A message regarding the Federal Budget
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The federal government delivered its 2010 budget on Thursday afternoon. It was no surprise that the overall budget delivered a message of restraint with strategic investments that will support the country's economic recovery and job creation.
Determining the budget is never easy, but in the current fiscal environment finding resources for new spending was particularly challenging. The university sector continues to see larger increases than virtually all other sectors. The new funds for universities in the federal budget demonstrate the government's commitment to post-secondary education and recognition that the research we do and the experts we develop play important roles in the creation of innovation and economic prosperity.
Confirmation of the second year of funding for the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) provides important assurance that these investments will continue. Our two KIP projects are bringing new research and teaching opportunities to the University and jobs to Hamilton.
An additional $32 million for the granting councils and another $8 million for the indirect costs of research over the next year are also welcome and will help to assure researchers that increased funding is seen as a priority today and, we hope, into the future.
These funds, combined with additional resources for specific research programs, will add up to increased research activity, and the new post doctoral fellow funding program will provide $45 million over the next five years to create new opportunities for some of our most promising researchers.
The complete details of the budget will be made available over the coming weeks and we will be reviewing these documents carefully to determine which initiatives create opportunities for McMaster and Hamilton through research, advanced training and commercialization.
Yours sincerely,
Peter George
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