Genome Canada Marked for $73M in New Budget

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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 09:59

Genome Canada has been tabbed to receive C$75 million ($73 million) under the national 2010 budget proposal from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's administration. This year's budget proposal, which was announced last week by Minister of Finance James Flaherty, is aimed at shifting Canada from a stimulus-oriented approach focused on fending off recession toward a new effort to begin to reduce its deficit.

Canada's lead genomics research program received no funding from the 2009 budget, in a year when it had expected to receive around C$120 million to fund new programs. The 2009 budget was drafted in response to the global financial crisis.

In 2007 the non-profit organization received around C$100 million, and in 2008 it landed $140 million.

According to the budget, at least some of the $75 million would be used to launch a new targeted research competition focused on forestry and the environment, and funding also would be sustained for the regional genomics innovation centers.

Genome Canada has not issued a comment yet on the proposed budget.