Hundreds of scientists and researchers are expected to gather on Parliament Hill today to demand a raise.
Organizers of the ‘Support our Science’ rally say they will present an open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Science and Innovation Francois-Philippe Champagne that has been signed by thousands of scientists and measures more than 60 meters long.
The group says many graduate and postdoctoral researchers receive funding from three federal agencies, but the awards are often below minimum wage.
They also say that graduate students haven’t seen a raise since 2003 and that postdoctoral researchers have only seen their salaries increase by 12.5% in those 19 years.
As a result, many researchers leave the country or leave their field altogether.
The group wants the federal government to increase the value of this funding by 48% to match inflation since 2003, and create 50% more graduate and postdoctoral scholarships.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 11, 2022.