On May 22, the Federation submitted its recommendations to the federal government’s pre-Budget consultations in advance of Budget 2026, calling for stronger federal support for humanities and social sciences research.
As complex challenges continue to emerge and impact communities across Canada, a strong research ecosystem is needed to power the knowledge, skills, and talent of the humanities and social sciences who develop innovative and long-lasting solutions.
The Federation calls on the Government of Canada to:
- Recommendation 1: Dedicate a proportional allocation of at least one-third of core Tri-Agency and new Mission-Driven research investments to humanities and social science research. Including: dedicated support for Indigenous research in national priority funding decisions; and dedicated support for French-language research within federal funding programs.
- Recommendation 2: Increase investments in essential infrastructure to address existing gaps in support for the humanities and social sciences, ensuring equitable service across disciplines. Including: mobilizing Canada’s digital research infrastructure to invest in Indigenous data sovereignty and bolster protections in existing systems; sustaining and expanding existing open access initiatives; establishing a pan-Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Program through Research Impact Canada; and maintaining funding for the Department of Canadian Heritage and Statistics Canada, which hold a core role in supporting research and knowledge mobilization infrastructure.
The Federation looks forward to continuing its engagement with the federal government to spotlight the value of the humanities and social sciences and to continue supporting these disciplines and researchers.
Explore the Federation’s full submission here.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Brody Rodgers
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences