Queen’s University Principal Daniel Woolf welcomes the investment in students, research and innovation outlined in the 2016 federal budget.

“The 2016 budget includes important new investments in the post-secondary sector, including financial assistance for students, funding for fundamental research, and infrastructure renewal at Canada’s post secondary institutions,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “We look forward to hearing further details about the announcements made in the budget.”

The budget will see up to $2 billion invested over three years in infrastructure renewal, starting in 2016-17, through the new Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund. The new fund will support up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs of infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions and affiliated research and commercialization organizations.

In addition, the budget announced a new investment of $95 million annually in discovery and research through Canada’s three granting councils. The budget also signalled the development of an “innovation agenda” to define clear outcomes, objectives and metrics to measure Canada’s progress, and announced a strategic review of the government’s supports for research and innovation funding.

“Canada’s positon as a leader in research and discovery depends on continued support through the tri-councils,” says Steven Liss, Vice-Principal (Research). “This new funding represents a significant boost to the sector and we look forward to working with the government as it undertakes its review of research and innovation funding.”

Going forward, the Government will work with the provinces and territories to expand eligibility for Canada Student Grants so that even more students can receive non-repayable assistance. Under the new model, the existing low- and middle-income thresholds will be replaced with a single progressive threshold under which grant amounts will gradually decline based on income and family size. This will help make postsecondary education more affordable and open up new opportunities for those from low-income families, and ensure graduates can manage debt as they transition into the workforce.

The 2016 budget also proposes substantial investments in Indigenous education to help ensure Indigenous students have the same opportunities for success as other Canadian students. For more information on the 2016 federal budget, please visit the website.