As part of our advocacy for increased research funding by the federal government, we are writing to invite you to contact elected officials to highlight the importance of the Canadian government’s support of Science and Research.
We suggest you reach out to
Your local Member of Parliament
The Prime Minister
The Minister of Health
The Minister of Finances
The objective of your letter should be to show the importance that funding from the federal government has for scientists across the country, and for the health and well-being of all Canadians, and to encourage the government to continue and to increase this support.
If you write to your MP, make sure to mention you are a constituent – MPs pay more attention to message from their riding.
We have drafted a short template letter that you can use and personalize. It is copied below. We also invite you to reach out through social media.
If you do reach out to your MP or any Minister, we would love to know, and to offer you a free drink at the next CAN social, if you are attending. Get in touch with us! advocacy@can-acn.org
Name of the MP/Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
Proposed template letter
Re: Funding thank you letter to the Canadian Government (to be personalized – Note – if you applied and were not successful, your story/letter is also important)
Dear Mr. Full Name,
My name is (Full name) and I do research on (short description, no jargon) at (institution) in (riding or city name). I was recently awarded a research grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). As a constituent and a scientist, I am writing to thank you for the support the Canadian government is providing for the research in my laboratory, and to remind you that research funded by the three federal granting councils of Canada, CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC plays a vital role in keeping Canada healthy, innovative and driving the Canadian economy.
[Describe your research in a short paragraph]
[State the impacts you have seen as a result of your research or how you have connected with patients/families in your research]
While my application was successful in this competition, I note that the success rate for this competition was only (XX%). Such low success rates mean that many excellent projects will remain unfunded, and I therefore encourage you to support important re-investment in fundamental research in Canada.
[Describe how research funding from the federal government is important to you and how it affects your work. If appropriate, you can also use the section below.]
Fundamental research funding directly employs tens of thousands of highly qualified staff and students in good, middle-class jobs and provides students with a reliable path to join the middle class. In my lab alone, I employ:
### technicians or research associates
### postdoctoral fellows
### graduate students
### undergraduate students
Fundamental research, supported by Canada’s federal granting councils, is the key to finding new technologies, cures and solutions for the challenges Canadians face today. I encourage you to support increased funding of scientific research in Canada. It is an investment in Canada’s future.
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 Effective Advocacy.” This session is designed to equip scientists and researchers with the knowledge and skills to become effective advocates for science. Participants will gain insights into the basics of science policy, the importance of evidence in policy-making, the fundamentals of science advocacy, and how to engage with elected officials. Whether you are new to advocacy or looking to enhance your existing skills, this workshop will provide valuable tools to make your voice heard and ensure science and evidence are at the forefront of public decision-making.
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 science and research for all Canadians.
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: “Scaling Research for Impact: From Local Insights to Global Solutions“ on November 20, 2025.
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 Budget 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 officials and representatives of the main federal funding agencies to discuss how to better support scientific research in Canada.
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 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
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…)
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.
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
