Submission to the Standing Committee on Science and Research on the creation and dissemination of research in French

As the national voice of Canada’s universities, Universities Canada represents institutions operating in English, French and both official languages, including institutions in Quebec and those serving Francophone minority communities. French-language research is an integral part of Canada’s research ecosystem. It advances scientific knowledge, enriches the diversity of ideas and perspectives within Canadian research, responds to the needs of francophone communities across the country and strengthens Canada’s presence within the international Francophonie. Supporting research in French is therefore not only a question of linguistic equity; it is an investment in the excellence, resilience and international competitiveness of Canadian research. Canada’s bilingual character is itself a research advantage, creating opportunities to connect francophone and anglophone research networks and to strengthen collaboration within Canada and across the international Francophonie.

In our submission, Universities Canada recommends that the federal government:

1. Establish the proposed Secretariat for the Coordination of Research in French with a clear mandate, defined accountabilities, alignment with the broader federal research system and meaningful university participation, ensuring that it complements rather than duplicates existing structures.
2. Create a new and dedicated Research in French Support and Promotion Fund, supported by adequate and predictable funding that is additional to existing federal research investments; the fund should reflect the different costs and capacity needs across disciplines.
3. Strengthen federal leadership by improving French-language peer-review capacity, publishing annual disaggregated data and reporting publicly on progress.

Canada’s two official-language research communities are a distinctive national strength. At a time of growing international competition for research talent and partnerships, Canada should take full advantage of its connections to both the anglophone and francophone research worlds.