Infrastructure refers to the physical facilities, structures, and systems that are essential to the functioning of a community – the literal building blocks of society. Some common examples include:

• Transportation infrastructure: roads, bridges, tunnels, railways, airports etc.
• Social infrastructure: schools, hospitals, prisons, etc.
• Utilities: electricity production, water treatment and distribution, etc.

Investing in new infrastructure is one method governments use to stimulate the economy, since it creates jobs and provides upgrades to public services like transportation, education, etc. While all parties have pledged to invest money in infrastructure, the Liberals and Greens have made infrastructure investment a central platform promise, while the NDP and Conservatives place more emphasis on keeping a balanced budget.

Promises to invest $65 billion over 10 years (1, 5) Emphasizes the importance of balancing the budget while making moderate investments (5, 9) The bulk of the $65 billion commitment was announced in 2013 as the New Building Canada Plan, which pledged $53 billion in new and existing funding for infrastructure over 10 years. (1, 2, 9) This includes: $32.2 billion from the Gas Tax Fund for municipal roads, public transit, recreational facilities and community infrastructure $14 billion in a new fund for major economic infrastructure projects including: highways, public transit, gateway and trade corridor-related infrastructure, drinking water, wastewater, connectivity and broadband, and innovation $1.25 billion for P3s (public-private partnerships) An additional $6 billion yearly to be transferred to provinces, territories, and municipalities Created the Gas-Tax Fund, in 2007, which provides dedicated, predictable funding for municipal infrastructure projects, and currently pays out $2 billion annually (1, 3) In 2008, founded PPP Canada Inc., a corporation designed to facilitate P3s, or public-private partnerships in infrastructure projects (1, 4) In November 2014 pledged $5.8 billion over six years to build and renew federal infrastructure and on-reserve schools (1, 5) In May 2015 announced $150 million “Canada 150” fund to refurbish community facilities in honour of the 150th anniversary of confederation (1, 2, 6) Pledges $750 million over two years, starting in 2017-18, and $1 billion annually thereafter to establish a Public Transit Fund (1)	Promises to increase spending from Conservative commitment by $4.5 billion annually over next four years (7, 10) Emphasizes the importance of balancing the budget while making moderate investments (5, 9) Plans to keep the Conservative’s Gas-Tax Fund for municipal infrastructure, while adding an additional cent to the gas tax transfers to cities which is expected to add $1.5 billion annually by 2019-2020, bringing the total transfer to $3.7 billion in that year (5, 8) Announced the Better Transit Plan, which would give $1.3 billion annually over 20 years to public transit infrastructure projects (8) Pledges to introduce an income tax break for capital investments that are reinvested in rental housing; expected to incentivize the creation of 10,000 new affordable housing units over 10 years and cost $500 million a year (8, 11) Pledges $440 million next year towards renewing federal social housing agreements (11)	Promises to increase spending from Conservative commitment by $60 billion billion over 10 years, or $9.5 billion annually (12, 16) Plans to nearly double federal investment over the next ten years, with $20 billion spent in the first 3 years in an effort to kickstart economic growth (12) Intends to run a deficit of up to $10 billion a year for the next three years to fund this investment (9, 12) Promises dedicated funding for the following types of infrastructure: Public transit Social infrastructure: affordable housing, seniors facilities, early learning and child care, cultural and recreational infrastructure Green infrastructure: local and wastewater facilities, climate resilient infrastructure, clean energy, clean-up of contaminated sites, protections against natural disasters and extreme weather due to climate change (12) Pledges to increase the transparency of the New Canada Building Fund, which evaluates and approves infrastructure project proposals, as well as speed up the approval process (12) Proposes to create a Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), which would use the government’s strong credit rating and lending authority to provide low-cost loans to fund new projects (12)	Promises to increase spending from Conservative commitment by $6.4 billion annually over next four years, plus $1 billion annually for national affordable housing program and other smaller initiatives (13, 14) Announced plan to spend $6.4 billion annually on infrastructure projects, split evenly between 6 areas: Community brownfield reclamation Water and wastewater treatment Sports, culture and recreation Mass transit promotion Cycling and pedestrian promotion Community housing Announced national affordable housing program which would build 20,000 housing units per year and renew 8,000 more, costing $1 billion annually over 5 years Additional infrastructure spending commitments: $700 million annually over 5 years to improve the National rail system (13) $1 billion annually to upgrade electrical grid technology (13) $350 million per year in green energy retrofitting for municipal, university, school and hospital buildings, as well as low-income housing (13) $800 million annually to improve drinking water and housing conditions for First Nations communities (13) Proposes to change tax laws to allow municipalities to issue new Municipal Registered Retirement Savings (RRSP) bonds, which would create a new pool of funding for municipal infrastructure (15, 17, 18) Proposes to create Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) which which would use the government’s strong credit rating and lending authority to provide low-cost loans to fund new projects (15)

