Workplace Challenges

Threat #1: Labour shortage

Attracting academics through Canada Research Chairs

Innovation and education are on the rise, thanks to the Canada Research Chairs Program, which serves as one solution to Canada’s shortage of scholars.

By Jennifer McFee
[ 2009-03-03 ]

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Retain and recruit. Equity and excellence.

Those are the goals of the Canada Research Chairs Program, which was established eight years ago to attract some of the world’s best and brightest academics.

Luring laureates

With a $300-million annual budget, the program lures star academics with both money and respect. Some renowned researchers get a $200,000 renewable grant for seven years, while others receive $100,000 per year for five years.

But as Don DeVoretz, economics professor at Simon Fraser University, explains, “It’s not just about money. Recognition will sway you too.”


Through this program, scholars are recognized for their ability to strengthen the economy through their contributions to Canada’s global competitiveness and their commitment to train university students.

And it seems to be working. Today, Canada can boast 1,829 active research chairs that are putting Canadian universities on the world’s radar as international research hubs.

Headhunting hotshots

DeVoretz explains the program targets two groups of academics. The first includes homegrown hotshots that our universities aim to retain. The second group is made up of specialists who Canada would like to attract from other countries (including Canadians abroad that we hope to repatriate).

One of these prized specialists is American Gopal Sreenivasan, now the University of Toronto’s chair in justice and health care. His research on what services should be covered by Medicare will be particularly important as our population ages.

Another is Paule Halley, Quebec City’s Université Laval chair in environmental law, who endeavours to define international rules to protect the environment — an increasingly important topic in the face of globalization.

Canada Research Chairs Program

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