The Federation applauds Budget 2019 commitment to increased learning opportunities for Canadians

OTTAWA, March 19, 2019 — The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences applauds the federal government’s Budget 2019 commitment to increase learning opportunities for Canadians in a complex and rapidly changing world.

Especially important is the government’s commitment to expand the Student Work Placement program, which will create new learning opportunities for the more than one million humanities and social sciences students across the country.

“Canada’s social and economic well-being is linked to the ability of its current and future workers to adapt to a rapidly changing workforce. Today’s announcement makes skill development a priority and opens up new opportunities for persons studying in the humanities and social sciences,” said Federation President Guy Laforest.

The Federation also welcomes today’s commitment to provide new research scholarships to Canadian graduate students by providing $114 million over the next five years to the federal granting councils, with 42 percent ($48 million) of these new funds flowing through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. 

Finally, the organization is also pleased by the government’s promise to work with Indigenous peoples to ensure that they have both better access to post-secondary education and better support to achieve academic success.

"Today’s budget  builds on the long-term research investments announced  last year. The Federation looks forward to working in partnership with the federal government to ensure that humanities and social sciences scholars have the support and infrastructure they need in an ever-changing world,” said Laforest.

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About the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

The Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences promotes research and teaching for the advancement of an inclusive, democratic and prosperous society. With a membership now comprising over 160 universities, colleges and scholarly associations, the Federation represents a diverse community of 91,000 researchers and graduate students across Canada. The Federation organizes Canada’s largest academic gathering, the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, bringing together more than 8,000 participants each year. 

Media inquiries

Nicola Katz

Manager of Communications

Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences

C: 613-282-3489

nkatz@ideas-idees.ca

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