References

1. Federal Economic Action Plan
2. Federal Budget 2013
3. Infrastructure Canada
4. P3 Canada
5. Toronto Star
6. Globe and Mail
7. NDP Website
8. NDP Website
9. Globe and Mail
10. NDP website
11. Toronto Star
12. Liberal Paty Website
13. Green Party Website
14. Green Party Website
15. Green Party Website
16. Liberal website
17. Green Party Website

Ended the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly on grain exports in 2012 with the ‘Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act,’ and sold the Wheat Board in 2015 (1, 3) Introduced ‘Growing Forward 2’ in 2013, a 5-year policy framework for Canada's agricultural sector, which includes a $3 billion dollar-investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments for programs focusing on innovation, competitiveness and market development (31) Passed Bill C-18, the ‘Agricultural Growth Act’ (November 2014), an omnibus bill touching on many aspects of agricultural production, including strengthening intellectual property rights for plant breeders and facilitating farmers’ access to advance payments for their crops.(4, 5) In 2013, announced a 15% spending cut to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which it maintains will not compromise food safety (7, 8) Invested $4 million to support agriculture in the North, including $2 million to establish a permanent campus for the Northern Farm Training Institute in Hay River, NWT (9) Has negotiated Canada into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive international trade deal involving 12 countries and 40% of the world economy, with major implications for Canadian agriculture; while the agreement has been made, the legal text has not been drafted nor has it been formally adopted by the negotiating countries (6, 32, 34) As part of the TPP, Canada would gain access to significant new markets for agricultural exports, especially pork, beef, barley, processed foods, and canola oil (34, 36) As part of the TPP, Canada would open a small amount of its dairy (3.25%), poultry (2.1%), and egg markets to allow for small amounts of duty-free imports, but it would not dismantle Canada’s supply-management regime for dairy (34, 36) Has promised $4.3 billion in compensation for farmers who suffer as a result of the TPP and the earlier Canada-European trade agreement (34, 35)	Voted against the sale of the Canadian Wheat Board, and was highly critical of the process of its sale (11, 12) Envisions a national Food Strategy, entitled “Everybody Eats”, highlighting support for local farms, young/new farmers, market supply managed sectors, and sustainable farming practices. (10) Promises to create a payment protection plan for fruit and vegetable growers, which will provide financial protection to producers in the event of a buyer’s bankruptcy or withheld payments (14, 15) Voted against Bill C-18 (‘Agricultural Growth Act’) (13) States that an NDP government would not consider itself bound by a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as it believes that the TPP's negotiation is not being carried out legitimately; comments that the partnership could undermine Canada’s market supply-managed sectors and manufacturing sectors (16, 33)	Voted against the sale of the Canadian Wheat Board, and asked the Governor General to block the Conservative Party’s sale of the Canadian Wheat Board on the grounds that the sale did not follow due process (17, 18) Pledges to invest $160 million over four years in an Agri-Food Value Added Investment Fund to provide technical and marketing assistance to help food processors develop new value-added products (37 p.16) Pledges to invest $100 million over four years into agricultural research (37 p.16) Voted in favour of Bill C-18 (‘Agricultural Growth Act’) (19) Calls for a moratorium on the sale and use of pesticides based on neonicotinoids (a chemical found in certain pesticides which has been found to be harmful to bees), and asks that pollinator health effects be made a more important factor in the approval of new pesticides (20) Will increase the budget for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency by $80 million (37 p.16) Will not support the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) if concessions are made over Canada’s supply-managed dairy sector and have criticized negotiation process, stating it has been secretive (21, 33)	Voted against the sale of the Canadian Wheat Board (22) Envisions a National Agricultural and Food Policy, emphasizing food safety; local, direct food sales for farmers; and a shift to smaller-scale and organic agriculture (23, 24) Believes that voluntary codes of humane animal treatment should be mandatory (30) Will end subsidies to the production of any biofuel crop that can’t return as much energy as it took to produce (26) Opposes the widespread use of pesticides with genetically modified, pesticide-resistant seed; supports farmers’ right to save and use non-genetically modified seed at no cost; and will make GMO food labelling mandatory (27) Voted against Bill C-18 (‘Agricultural Growth Act’) (38) Supports a moratorium on the use of neonicotinoids (a chemical found in certain pesticides which has been found to be harmful to bees) (25) Supports increasing funding for and strengthening the mandate of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (28) Opposes to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) (29)

References

1. Government website
2. Globe and Mail
3. Government website
4. Government website
5. openparliament.ca
6. CBC
7. Globe and Mail
8. National Post
9. CBC
10. NDP document
11. openparliament.ca
12. NDP website
13. openparliament.ca
14. iPolitics
15. NDP Media Backgrounder, on website of Canadian Horticultural Council
16. Globe and Mail
17. openparliament.ca
18. Globe and Mail
19. openparliament.ca
20. Liberal policy document
21. ipolitics.ca
22. openparliament
23. Green Party website
24. Green Party website
25. Green Party website
26. Green Party website
27. Green Party website
28. Green Party website
29. Green Party website
30. Green Party website
31. Government Website
32. Globe and Mail
33. CBC
34. Globe and Mail
35. Globe and Mail
36. Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Canada
37. Liberal Party Platform
38. Votes.MP

The federal net corporate tax rate is currently 15%. For small businesses, this figure is 11%. However, businesses are also subject to provincial taxation, so their total tax rate will be higher. Canada’s average combined federal-provincial tax rate is currently 26.3%. By comparison, the average corporate tax rate for G7 countries is 29.9% and in the United States it is 39% (but the U.S. has a complex system of tax deductions which effectively reduces overall corporate tax rate). Those in favour of lowering corporate tax rates argue that high taxation harms economic growth. They point out that a reduction in corporate tax rates does not always lead to a significant reduction in government revenues from corporate taxes. As taxes decrease, companies are more likely to invest and expand, potentially leading to more taxable profits and higher tax revenues by government. Reducing corporate tax rates also provides incentives for multinational firms to shift taxable activities into countries with lower tax rates. By contrast, increasing corporate tax levels would initially increase government income, but this may be short-lived as corporations alter their spending habits and investment in the long-run to avoid taxation. Those in favour of raising corporate tax rates argue that there is no definitive proof that higher taxes harms economic growth, and could in fact help spur growth through increased government spending and investment. They also argue that corporations gain benefits from government spending such as better infrastructure, healthier workers, and better human capital from education and social programs, so corporations should be expected to contribute to these. There is debate as to the extent and ability of some high-income professionals to reduce the amount of income tax they pay by abusing the lower corporate tax rate for small businesses . They can do this by shifting their income into a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) that qualifies as a small business, and then giving their revenue as dividends to lower-income family members—all while taking advantage of other benefits to reduce their tax burden. Economist Jack Mintz has estimated that 60% of the small business deduction goes to households with incomes of more than $150,000, while economist Michael Wolfson has estimated that 5-10% of small businesses act as tax shelters (a means of avoiding taxes), and that the government loses around a half billion dollars per year due to this. However, these estimates are difficult to prove and small business associations have argued that this is the exception to the rule. Moreover, they argue that small businesses should be given greater tax benefits as they face higher wages, tax, and other costs relative to larger corporations.

