Advocacy

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience advocates for better support for science in Canada and for increases in the budget of the three federal funding agencies, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC.

Read about our advocacy efforts, and contribute!

Contact us with your ideas and initiatives:
advocacy@can-acn.org

Apply for Outreach and Advocacy Awards.

Advocacy webinar – Bridging Science and Policy: Tools for Effective Advocacy

Description Join Evidence for Democracy (E4D), Canada’s leading voice for science, evidence-informed public policy, and transparent decision-making, for an engaging and interactive workshop titled “Bridging Science and Policy: Tools for […]

CAN election one-pager

Get ready to meet candidates by reading the CAN election one-pager! We encourage you to print it out and give it to candidates you meet, to emphasize the importance of […]

CAN at the 2024 Canadian Science Policy Conference

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience was happy to participate in the Canadian Science Policy Conference last month in Ottawa, and in the symposium organized by the Canadian Brain Research Strategy: […]

CAN submits a brief to the House of Commons Science and Research committee study on the Capstone Research Funding Organization Announced in Budget 2024

Read our submission to the House of Commons Science and Research Committee study on “The Mission, Mandate, Role, Structure and Financing of the New Capstone Research Funding Organization Announced in […]

CAN Hill Day 2024

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience was proud to host its annual CAN Parliament Hill Day in Ottawa on November 5, 2024. It was a full day of meetings with elected […]

Read our submission to pre-budget consultations

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance invited Canadians to participate in its annual pre-budget consultations process. The committee will table a report on these consultations in the House […]

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience applauds new investments in science and research announced in budget 2024

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience applauds new investments in science and research announced in budget 2024 by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finances of Canada. These announcements demonstrate that […]

Research is the key to better brain health

One in two people will suffer from a mental illness across their lifetime. It is estimated that 1.7 million Canadians will suffer from dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, by the […]

Invitation to write to the Minister of Finances

We invite you to write to the Minister of Finances, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, to remind her and her team of the importance of investing in scientific research as they […]

Urgent appeal to recapitalize the Canada Brain Research Fund

We invite you to read a letter calling for urgent recapitalization of the Canada Brain Research Fund we recently sent to The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and […]

Read CAN’s submission to the 2024 Pre-budget consultations

Investing in science will create new jobs and build a greener, more competitive, more innovative, more inclusive, and more resilient Canada. Read our main recommendations here:

2023 CAN Parliament Hill Day

CAN held its second in-person Parliament Hill Day in Otttawa on November 7, 2023. This presented an exceptional opportunity for a team of CAN advocates to meet face-to-face or virtually […]

ThinkSci Outreach Program wins a CAN Advocacy Award

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is proud to announce its support of the ThinkSci Outreach Program with a 2023 CAN Advocacy and Outreach award. The “ThinkSci Outreach Program” is a […]

Investing in science will benefit all Canadians.

CAN is sharing with you the brief we have submitted to the House of Commons Finance (FINA), which is currently holding its consultations in advance of federal budget 2024. – […]

Brief submitted to study on Government of Canada’s Graduate Scholarship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programs

Read the brief submitted by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research study on “Government of Canada’s Graduate Scholarship and Post-Doctoral Fellowship […]

Advocacy opportunities – June 2023

Please find below several opportunities to provide written submissions to various studies being undertaken at Committee’s in the House of Commons. Providing a written submission to a study is a […]

CAN-ACN’s response to the 2023 budget

Response to the budget tabled March 28, 2023 The Canadian Association for Neuroscience joins its voice to the rest of the scientific community in expressing disappointment in the lack of […]

Two Members of Parliament visit the Trudeau lab at Université de Montréal

Dr. Louis-Eric Trudeau, neuroscientist at the Université de Montréal and his research team hosted on April 4 two federal MPs, M. Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, and M. […]

CAN submits a brief to the House of Commons permanent committee on Science and Research on “International Moonshot Programs”

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience joined its voice to a large coalition of Canadian stakeholders calling for the Canadian government to invest in a Canadian Brain Research Initiative, to make […]

Read CAN’s submission to the Minister of Finance pre-budget consultations

CAN made the following recommendations to the recent consultations on budget 2023 by the Minister of Finances: The Canadian Association for Neuroscience recommends the following: Recommendation 1: That the government […]

CAN holds its first in-person Hill Day in Ottawa November 3, 2022

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience held its first in-person Parliament Hill Day on November 3, 2022 in Ottawa. It was an opportunity for our team of neuroadvocates to meet face […]

Parliament - Centre block

Read CAN’s submission to the FINA pre-budget consultations

The CAN advocacy team is happy to share our submission to pre-budget consultations in advance of the 2023 budget of the House of Commons permanent committee on Finances (FINA) View […]

CAN Advocacy survey – 2022

View the results of our advocacy survey here https://can-acn.org/can-2022-advocacy-survey/

CAN Outreach & Advocacy Award: The Peaceful Brain

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is pleased to support the  “The Peaceful Brain, a celebration against hate, discrimination, and prejudice” series of events organized by the Convergence initiative. These events […]

First report of the new House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research tabled on June 6

On June 6, the new House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research tabled its first ever report, as part of its study on “Successes, Challenges and Opportunities for […]

Advocacy training at CAN2022

We are happy to make the slides for the CAN Advocacy training presented May 13 over lunch in Toronto available CAN Advocacy training presentation (PDF) CAN Advocacy – Selected resources […]

Recording available: Science Policy Session with Senator Stan Kutcher – April 25, 2022

Co-hosted by the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience On Monday, April 25, the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences and the Canadian Association for Neuroscience […]

CAN-ACN response to budget 2022 – “A Plan to Grow our Economy and Make Life More Affordable”

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience recognizes key investments that were made to support targeted research areas in budget 2022 but calls on the government to provide broader support to the […]

March 21 – 25, 2022 is CAN Parliament Hill Week

Canadian neuroadvocates are meeting with members of Parliament, Senators and Parliamentary staff this week for CAN Parliament Hill Week! We are advocating for increased funding for basic research in Canada, […]

CAN submission to the House of Commons Standing committee on Science and Research

Read CAN’s submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research, for the Study titled: SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCIENCE IN CANADA Increased investment in scientific […]

Read our submission to the pre-budget consultations

Increased investment in scientific research: An investment in the health and prosperity of Canadians today and tomorrow We have made the following recommendations to the government in the pre-budget consultations […]

CAN Advocacy award: Montreal Neurological Institute Open Outreach Program

CAN is proud to support the development of the Montreal Neurological Institute Open Outreach Program Description of initiative The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s ‘Calls to Action’ #6-12 relate to removing […]

CAN advocacy award winner: Who can become a scientist?

CAN is proud to support the “Who can become a scientist?” workshop Description of event Who can become a scientist? is a workshop for a high school age audience. The […]

New advocacy opportunities

CAN is proud to launch two new advocacy initiatives today: The CAN federal election engagement toolkit The Canadian Science Discoveries Video contest The CAN federal election engagement toolkit The Canadian […]

Read CAN’s submission to the pre-budget consultations of the House of Commons standing committee on Finances

Read CAN’s submission here: Increased investment in scientific research: An investment in the health and prosperity of Canadians today and tomorrow (PDF) You can submit a brief also! The Standing […]

Read our latest advocacy report – July 2021

CAN Advocacy report – July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

Read our July 2021 Advocacy report

https://can-acn.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CAN_advocacy_report_July2021-1.pdf

Recording available: CSPC panel 128 – Roles & Responsibilities of Academic Science Societies in informing Policy: Lessons & Observations from Around the World

The recording of the CSPC panel from November 17 2020 is now available from the CSPC. Learn more on their website: https://sciencepolicy.ca/conference/cspc-2020/improving-linkages-between-science-policy/ CAN President Charles Bourque’s intervention begins at 1:08.

Read the latest CAN advocacy report

Click here to view the March 2021 CAN Advocacy report

CAN submission to Department of Finance pre-budget consultations

On January 25, 2021 – the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, and the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, the Honourable […]

CAN President Charles Bourque participation in the Canadian Science Policy Conference as panelist

Professor Charles Bourque will participate in the session: Roles & Responsibilities of Academic Science Societies in informing Policy: Lessons & Observations from Around the World – November 17th at 8:30 via […]

CAN Hill week is taking place November 2-6, 2020, virtually

We are very excited to be organizing the first ever CAN Hill week, which will take place November 2 -6 2020, virtually.  Our objective is to advocate for more funding […]

CAN publishes an article in MacLean’s and Chatelaine magazine

The article was published in MacLean’s in October 2020, in a special section on “Understanding Neurological Conditions”, and re-published in the December 2020 edition of Chatelaine, in a special section […]

CAN Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finances

We have made the following recommendations Recommendation 1: That the government of Canada provide a one-time 25% increase in investment in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural […]

COVID impact survey results

Thank you to all our members and colleagues who responsed to our survey on the impact of COVID-19 on researchers and laboratories in Canada. The full results of the survey […]

