exploration stream
        • Transformation stream
• SSHRC recognizes the important role that post-secondary institutions play in the vitality of official language minority communities. Since such institutions are often small, they benefit from tiered formulas for calculating program funding for institutions, which favour small institutions.
  • For example, SSHRC Institutional Grants and the allocation of chairs and awards favour this type of institution. Such institutions are also eligible to receive a supplement under Institutional Grants.
  • The allocation formula for the Research Support Fund (RSF) also favours small institutions, in order to increase their research capacity. Some small institutions receive RSF funding equivalent to roughly 46% of their total funding, while most large institutions receive funding equivalent to roughly 18%.
• SSHRC investments in research on official languages, bilingualism and related issues were worth $24.1M over the past 5 years (2016–2020).
  • These investments funded 6 Canada Research Chairs, 246 projects, 465 researchers and 115 graduate students.

Does SSHRC have any data indicating the application rate and success rate for applications in French compared with applications in English?

• Yes, we track these data and publish the results of our analyses annually in the Report on Competitions.
• Generally speaking, these figures have remained relatively stable over the past 10 years for applications submitted in French and in English, with variations depending on the program.
  • From 2011 to 2021, the grant application rate in French for SSHRC programs was approximately 16% for Talent Grants, 15% for Insight Grants and 19% for Partnership Grants.
  • During the same period, the award rate for applications in French for SSHRC programs was approximately 17% for Talent Grants, 14% for Insight Grants and 26% for Partnership Grants.
• However, although relatively stable in recent years, application rates in French have been trending downward over the past 30 years. A recent in-depth study of the data (for the 2017–2022 period) shows the following:
  • The proportion of applications submitted in French is declining for some programs but increasing for others.
  • The proportion of applications submitted in French is declining in Francophone and bilingual institutions; this is true both for the 5 years of this analysis and based on a longer 30-year trend.
  • Comparative success rates vary from one program to the next. In bilingual institutions, applications in French for the Insight Program have a lower success rate than those in English.
  • Applications in French from institutions outside Quebec have a lower success rate than those from institutions in Quebec.
  • Applications in French from Francophone or bilingual institutions in official language minority communities (OLMCs) outside Quebec have a lower success rate for the Insight Program.

How does SSHRC support publications in French?

• SSHRC directly funds scholarly publications through funding opportunities under Aid to Scholarly Journals and Awards to Scholarly Publications.
• SSHRC closely monitors application and award rates for bilingual publications, English-language publications and French-language publications.
  • Recent evaluations of these support opportunities reveal some important information. In the case of Aid to Scholarly Journals (journals), funding for 2021–2022 breaks down as follows: bilingual publications – 30.33%; French-language publications – 31.15%; English-language publications – 38.52%. In the case of Awards to Scholarly Publications (books), applications for English-language and French-language publications were examined separately in 2021–2022, and 64% of applications for English-language publications resulted in funding being awarded, while that was the case for 67% of applications for French-language publications. Furthermore, 18% of total funding was awarded in response to applications for French-language publications.

What support does SSHRC provide for mobilizing French research knowledge?

• SSHRC recently renewed a partnership with the journal Québec Science to promote the mobilization of French research knowledge and ensure a showcase for SSHRC-funded researchers who are the subject of articles in the journal.
• SSHRC supports the Érudit platform, which provides infrastructure for open access to scientific output in French as part of the Pan-Canadian Knowledge Access Initiative.
  • This initiative funds Coalition Publica, which is a partnership between the Public Knowledge Project and the Érudit platform.
  • In 2020, $1M in annual funding was provided for 3 years, and this is in the process of being renewed for the next 3 years (2023–2026).
  • This initiative is also in line with SSHRC’s strategy to promote Open Access in science.

How does SSHRC support research in official language minority communities?

• SSHRC recognizes the important role that post-secondary institutions play in the vitality of many official language minority communities. Many programs for institutions are weighted to support those institutions, which are often small.
  • For example, SSHRC Institutional Grants and the allocation of chairs and awards favour this type of institution. Such institutions are also eligible to receive a supplement under Institutional Grants.
  • The allocation formula for the Research Support Fund (RSF) also favours small institutions, in order to increase their research capacity. Some small institutions receive RSF funding equivalent to roughly 46% of their total funding, while most large institutions receive funding equivalent to roughly 18%.
• As of December 2021, the Canada Research Chairs Program, administered by SSHRC, was funding 66 active chairs in institutions in Francophone official language minority communities, representing investments of $62M.
• Also, SSHRC investments in research on official languages, bilingualism and related issues were worth $24.1M over the past 5 years (2016–2020).
  • These investments funded 6 Canada Research Chairs, 246 projects, 465 researchers and 115 graduate students.

What more can SSHRC do to promote research and publications in French?

• SSHRC monitors the official languages data at its disposal. We are currently reviewing some new data from self-identification questionnaires that now contain questions about the languages candidates have learned and speak, in line with census questions. These data will help us better understand candidates’ language profiles so we can target our initiatives better.
• SSHRC is currently developing its framework for international initiatives, which help promote Canadian linguistic duality by creating ties with other partners in the Francophone world. For example, we recently met with partners from France, Switzerland and Wallonia (Belgium) to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
• In recognition of the burden that participating in merit review presents for reviewers, SSHRC continually tries to improve its processes so reviewers have a more positive experience and so we can grow our pool of Francophone researchers who are willing to participate.

Moonshot Programs

How do SSHRC and TIPS support international moonshot (research) programs?

• The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), like other granting agencies, recognize the importance of enabling researchers to work together across disciplines, sectors and borders to address complex challenges, in Canada and abroad, as well as to seize opportunities to ensure we remain globally competitive.
• To that end, SSHRC, on behalf of the three granting agencies, administers tri-agency institutional funding programs that support world-class research.
  • This includes the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) and the Canada Excellence Research Chairs (CERC) which aim to attract and retain world‑renowned researchers and helpCanadian postsecondary institutions excel globally in research areas that create long-term social and economic benefits for Canada.
  • Both of these programs were renewed in 2021 to support research with the potential for significant impact in line with the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation priority research areas, which include antimicrobial resistance, artificial intelligence, climate change and sustainable agriculture.
  • We have also recently launched the Canada Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) which supports Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy along with the complementary Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) administered by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. These programs aim to supports high-risk, applied research, training and talent development, as part of a suite of foundational investments to establish a resilient, robust domestic biomanufacturing sector in Canada.
• Through the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF), the granting agencies also support and promote world-leading interdisciplinary, international, high-risk / high-reward, transformative and rapid-response Canadian-led research. The program has three streams (Transformation, Exploration and International) as well as Special Calls.
  • Last year, the first-ever NFRF Transformation stream awarded $144 million to seven six-year interdisciplinary projects that will challenge current paradigms, develop novel approaches and promise ground-breaking impact. For example, developing new methods to repair spinal cord injuries, using DNA sequencing to track changes in the Earth’s biosphere, and advancing inclusive workplace design for persons with disabilities.
  • Through NFRF, the granting agencies have also announced an International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. The initiative was launched in January 2023 in partnership with funding organizations from Europe, UK, US, South Africa, and Brazil.
• I want to emphasize the importance of social sciences and humanities research in addressing the complex challenges facing Canada and the world.
  • Technological innovations are not sufficient on their own to respond to the pandemic, the climate crisis or the accelerating loss of biodiversity. Understanding the human and societal dimensions of these challenges is vital to finding effective solutions and spurring collective action.
  • The social sciences and humanities provide crucial questions, data, and insights, and at SSHRC we are actively supporting this research and the communication of its findings to help address these complex challenges.
  • SSHRC’s Imagining Canada’s Future initiative supports foresight and knowledge mobilization on key challenges which can be used by government departments and other policy makers. We also use Ideas Labs to bring together multi-sector groups to bring new perspectives on key challenges such as Canada and the Circular Economy.
  • SSHRC launched the Race, Gender and Diversity Initiative which is designed to support research, led by community organizations in partnership with postsecondary institutions, that analyzes the causes and persistence of systemic racism and discrimination.  
• It is important for Canada to continue to participate at key international platforms and fora to advance science, research and scholarship to address global challenges. Some examples of fora that the agencies collectively engage in, in various ways: The International Science Council, the Global Research Council, the OECD Global Science Forum. Some of the issues addressed at these fora include: science missions for sustainability; open science; EDI in the research enterprise; responsible research assessment; research security.

What are SSHRC and TIPS doing to support research on climate change?

• SSHRC and TIPS are engaged in various initiatives to support research on climate change, including with international collaborators.
• The granting agencies have launched an International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. The initiative is funded in Canada through the New Frontiers in Research Fund and is a partnership with funding organizations from Europe, UK, US, and Brazil. It targets interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral research – with a requirement for community involvement – that will have a tangible impact on communities most affected by, and particularly vulnerable to, climate change. The call was launched in January 2023.
• SSHRC and NSERC are working with Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) on a $100M joint initiative, announced in budget 2022, given to the agencies to support post-secondary research in developing technologies and crop varieties that will allow for net-zero emission agriculture.
• Climate change science efforts have traditionally centered on the natural and health sciences. However, as recognized in Canada’s Climate Science 2050 Plan, there is a pressing need to support and integrate social sciences and humanities research, which play a particularly important role in addressing climate change. They are essential in identifying and motivating the human behaviours that are integral to taking swift, ambitious action on this challenge.

How do the granting agencies ensure that the results of government-funded research are accessible and can be used by other actors to support progress on complex challenges?

• SSHRC offers several programs designed for cross-sectoral / user-engaged research, which is an effective way to promote the use of the research outside of academia —that is, by involving non-academics in the research itself. Our programs supporting intersectoral collaborations include:
  • Partnership Program which funds projects partner organizations from all sectors. In 2020-2021, 13% of partners were from government, 8% from industry, 42% from not-for-profit, and 37% from postsecondary sector.
  • Connection Program, designed to support knowledge mobilization, also enables non-academic researchers to participate as co-applicants or collaborators.
  • Imagining Canada’s Future initiative supports foresight and knowledge mobilization on key challenges which can be used by government departments and other policy makers. We also use Ideas Labs to bring together multi-sector groups to bring new perspectives on key challenges such as Canada and the Circular Economy.
• The granting agencies recognize the importance of making readily available publicly funded scientific results to help accelerate progress on tackling complex and pressing challenges in Canada and around the world.
• To that end, in 2015, the agencies launched the Tri-Agency Open Access (OA) Policy on Publications to make the results of agency-funded research as widely available and accessible as possible. In 2023 the agencies announced a renewal of the policy, with the goal to strengthen requirements for journal articles resulting from agency-funded research to be freely available, without cost, online.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Research Enterprise (Primarlily from the CRCC Progress Report)

• To support researchers in Canada as they strive for excellence in all fields, the CRCC has promoted adoption of measures to inspire and sustain EDI across the research ecosystem. The Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (EDI Action Plan), endorsed by the CRCC in 2018, provides a foundation for these initiatives, outlining measures to increase equitable access to research funding, and to support an increasingly inclusive and diverse research community.
• Canada’s three federal research funding agencies began collecting self-identification data in 2018 to underpin evidence-informed decisions about funding access in their programs. Disaggregated data is publicly available online.

Population Group	SSHRCFootnote *		Reference populations
	% of Applications	% of Awards	% of Canadian Population (2021 Census)	University, professor, instructor, or teacher (StatCan 2020) – All disciplines
Women	61.6	63.0	50.8	48.0%
Indigenous	3.0	3.4	5.0	2.0%
Visible Minorities	22.9	21.8	26.5	19.4%
Persons with a Disability	12.6	11.7	22.0Footnote **	6.7%

• Dimensions: [NSERC led on the Dimensions Pilot: suggest deferring to NSERC if questions are asked.] In 2018-19, Canada’s federal research funding agencies worked with Canadian institutions and the Minister of Science to develop the uniquely Canadian Dimensions Charter. To date, 142 institutions have endorsed the charter, committing to embed EDI principles in their organizations to strengthen the quality, relevance and impact of their research. The Dimensions pilot program offered four stages of recognition for participating institutions, assessed through a robust peer review process. The participating institutions were recognized in April 2023. The agencies and institutions also co-developed a handbook to help institutions carry out critical self analysis, implement remedying actions, and apply to the program for assessment. Through the process, the developed a community of practice with unique expertise in advancing EDI in the postsecondary research ecosystem.
• Institutional Capacity Building Grants [NSERC led on these EDI capacity building grants; program has now sunset. Suggest deferring to NSERC if questions are asked.] To help smaller postsecondary institutions implement EDI initiatives informed by evidence and engagement with affected groups, the agencies launched the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Institutional Capacity-Building Grant program in 2019. It held a second competition in 2020, investing a total of $10 million, assisting 27 institutions in all.
• Canada Research Chairs Program The CRCP invests $311 million each year to help Canadian institutions attract and retain 2,285 outstanding researchers. It requires institutions to set and meet equity targets and implement measures to support greater EDI, transparency and accountability. In 2019, the CRCP required institutions to set and meet new, population-based equity targets, and offered a $50,000 stipend in 2020, 2022 and 2023 to support their work. As a result, the representation among 11 chairholders of individuals who are women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and racialized individuals has never been greater in the program’s 23-year history. Capping these initiatives, the CRCP launched the Robbins-Ollivier Award for Excellence in Equity in 2022, in recognition of the contributions of Marjorie Griffin Cohen, Louise Forsyth, Glenis Joyce, Audrey Kobayashi, Shree Mulay, Susan Prentice, Michèle Ollivier and Wendy Robbins to increase equity in the program and Canada’s research ecosystem. Three awards, conferred annually, each recognize a researcher or research team leading bold, potentially game changing projects that challenge the status quo, spark change, and take action to address persistent, systemic barriers to participation in the research ecosystem.
• Canada Excellence Research Chairs / Canada First Research Excellence Fund: EDI was embedded as a foundational principle in these programs. Both help Canadian postsecondary institutions to attract leading international researchers, and to turn key strengths into world-class capabilities. Successful institutions must submit a comprehensive EDI action plan that includes measures to identify and mitigate systemic barriers, support ECRs, and integrate Indigenous-led research and Indigenous ways of knowing into their research wherever possible.
• SSHRC also funds research and research training that contributes to understanding and addressing issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in Canada. SSHRC awards roughly $70 million a year in funding for research on such issues. In addition, SSHRC has partnered with organization such as Women and Gender Equality Canada to fund research addressing gender-based violence.
• SSHRC has engaged meaningfully with specific groups to better understand barriers to research funding and to participation in the broader research enterprise in Canada. SSHRC convened an External Advisory Committee to Address Anti-Black Racism, and an external Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Systemic Ableism – both of which have submitted reports with recommendations to SSHRC, which SSHRC is in the process of responding to.

Indigenous Research and Truth & Reconciliation

What has SSHRC and the granting agencies done to support Indigenous research and advance truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada?

• As an ongoing priority for the Canada Research Coordination Committee, the granting agencies co-developed, in dialogue with Indigenous groups, a strategy for Indigenous research and research training. The strategy was published in 2020 and the agencies have established key governance bodies needed to pursue the implementation of the strategy, such as the development of a Reference Group composed of 18 Indigenous scholars to provide guidance on the culturally appropriate review of research conducted by and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
• A similar process is underway to select the membership of the Indigenous Leadership Circle in Research to advise the three agencies and CFI on the implementation of the strategic plan and matters related to Indigenous research. We look forward to welcoming members of the new Leadership Circle in the months ahead.
• SSHRC is committed to advancing the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, in particular Call to Action 65. Earlier this month, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and SSHRC proudly announced their partnership on the launch of a national research program to advance understanding of reconciliation.
• The collaboration will notably foster research on reconciliation and residential schools, done by and with Indigenous communities. It will leverage the skills and knowledge of both parties—the NCTR's expertise and ability to safeguard the truths of Survivors, their families, communities and others affected by the residential school system; and SSHRC’s role to promote and support research and training in the humanities and social sciences.

Research Security

What is SSHRC doing to safeguard its science and research from theft and espionage?

• SSHRC, like NSERC and CIHR, have a number of measures in place that aim to protect Canada’s national security interests while preserving a collaborative and open approach to research and discovery. These controls include policy requirements that have been issued by the federal government, for implementation by the granting agencies, as well as safeguards that we have developed internally.
• Over the past few years, we have supported the development and dissemination of general best practices and resources on research security, through the Safeguarding Your Research portal led by Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada. We are consistently engaged with our research community, to raise awareness of these best practices.
• Since July 2021, we have taken specific action to safeguard Canada’s research from national security risks related to research partnerships between academic researchers and private sector organizations, which can be an important vector of risk. This is the basis for the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships, which have been implemented in NSERC’s Alliance program.
• We are working closely with our federal partners to support the expanded implementation of these Guidelines within funding opportunities that support projects with private sector partner organizations.
  • If pressed on what other programs they will apply to: The Guidelines have already been implemented in the Canada Biomedical Research Fund. This program was selected to be among the first to implement the Guidelines given that it will fund research involving private sector partner organizations in sensitive areas. The Guidelines will also be implemented in other programs that fund private sector partnerships in the future in a risk-informed manner. 
• We are also supporting the delivery of commitments outlined in the 2022 Federal Budget. Additional funding of $125M over five years is being delivered through the Research Support Fund, managed by SSHRC on behalf of the three granting agencies, to build capacity within postsecondary institutions to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks to research security.
• We are also engaging with federal partners to support the upcoming launch of the Research Security Centre at Public Safety Canada, which will provide advice, outreach, and tools to help Canada’s research community identify and mitigate research security risks.
• In February 2023, new measures were requested for the Government of Canada, wherein grant applicants whose proposed research will advance a sensitive research area will not be funded if any researchers working on the project are affiliated with a university, research institute, or laboratory connected to military, national defence, or state security entities of foreign state actors that pose a risk to Canada’s National Security.
• We have been closely engaged in the development of this new policy direction, alongside several departments and agencies across the Government of Canada. We have already notified our research community of these upcoming requirements and, once the new policy has been put in place, we will provide them with additional guidance on the appropriate compliance measures.

How are the granting agencies supporting research institutions to meet the research security requirements, especially small institutions and colleges?

• The Research Support Fund, administered at SSHRC on behalf of the three granting agencies, is awarding additional funding provided by Budget 2022 to build capacity within postsecondary institutions to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks to research security. For institutions that don’t receive support through the new funds, research security related expenses are allowable under the Research Support Fund.
• The granting agencies are also engaging with federal partners to help establish new tools and resources to support the research community. This includes working with the Research Security Centre at Public Safety Canada which is designed to provide advice to researchers and institutions, as well as contributing to the ongoing development of the Safeguarding Your Research portal and information sessions.

How is this new policy on sensitive research and affiliations of concern, different from the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships?

• While the Guidelines address risks regarding research partnerships with private sector partner organizations, the new measures requested by the Ministers will address risks related to researchers affiliated with universities, research institutes, and laboratories that are connected to military, national defence or state security entities of foreign state actors that pose a risk to our national security.
• This new policy direction is, therefore, designed to apply to the majority of our research grant funding programs.
• The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships apply on a much narrower basis, since they are a specific tool designed to address risks related to partnerships between academic researchers and private sector organizations.

Will SSHRC consider a ban on partnerships with any company or country:

• Canada’s approach to research security, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships, remain focused on mitigating threats regardless from where they emerge.  For this reason, they remain country and company agnostic.
• Any new funding application that we receive and that is referred to national security risk assessment will be assessed as a new case, in the context of the research partnership project that is proposed. 

• If pressed on companies or countries represented in applications denied funding:
  • SSHRC does not disclose information regarding applications that have not been funded.
  • As previously noted, the intent of the Guidelines is to ensure:
    • That the research partnerships funded by SSHRC are transparent and mutually beneficial to the researchers and their private sector partners, and
    • That appropriate risk mitigations are applied, wherever risks have been identified.

What happens if a recipient of an SSHRC award is found to present a national security risk?

• SSHRC reserves the right to defer or cancel any award:
  • If there is a determination by the Government of Canada of unacceptable national security risk related to the research, the award recipient or co-recipient(s), and/or the partner organization(s), where applicable.
  • If the award recipient or co-recipient(s) and/or partner organization(s), where applicable, are subject to criminal investigations, indictments, or convictions which are related to, or have an impact on, the research.

  If asked whether this has occurred : we have not been informed of any such determination of unacceptable national security risk.

To your knowledge, is social sciences and humanities research an area we should be concerned about in terms of research security? Can you give me an example of where there might be cause for concern?

• I want to first acknowledge that the granting agencies are working with Public Safety, CSIS and CSE, among other federal partners, to develop research security measures, and that we rely on their expertise and authority to define national security risks.
• There are potential risks in the social sciences and humanities. The National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships provide examples of sensitive research areas that could pose security risks if subject to unwanted knowledge transfer. This includes research involving access to critical infrastructure, or the use of large sensitive datasets (e.g. financial or personal data). This is why applicants to SSHRC funding opportunities that will apply the Guidelines in the future will be asked to assess whether their research is sensitive and whether partner organizations may pose security risks to their research.  

• SSHRC also houses the Tri-agency Institutional Programs Secretariat which funds research in all areas and disciplines.

  As we continue our implementation of the Guidelines and other research security measures, we expect to gain a better understanding of the patterns of risks associated with different areas of research.

How are other like-minded partners tackling the issue of research security?

• The Government of Canada continues to engage with like-minded partners bilaterally and through multilateral forums, such as the G7 Working Group on the Security and Integrity of the Global Research Ecosystem which has published guiding principles. This enables Canada and its allies to share their respective experiences and best practices.
• For example, the UK government released the Trusted Research Guidance which is designed to help academics and universities understand the risks and protect their research by managing international partnerships, cybersecurity and enhancing due diligence. The UK has established a Research Collaboration Advice Team, which advises research institutions on the national security risks linked to international research. This is similar to the Research Security Centre being established at Public Safety Canada.
• In Germany, the Joint Committee on the Handling of Security-Relevant Research was established to monitor research security developments, identify need for action, and advises the boards of German research funding organizations on these issues. If necessary, committee members will take part in public discussions. The Joint Committee published a set of recommendations on “Scientific Freedom and Scientific Responsibility” which provide research security considerations for researchers in terms of necessary risk analysis, measures for reducing risk, and evaluating the publication of research results. Research institutions are also encouraged to develop rules for ethically responsible research and the handling security-relevant research that go beyond compliance with legal regulations.

Annex A – NFFN Committee Membership

Other Members

Jean-Guy Dagenais (Québec - Vicotria) (Canadian Senators Group)

Background: Jean-Guy Dagenais worked as a peace officer from 1972 to 2011 at the Sûreté du Québec. He held various positions, including patrolman, investigator, team leader, and education relations officer with schools. He also worked in the communications division and the VIP security service. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada on January 17, 2012

Interests: Security and national defense, official languages and bilingualism, finance and accountability, transport.

Tony Loffreda (Québec - Shawinegan) (Independent Senators Group)

Background: Prior to his appointment, Senator Loffreda was a Vice Chairman and Executive at RBC. He brings to the Senate over 35 years of experience in the financial industry. Senator Loffreda has served on various boards and committees including, but not limited to, the Concordia University Board of Governors; the Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montréal; Montréal International; the Italian-Canadian Community Foundation; the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada; and the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2019.

Interests: Finance and accountability, economy, health, post-secondary education.

Kim Pate (Ontario) (Independent Senators Group)

Background: Senator Pate graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1984 with honours in the Clinical Law Programme and has completed post graduate work in the area of forensic mental health. She was the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies (CAEFS) from January 1992 until her appointment to the Senate in November 2016. CAEFS is a federation of local societies who provide services and work in coalition with Aboriginal women, women with mental health issues and other disabling conditions, young women, visible minority and immigrant women, poor women and those isolated and otherwise deprived of potential sources of support. Prior to her work with CAEFS, she worked with youth and men in a number of capacities with the local John Howard Society in Calgary, as well as the national office. She has developed and taught Prison Law, Human Rights and Social Justice and Defending Battered Women on Trial courses at the Faculties of Law at the University of Ottawa, Dalhousie University and the University of Saskatchewan. She also occupied the Sallows Chair in Human Rights at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2014 and 2015. Kim Pate was appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 10, 2016.

Interests: Legal and penal systems, marginalized, victimized, criminalized and institutionalized populations (particularly imprisoned youth, men and women).

Rosa Galvez (Québec - Bedford) (Independent Senators Group)

Background: Dr Galvez has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from McGill University and was a professor at Université Laval à Québec for over 25 years, heading the Civil and Water Engineering Department from 2010 to 2016. She specializes in water and soil decontamination, waste management and residues, sustainable development, environmental impact assessments, and climate risk to infrastructure. Senator Galvez is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and the Pan American Union of Engineering Societies. Senator Galvez was appointed to the Senate on December 6, 2016

Interests: Environment and Health, pollution, building code and infrastructure, climate change.

Jane MacAdam (Prince Edward Island) (Independent Senators Group)

Background: The Honourable Jane MacAdam, FCPA, CA, was appointed to the Senate of Canada in May 2023. Before she was summoned to the Senate, Senator MacAdam served as the Auditor General of Prince Edward Island from 2013 to 2020. Serving Islanders, she was responsible for leading independent audits and examinations that provide objective information, advice and assurance to the Legislative Assembly and promoting accountability and best practices in government operations. She is a chartered professional accountant with over 40 years of experience in legislative auditing in the Office of the Auditor General of Prince Edward Island.

Interests: Finance and accountability, international trade, governance, health, business administration.

Larry W. Smith (Québec - Saurel) (Canadian Senators Group)

Background: Senator Smith graduated from Bishop’s University with a bachelor of arts in economics in 1972, and a bachelor of civil law degree from McGill University in 1976. He is well-known in Montreal from his days as a fullback with the Montreal Alouettes from 1972 to 1980, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the same team from 1997 to 2001 and again since 2004. Working tirelessly to promote professional and amateur football, Mr. Smith also served as Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL) prior to his first term as Alouettes’ President.

Interests: Health, environment, economy and national security.

Clément Gignac (Québec - Kennebec) (Progressive Senate Group)

Background: The Honourable Clément Gignac is an economist with over 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors. From 2012 until he became a Senator, Mr. Gignac held the position of Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist at iA Financial Group. Prior to joining iA Financial Group, Mr. Gignac worked as an economist and strategist for major financial institutions, including as Vice-President and Chief Economist for National Bank Financial from 2000 to 2008. In 2009, Mr. Gignac was elected as a member of the National Assembly of Québec. He was named Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade in the Quebec government, and went on to serve as Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife from 2011 to 2012.

Interests: International trade, economic development, finance and accountability.

Elizabeth Marshall (Newfoundland and Labrador) (Conservative Party of Canada)

Background: Elizabeth Marshall was appointed to the Senate of Canada in January of 2010 having previously spent 30 years with the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Service, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. Since 1979, she occupied a number of positions in the provincial public service, including Deputy Minister of Transportation and Works, and Deputy Minister of Social Services, as well as several senior positions in the Department of Finance.

Interests: Finnance and accountablity, health, commerce.