Reduced the corporate tax rate to 15% from 22% in 2006 (1, 2) Has legislated a reduction in the small business tax rate from 11% to 9% by 2019 (2) Has steadily reduced subsidies to oil and gas industries and will eventually phase them out (4) Has legislated a reduction in payroll taxes (money businesses and employees contribute to the Employment Insurance program) from a tax of $1.88 per $100 earned to $1.49 per $100 earned by 2017 (7, 8) Pledges to extend the Northern Mining Exploration Tax Credit, which gives a 15% tax credit for those who invest in mineral exploration in Northern communities, by another three years (3, 4, 5, 6) Pledges to provide an enhanced credit  of 25% of a company’s corporate tax to subsidize proposed mining projects that face steep overhead costs due to remote locations or distance from transportation routes (such as the Ring of Fire in Ontario and Plan Nord in Quebec) (4, 5, 6)	Pledges to impose a "slight and graduated increase in corporate taxes" that would remain below the average that the Conservatives have had in place for 10 years (17.5%) (9, 13) Promises to reduce the small business tax rate from 11% to 9% (2, 11, 13) Believes the small business tax credit should be “tweaked” to ensure that it cannot be used as a tax dodge by wealthy individuals (12) Will immediately end all subsidies to the oil and gas industries and shift the tax breaks to clean and renewable energy projects (14, 16, 17) Pledges to create a new Innovation Tax Credit and offer targeted tax breaks to manufacturers and businesses that invest in machinery, equipment, and property to promote innovation and increase productivity (10, 11, 13) Promises to extend the accelerated capital cost allowance for machinery and equipment by two years (13) Opposes extending the Northern Mining Exploration Tax Credit (4)	Pledges to keep corporate tax rate the same (15) Promises to reduce the small business tax rate from 11% to 9% (2, 13) Believes the small business tax credit must be significantly changed to ensure that it cannot be used as a tax shelter by wealthy individuals (12, 15) Pledges to reduce payroll taxes (where money businesses and employees contribute to the Employment Insurance program) from a tax of $1.88 per $100 to $1.65 per $100 earned (7) Will end all subsidies to oil and gas industries and invest $200 million per year into clean and renewable energy projects (14) Opposes extending the Northern Mining Exploration Tax Credit (4)	Pledges to return corporate taxation to 2009 levels, 19% (2, 18, 20, 21) Promises to reduce the small business tax rate from 11% to 9% (2, 20, 21) Believes the small business tax credit should be changed to ensure that it cannot be used as a tax dodge by wealthy individuals (19) Will end all subsidies to oil and gas industries and create $1 billion per year in technology commercialization grants for entrepreneurs to accelerate emerging technologies (19) Promises to create a carbon-fee-and-dividend that taxes polluting industries and returns all funds to Canadian citizens above the age of 18 (13, 18, 19) Will work with provinces to increase taxes on alcohol and tobacco (2, 21)

References

1. The Toronto Star
2. National Post
3. The Toronto Star
4. CBC
5. CBC
6. Conservative Website
7. The Winnipeg Free Press
8. The Toronto Star
9. Macleans
10. The Star Pheonix
11. NDP Website
12. The Toronto Sun
13. The Toronto Star
14. CBC
15. CBC
16. NDP Website
17. Macleans
18. The Globe and Mail
19. CBC
20. Green Party Website
21. Green Party Website

Further Reading

• Macleans on Corporate Taxation
• Forbes on Why Tax Cuts for Corporations Increase Government Revenue
• Business Insider on why Tax Cuts for Coprorations Undermine Growth
• Macleans on Small Buisnesses Being Used to Avoid Taxation
• Global News on Small Buisnesses Being Used to Avoid Taxation
• School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary, “Small Business Taxtion” Duanjie Chen and Jack Mintz
• “Piercing the Veil – Private Corporations and the Income of the Affluent,” Michael Wolfson, Mike Veall, Neil Brooks
• Huffington Post on Small Buisnesses Being Used to Avoid Taxation
• Financial Post on Small Buisness Taxation

Committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 (1) Opposes carbon taxation, and has criticized NDP and Liberal plans to price carbon as “job killing tax[es] on everything” that would endanger Canadian jobs and increase costs for Canadian consumers on items such as gasoline, groceries and energy; however, it will not oppose or attempt to dictate provincial policies should they choose to introduce such measures (2, 6, 7, 27) Introduced new rules to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas sector, such as industrial leaks and as flares which make up a significant portion of industry’s total emissions; however do not want to impose regulations on the oil and gas industry without similar enactments from the United States (1, 4) Believes that climate action and regulation must be taken cooperatively with trading partners like the United States, especially with integrated sectors of the economy like oil and gas (4, 8, 10) Has been reducing subsidies to fossil fuel industries in line with a 2009 G20 commitment (28) Increased renewable content of diesel fuels and gasoline, increased requirements for energy efficiency of vehicles, passed regulation to phase out traditional coal-fired power plants in Canada, and have announced plans to regulate hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigerants (3, 5, 10) Has been reducing subsidies to fossil fuel industries in line with Canada’s 2009 G-20 commitment to do so (27)	Promises to introduce stronger commitments to greenhouse gas reduction consistent with an NDP private member's bill introduced in June, which aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 34% below 1990 levels by 2025, and 80 per cent by 2050 (29) Favours a cap-and-trade system that would allow market to create a price on carbon; will use revenue generated to invest in renewable and green energy projects, and to increase energy efficiency (4, 9) Will consider equivalency agreements to exempt some provinces from federal regulations on climate action if they can demonstrate they have alternative measure to achieve a comparable outcome (4) Promises to respect Canada’s international commitments on greenhouse gases (11, 12, 13) Pledges to shift tax breaks and fossil fuel subsidies and reinvest those funds in clean and renewable energy sources (11, 12, 13) Critical of Prime Minister Harper’s absence from high-level climate talks and the small impact of the Conservatives' new and proposed regulations on greenhouse gas emissions; accuses the Government of “stalling” on climate change (4, 24, 25)	Pledges that Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau will attend the December 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, invite all premiers to join him, and will hold a First Ministers meeting within 90 days of the conference to work together to create a framework for combating climate change (14, 15 page 4, 16) Promises to create national emissions-reduction targets and ensure that provinces have the tools to design and create their own policies to meet these targets—including their own carbon pricing policies—and would provide federal funding to help them meet these targets (14, 15, 16) Supports provincial efforts aimed at carbon pricing, carbon taxes, or cap-and-trade programs (14) Will phase out subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and allow the use of Canadian Exploration Expenses tax deduction only in cases of unsuccessful resource exploration, with the savings directed to investments in new, clean technologies (15 page 5) Remains skeptical about the Conservatives' plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels (a reduction of around 225 megatons), since annual emissions have only fallen by 25 megatons since 2005 to date and carbon emissions have risen in the past four years (14)	Believes Canada should cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 2005 levels by 2025, with a long-term target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and further cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of at least 80% to 90% compared to 1990 (25) Plans to introduce its Carbon Fee and Dividend Plan, which would charge fees based on greenhouse gas emissions as the primary source of those emissions (well, mine, or imported fuel source); the revenue will be redistributed to all Canadians equitably to compensate them for potentially increased energy costs and fight income inequality in Canada; full details can be found here. (17, 18, 19, 20, 21) Will remove all subsidies and supports to oil, coal, gas, and coalbed methane industries in Canada (21) Believes Canada must meet its international commitments in order to remedy the negative effects that Canada’s inaction is having on its international reputation (22) Criticizes the current federal government’s inaction on climate change, their lack of a plan for dealing with the crisis, and their taking credit for provincial action on climate change (23)

References

1. CBC
2. CBC
3. Government website
4. The Globe and Mail
5. Government website
6. CBC
7. Openparliament.ca
8. CBC
9. NDP website
10. The Globe and Mail
11. NDP website
12. Macleans
13. NDP website
14. Liberal website
15. Liberal website
16. The Globe and Mail
17. Green website
18. Green website
19. Green website (20)
20. Green website (21)
21. Green website
22. The Globe and Mail
23. Green website
24. Toronto Star
25. The Globe and Mail
26. Green website
27. CBC
28. CBC
29. The Globe and Mail

Created a new working group with United States and Mexico in 2015 to harmonize regulations and enhance cooperation on cutting carbon emissions while supporting the exchange of clean energy technology and the development and deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage in the United States and Canada (1) Launched the United States-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue in 2009 to enhance bilateral cooperation on the development of clean energy sources to reduce greenhouse gases and support a transition to a low-carbon North American economy (2, 3) Has been reducing subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in line with Canada’s 2009 G20 commitment (4) Promotes the deployment of clean energy technologies to Aboriginal and Northern communities (5) Pledges to support economically viable energy projects that will assist regions and provinces in the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable fuels sources, provided the project has a national or regional significance, has economic and financial merit, and will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (6)	Believes that Canada must take immediate action in building a clean and renewable energy program that is essential for growing Canada’s economy, creating jobs, developing a competitive and skilled workforce, and ensuring Canada’s long-term prosperity (7, 8, 9) Will foster Canada's renewable energy industry to ensure its participation in a global industry, expected to be worth $3 trillion dollars by 2020 (9, 10, 12) Will use revenue from a cap-and-trade system that puts a market price on carbon to invest in renewable and clean energy projects (11) Pledges to shift tax breaks to renewable energy and away from the oil industry (12, 13) Promises to halt the expansion of Canada’s nuclear energy program while upgrading the safety and security of current nuclear energy facilities (14)	Will work with the provinces to create a national energy strategy that will boost energy conservation and increase clean and renewable energy in Canada's grid, in part through direct federal infrastructure commitments (15) Will work with private industry to make Canada one of the most competitive tax jurisdictions for clean energy investment by expanding the scientific research and experimental development tax credit to cleaner-energy areas, creating a Canadian Green Investment Bond, and extending the accelerated capital cost allowance to cover renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies (15, 18) Pledges to invest $200 million dollars more annually to create sector-specific strategies and support innovation in clean technologies in the forestry, fisheries, mining, energy, and agricultural sectors (16, 17) Promises to invest $100 million dollars more annually in organizations that have been successful at supporting the emergence of clean technology firms, such as Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and would create Canada Research Chairs in sustainable technology (16, 17)	Supports the development and investment in clean energy across the country and believe it would better protect Canada from oil price shocks and create more jobs than the oil sector (19) Pledges to build an economy powered by renewable energy sources and discourage wasteful practices, including investing in an East-West energy grid to make better use of renewable energy sources (20) Will use revenue generated by eliminating tax subsidies and havens, as well as other sources of revenue, to support green energy and infrastructure and give an annual commitment to the Green Climate Fund (19) Believes that Canada should invest in a transit system with non-polluting vehicles, energy efficiency retrofits, and energy-efficient agriculture (19, 20) Supports the diversification of Canada’s national energy mix to include more renewable energy solar, wind, tidal, geothermal and run-of-the-river hydroelectric power (21) Opposes the use of nuclear power and would work to phase out existing reactors, place a moratorium on uranium mining and refining, and remove subsidies to nuclear plants aside from those that assist in maintaining the safety of nuclear facilities (22)

References

1. Scientific American
2. Government Website
3. Government Website
4. CBC
5. Conservative website
6. Conservative website
7. NDP website
8. Alexandre Boulerice website
9. NDP website
10. CBC
11. CBC
12. NDP website
13. Macleans
14. NDP website
15. Liberal website
16. Liberal website
17. CBC
18. Huffington Post
19. Green website
20. Green website
21. Green website
22. Green website

Synopsis

Science and Technology (S&T) includes the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, health sciences, humanities, and engineering. Areas of technology include information and communication technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, medical, agri-food, environmental, manufacturing, transport, construction, and chemical technologies. Strength in S&T is necessary for Canada to compete in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy for the following reasons:

• It attracts high-skilled labour and investment
• It results in a highly trained and skilled labour force, able to work in the knowledge economy
• It serves as an effective tool for job creation and economic growth
• It results in innovative goods and services that Canadian entrepreneurs can then exploit in global markets, contributing to Canada’s economic growth

S&T policy usually targets Research and Development (R&D) investment, patent policy, a friendly environment for tech start-ups, support for research at post-secondary institutions, and commercialization of new technology. Canada benefits from successful universities, engineering schools, teaching hospitals, and technical institutes. Canada produces science that is recognized globally, and also leads in R&D funding through tax incentives. However, Canadian firms face limited financing for commercialization of new products. The Conference Board of Canada ranks Canada 13th among its 16 peer countries on innovation. For more on the state of S&T in Canada, review The Conference Board of Canada analysis.

Created the Canada First Research Excellence Fund in 2014 to disburse $1.5 billion over seven years to post-secondary institutions conducting research in the fields of natural resources and energy, information and communications technology (ICTs), environment and agriculture, health and life sciences, and advanced manufacturing (1, 2) Committed $10.9 million per year from existing sources to support programs that encourage youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (3) Committed $222 million over five years, starting in 2015-2016, to support Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics (4) Committed $100 million over five years to support the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program (5) Committed $30 million over four years to support R&D in the satellite communications sector (6) Pledged $1.33 billion to support the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support research infrastructure at universities, colleges, and research hospitals (7) Promises to develop an open science initiative to facilitate access to publications resulting from federally-funded research (8) Working with partners to develop a digital research infrastructure strategy (9)	Will introduce an Innovation Tax Credit worth $40 million to support research and development, boost innovation, and pay for the cost of machinery and equipment in the manufacturing sector. (10, 11) Pledges to end all fossil fuel subsidies and transfer those funds to renewable and clean technologies (32, 33) Pledges $40 million over four years in the Canadian Space Agency’s Space Technology Development Program to help companies commercialize new technology (13) Pledges to champion aerospace innovators and lead trade delegations promoting the Canadian aerospace industry globally (14) Will create a four-year fund, worth $160 million, to encourage small-and-medium sized aerospace industries to adopt new technology and increase production (15)	Will make significant investments in innovative technologies, sciences, and data collection to create jobs (16) Pledges to invest $200 million dollars annually to create sector-specific strategies and to support innovation in clean technologies in the forestry, fisheries, mining, energy, and agricultural sectors (18) Promises to work with provinces, territories, universities, and colleges to support emerging clean technology companies to conduct research, commercialize new products, and train workers (19) Pledges to work with provinces and territories to make Canada a competitive tax jurisdiction for investment in research and development and manufacturing of clean technologies (20) Will consolidate government science for easy access to the public (21) Will create a Chief Science Officer to ensure government scientists can speak freely and that government science is easily accessible to the public (23)	Will invest in undergraduate research fellowships to support innovation and encourage youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (24) Will emphasize funding for environmental innovation and design (25) Pledges to create funding for emerging technologies (26) Will prioritize the federal government’s scientific capacity in Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada, and Health Canada (27) Will restore the Ocean Contaminants & Marine Toxicology Program, renew and increase capacity in the Canadian Coastguard, and reverse cuts to climate adaptation programs (28) Pledges to create the position of Chief Scientific Advisor, independent of political control (29) Will ensure that government scientists can freely publish their research and speak to the media without being affected by bureaucracy (30) Will create an independent National Academy of Sciences to provide lawmakers direct access to science (31) Will initiate a review of closure of federal science libraries (32)

References

1. Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper website
2. CBC News
3. Industry Canada
4. Industry Canada
5. Government of Canada
6. Government of Canada
7. Government of Canada
8. Industry Canada
9. Industry Canada
10. CBC News
11. NDP website
12. CBC News
13. Global News
14. Global News
15. The Globe and Mail
16. Liberal website
17. Liberal website
18. Liberal website
19. Liberal website
20. Liberal website
21. Liberal website
22. Liberal website
23. Green Party website
24. Green Party website
25. Green Party website
26. Green Party website
27. Green Party website
28. Green Party website
29. Green Party website
30. Green Party website
31. Green Party website
32. NDP website
33. Macleans