Please note this message from SSHRC

 Dear SSHRC Leaders,

As you know, the federal budget was tabled on June 6, 2011 in the House of Commons by the Hon. Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. The budget includes new resources to increase federal funding for research excellence in Canada and recognizes the important role of the social sciences and humanities in this endeavour.  Please note in particular the following sentence: “This allocation of new funding among the granting councils represents a higher share for social sciences and humanities research, compared to previous budgets.”

An additional $7 million per year will be allocated to SSHRC “to support world-leading research in the social sciences and humanities, such as partnership activities in priority areas including the digital economy.” Reference to this allocation will be made in our program literature this summer and we would encourage Leaders to stimulate discussion on their campuses regarding creative proposals to SSHRC in this regard.

With respect to attracting world-leading talent, $53.5 million over five years will be allocated “to support the creation of 10 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs. Some of these new research chairs will be active in fields relevant to the Digital Economy Strategy.”

More information will be coming shortly and we will organize a webinar or teleconference in early September with Leaders to discuss.

Please see attached excerpts from the budget document.  For further information on Budget 2011, or to read the full budget plan please go to: www.budget.gc.ca.

Sincerely,

Gisèle Yasmeen, Ph.D.                                                             Brent Herbert-Copley, PhD
Vice-President | Vice-présidente                                            Vice-President | Vice- président
Research | Recherche                                                                Research Capacity| Capacité de recherche

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada           Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada                 Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada
350 Albert Street | 350, rue Albert, Ottawa, ON  K1P 6G4             350 Albert Street | 350, rue Albert, Ottawa, ON  K1P 6G4
E | C : gisele.yasmeen@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca                                      E | C : Brent.Herbert-Copley@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
T : 613.947.6937    F | T : 613.944.4077                                    T : 613.995.5457    F | T : 613.944.4077
www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca                                                              www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca