You're absolutely right to call it an equity.
The reason behind the inequity is this. Previously, the provinces made virtually no investment in applied research.
In Quebec, CCTTs were already receiving funding from the province. Even if they became CATs, they still received only $100,000—not $350,000—because the province was giving them funding already.
We have expressed to the government that this approach may have been fine a few years ago, but that today, a number of provinces are investing in applied research. It is unacceptable that one province's CCTTs can become CATs—which not all do—and still be entitled to only $100,000. They should receive $350,000.