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.

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 […]


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 of Commons with recommendations to be considered by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the development of the 2025 federal budget.

Read CAN’s submission to these consultations here:


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 scientific research has real-world benefits to people across Canada, to Canada’s economy, and to Canada’s future prosperity. We specifically applaud the following measures:

Increased funding for graduate student scholarships and post-doctoral fellowships

(more…)


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 year 2030. The burden of brain disorders and diseases has substantially increased over the last 25 years with the aging of the population and the negative impact of the pandemic. This is having a detrimental impact on the economy, healthcare systems, and Canadian livelihood. Neurodegenerative diseases are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide, and mental health disorders are the leading cause of days off work.

Canada is fortunate to have a rich and diverse community of brain scientists who tackle this challenge from many different angles. In addition to neurologists and brain surgeons, who treat patients directly, we must remember that the development of innovative treatment avenues relies on new basic research. (more…)


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 work on the 2024 Canadian budget.

CAN has drafted a sample letter, you can dowload here: CAN letter to Freeland (more…)


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 Addictions of Canada
The Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health of Canada
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finances of Canada
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Read the letter here: CAN-Brain-Canada-support-letter-2024


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:

(more…)


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 with members of Parliament, Senators, Parliamentary staff members and important senior civil servants to advocate for a increased support for the major federal funding agencies in Canada (Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and graduate student and postdoctoral fellowships and for making research on Brain and Mental Health a national priority. (more…)


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 workshop-based initiative organized and led by undergraduate and graduate students, with the goal of immersing high school seniors and 1st year CÉGEP students into the world of neurophysiology. Its long term goal is to reach local, regional and national underrepresented student communities in Canada. (more…)


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. – our three recommendations are

The Canadian Association for Neuroscience recommends the following:

Recommendation 1: That the government double the budgets of the three main federal funding agencies: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for the benefit of all Canadians. This recommendation aims to bring Canadian investment in scientific research to a level commensurate to that of other G7 countries.

Recommendation 2: That the government of Canada double support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows by increasing both the value and number of fellowships awarded in the next budget. In conjunction with Recommendation 1, this recommendation will ensure our next generation of scientists have the means to participate fully in Canada’s knowledge economy.

Recommendation 3: That the government of Canada make research on the Brain and Mental Health a national priority by investing in research to understand the brain through well-established and trusted organizations in the field.

Read our full submission for the FINA pre-budget submission here: (more…)


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 Programs”.

Canada needs to stop the brain drain