Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the committee.
Thank you very much for inviting me.
I'm Gabriel Miller, the president and CEO of Universities Canada, the national voice of Canada's public universities.
I want to compliment the committee for its decision to undertake this study. I hope it's the start of an ongoing discussion about an issue that's critical to Canada's future.
As our challenges become more complex and our technology more advanced, research excellence must be at the heart of any serious plan to create jobs, increase our prosperity and improve our quality of life. Federal research investments are an essential pillar of our higher education system, a system that gives millions of Canadians a pathway to expand their career opportunities, increase their job security and earn higher salaries that help them pay the rising costs of owning a home and supporting a family.
Our research system is a training ground for the future doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs whom we need to support our economy and meet the needs of our aging population. It's through research that Canada can create the knowledge and develop the talent to fuel innovation and productivity across vital sectors of our economy, whether they are energy, agriculture, manufacturing or arts and culture.
Today I want to leave you with three broad recommendations.
First we must build on the core principles of Canada's outstanding research system, a system built over decades with support of successive governments and members from all parties. These principles vary from program to program but almost always include the need to make an original contribution to the research field, the need to provide training opportunities for highly qualified personnel and to demonstrate that the project is feasible with the resources available.
Second, I want to recommend that we continue the difficult and often imperfect work of expanding opportunities to more people and communities. What does that mean? It means that we have to help universities of every size in every region to contribute their fullest to the research enterprise. The research security fund should be strengthened so that smaller universities aren't held back by the costs of meeting a growing administrative burden and larger schools aren't slowed down.
It means that we must strengthen the unique role of universities as a forum for independent thought, discussion and discovery, where a broad range of political and ideological perspectives are engaged and explored. No one should be excluded from participating in scientific debate and discovery, conservative, progressive or otherwise. It means that we must continue the fight against racism and discrimination in all their forms and reduce the barriers that have deprived too many people of the opportunity to contribute their abilities and perspectives.
Lastly, we need to support French‑language research, which faces unique challenges when it comes to submitting applications and publishing in French. Systemic barriers remain an issue in French‑language research, including differences in success rates according to language.
We're heartened to see the committee that the government set up to study this issue. A new capstone organization could also promote excellence in French‑language research.
What I've described is not a narrow conception of diversity. It's a commitment to unleashing the incredible talents of our country. It's a vision we should embrace with passion but with care. We must undertake this work with humility.
Many Canadians have questions, concerns and criticisms about the most effective ways of expanding opportunity and about some of what they see and hear being done in the name of diversity. We need to be listening—"we" in the university sector. We need to be learning and engaging in these discussions. We must be evaluating the tools that are used and prioritizing those that reduce barriers while strengthening research excellence.
I want to close by noting that the upcoming supply votes include important research and graduate scholarship funding for next year. I can't stress enough the importance that this funding will have for graduate students at institutions across Canada and for creating a better foundation to address many of the issues I've discussed today.
Thank you very much.