Thank you, honourable Chair and esteemed committee members, for the opportunity to speak today.
My name is Julia Messina-Pacheco.
My colleague, Dr. Douglas, and I are here today representing Science and Policy Exchange. It is a non-profit advocacy group run by graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in Montreal.
Our aim is to foster the voices of the next generation of researchers in evidence-based decision-making at the interface of science and policy. I am also speaking to you today as a Ph.D. candidate who has dedicated 12 years to pursuing post-secondary education. Of those 12 years, I have spent seven as a graduate student. That is seven years that I, along with the vast majority of graduate students in Canada, have been under-supported and forced to make difficult financial compromises.
My own research focuses on pancreatic cancer. It is a devastating disease that affects thousands of Canadians and their families every year. I have devoted years of hard work to studying this disease because I am passionate about improving patient outcomes, and I am also driven by a genuine love for science. However, this passion and the pursuit of knowledge have left me in a situation where I struggle to afford necessities such as rent, groceries and the ability to start a family.
It takes many years to earn a master's or doctoral degree, and the process is much more like a job than traditional schooling. The support provided through stipends and fellowships should offset the cost of living and enable us to focus on the research that Canada depends on. It is essential to recognize that science thrives because of the unwavering commitment and the tireless efforts of graduate students and of post-doctoral researchers. They form the backbone of Canadian discovery, innovation and economic growth. However, federal scholarships and fellowships have remained stagnant for two decades. These funding mechanisms have failed to keep up with the 48% inflation and the 38% increase in tuition costs during that time.
The consequences of this inadequate funding are severe. Federal scholarships hold significant prestige and serve as benchmarks for what universities consider reasonable minimum stipends. Unfortunately, these benchmarks for master's and doctoral students fall below the poverty line.
According to a recent report published by the Institute for Research and Socioeconomic Information, the minimum amount required for a single person in Montreal to live with dignity is $32,535. After tuition, university fees and insurance, my doctoral funding leaves me with only $20,000 per year to live on.
Inadequate funding also compels graduate students and post-docs to seek better financial opportunities in the U.S., in Europe, or elsewhere, where they are paid stipends that reflect their merit and that adequately cover the cost of living. Canada is falling behind its global counterparts in retaining talent. If Canada genuinely values scientists, it must ensure that pursuing a Ph.D. is a period of skill development and a stepping stone to greater achievements and not something to financially recover from.
Dr. Douglas will now outline our specific recommendations.