Academic Funding and SSHRC

The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada has launched a minor protest letter in the wake of the last federal budget. In its January 28 bulletin it gives a short nod to the federal government for increasing Canada Graduate Scholarships, but complains that of this money 40% is earmarked for NSERC, 40% for CIHR and only 20% for SSHRC, specifically for business related degrees.

Is this, therefore, a short-sighted capital infusion? The argument the bulletin makes is that SSHRC disciplines are responsible for generating (the very nebulous figure of) $700 billion of Canada's GDP.

If we put aside the irony of protesting getting more money (in a recession no less!) - just not as much as the next guy - I still think SSHRC is making the wrong case. The federal budget is targeting these programs because our economy is in trouble. I'm not suggesting social sciences don't contribute to the economy, but they are not usually considered decisive skills for turning profit margins.

Now just because you break your leg doesn't mean you shouldn't lose some weight. But let's be honest with ourselves: if you do break your leg, you want a cast or a splint - and if the doctor tells you at the same time you need to lose some weight, OK - fine. But if he pushes it too hard you say "go to hell", I've got a broken leg. Talk to me about it in 3 months. I've got a bit more on my mind right now.

And so does the Canadian economy. Academics don't have a divine right to public money.