Previous advocacy award winners

Learn about our 2020 winners: Cristian Zaelzer and the Convergence Initiative win a 2020 CAN Neuroscience Outreach & Advocacy Award September 15, 2020: CAN-ACN has revoked the 2020 Advocacy award […]

CAN publishes in a Toronto Star insert on Brain Health

CAN President Katalin Toth was featured in a campaign on Brain Health which was published in The Star on March 13, 2020. Read the article on thestar.com: Brain health is a […]

CAN participation in SfN’s Hill Day

CAN participation in SfN’s Hill Day CAN was invited by SfN to participate once again in SfN’s Hill Day, on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on March 5, 2020.  CAN […]

CAN January 2020 Report on advocacy

CAN-ACN Annual Advocacy report – January 2020 Presented to SfN’s Government and Public Affairs committee by Jaideep Bains, CAN past president and GPA member. The Canadian Association for Neuroscience has […]

CAN Parliament Hill Day – March 31st, 2020 – Call for participants

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience is planning a day on Parliament Hill to advocate for increased federal funding for scientific research, through increased investments in the three main granting councils […]

Science was not an Election 2019 issue – but it should be a priority for the next Government

By Tarik Möröy and Katalin Tóth — published in National Newswatch — Oct 25 2019 During Election 2019, the issue of poorly funded scientific research in Canada was not addressed […]

CAN presents a poster about Canadian advocacy initiatives at SfN’s Advocacy reception

CAN was pleased to participate in SfN’s advocacy reception, on October 22, 2019, in Chicago, during SfN’s annual meeting. View our poster here: Poster-CAN-Advocacy-sfn19

Science should be an election issue – read our Op-Ed in Le Devoir

Read an Op-Ed signed by the Presidents of CAN, Katalin Toth, and of the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences, Tarik Moroy, this morning in Le Devoir.  Scientific research is important for […]

The Liberal Party answers CAN’s questions about science support

We have received a response from the Liberal Party of Canada to our five questions about science support. Is your Party committed to fully implementing the report of the Fundamental […]

Green party responds to our questions for candidates in advance of the federal election

Last July, CAN sent five questions to the Liberal, Conservative, NPD and Green party in advance of the upcoming federal elections, which we have summarized below.  Read our full questions, […]

Invitation to join the #VoteScience Campaign

CAN is proud to support the #VoteScience campaign, and invites all scientists to participate! #VoteScience Advocating for Science in the Canadian Federal Election Science doesn’t usually get a lot of […]

Questions for candidates in advance of the federal election

July 2019 Read the questions we have sent to the four main parties in advance of the upcoming federal elections:

Advocacy Training: Be an effective advocate for science: Be involved & Tell your story

SfN and CAN join forces to bring you advocacy training that explains: Why advocacy matters How you can make an impact How informing lawmakers can advance neuroscience priorities How the […]

2018 Advocacy archives

CAN participation in the advocacy reception at SfN18 CAN President Jaideep Bains was invited to present CAN Advocacy efforts at the advocacy reception at SfN18 in San Diego, California. CAN […]

Participate in online budget consultations launched by the Finance Minister

https://www.budget.gc.ca/2019/prebudget-prebudgetaire/index-en.html Deadline is Jan 29th, 2019

2017 Advocacy archives

Release of the Report of the Standing Committee on Finances (FINA) Use this link to view the report of the FINA committee, released after the budget consultations of the Fall […]

Advocacy archives 2016-2015

Recent advocacy articles of interest We invite you to read these recent articles of interest: Shifting Demographics among Research Project Grant Awardees at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute […]

The CAN Advocacy Committee

Co-chairs:

  • Liisa Galea, CAMH
  • Tabrez Siddiqui, U of Manitoba

Committee members:

John Mielke, University of Waterloo
Ciaran Murphy-Royal, Université de Montréal
Shalina Ousman, University of Calgary
Lisa Saksida, U Western
Doug Zochodne, University of Alberta, CAN Vice-President
Haung (Ho) Yu, CAMH – U of Toronto

Trainee members:

Shalini Iyer, University of British Columbia
Amy Smith-Dijak, McGill University
Leanne Young, McGill University

Advocacy reports

View our Advocacy report archives

CAN Advocacy resources

Other useful resources:

Advocacy training material

Advocacy training at CAN2022, May 13, 2022 material:

CAN and SfN organized an advocacy training workshop on May 22, 2019, in Toronto

Value of basic research