ARCHIVED - Inter-Sectoral Partnerships for Non-Regulatory Federal Laboratories

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Section 2 – Current Patterns of Federal Science Activities

2.1 The Role and Nature of Federal S&T Activity

In 2006-07 the federal government invested $9.31 billion in science activities. Of this amount, $4.91 billion was spent on science activities performed by federal departments and agencies. Of this, $2.1 billion was spent on research and experimental development and $2.81 billion on other types of scientific activity.^[5]

Through the S&T activities it conducts, the federal government contributes directly to:

• public health;
• safety;
• environmental protection;
• security and national defence;
• evidence-based decision making;
• policy development;
• formulation of standards and regulations;
• development and advancement of Canadian business and commercial enterprises;
• economic and social advancement of knowledge; and,
• development and management of standards.

Federal scientists conduct not only scientific activities related to the government's statutory regulatory responsibilities, but also activities linked to achieving broader scientific, social and economic objectives essential to the national interest.

Through these activities, the federal government plays a key role in the Canadian science and innovation system. Federal laboratory scientists interact with counterparts in other sectors and organizations, domestically and internationally, to enhance the benefits federal S&T investments bring to Canadians.

The Panel's mandate focuses on those aspects of federal S&T that are not specifically and directly required to meet the regulatory obligations of the federal government and more particularly on those S&T activities involved in research and experimental development (R&D).

2.2 Scale and Distribution of Federal S&T Activity

2.2.1 Personnel and Expenditures

In 2006-07, 24,890 federal employees were engaged in S&T activities.^[6]

The largest employers in the federal S&T community were:

• Statistics Canada (6,242);
• National Research Council (4,033);
• Environment Canada (3,469);
• Natural Resources Canada (3,008);
• Health Canada (2,900);
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2,352); and,
• Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (1,550).

Federal government departments and agencies with the largest expenditures on intramural S&T were:

• Statistics Canada ($794 million);
• National Research Council ($660 million);
• Environment Canada ($529 million);
• Natural Resources Canada ($421 million); and,
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ($336 million).

These five agencies accounted for $2.74 billion, or almost 56 per cent, of the federal government's expenditure on intramural S&T.

2.2.2 Geographical Distribution

Based on an informal survey of federal departments and agencies, some 198 laboratories and science facilities have been identified across Canada.^[7] The number of laboratories by province or territory is:

• Ontario, 84 (including the concentration of laboratories in the National Capital Region);
• Quebec, 32;
• British Columbia, 18;
• Alberta, 13;
• Manitoba, 13;
• Nova Scotia, 10;
• Saskatchewan, 10;
• New Brunswick, 7;
• Newfoundland and Labrador, 3;
• Prince Edward Island, 3;
• Northwest Territories, 1; and,
• Yukon Territory, 1.

Most federal laboratories are located in or near metropolitan areas, with very few in small towns or rural regions.

2.2.3 Distribution by Department and Agency

The following table indicates the number of laboratories in specific federal departments and agencies.

Dept/Agency	No.	Dept/Agency	No.	Dept/Agency	No.	Dept/Agency	No.
HC	37	CFIA	13	RCMP	6	CBSA	1
NRC	32	DFO	12	IC	3	CGC	1
AAFC	22	DND	10	AECL	2	INAC	1
NRCan	21	PCH	7	CSA	2	STC	1
EC	18	PCA	6	PHAC	2	TC	1

2.2.4 Overview of Current and Future Demographic Profiles of Federal S&T Personnel

According to a recent study from the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada, the number of retirements from the federal S&T community doubled in the five-year period from fiscal 2000 to fiscal 2005. ^[8] The study also found that 27 per cent of members will reach retirement eligibility by 2010.

The average age of employees in the federal S&T community in 2005 was 45.9 years, and the number of new recruits into the federal S&T community fell sharply from a peak in 2002-03.

The implications of the demographic data are clear. Since academic institutions in Canada and other countries will also be faced with having to recruit a large number of scientists to fill vacancies created by a wave of imminent retirements, there is likely to be intense competition for the relatively small pool of highly qualified candidates available in Canada and abroad. Inter-sectoral S&T integration may help to improve Canada's overall competitive position through pooling of available resources.

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