The missing piece in Canada’s innovation strategy

Funding for the College and Community Innovation Program was ignored in the recent budget. It's Canada’s only federal fund dedicated to supporting polytechnic and college applied research, which connects discovery to deployment and helps businesses bring innovation to market.

We need to better connect research to real growth, and that connection was missing in Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's Nov. 4 budget, writes Vincent Custode.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY VINCENT CUSTODE

December 23, 2025

As the dust settles on Budget 2025 and the government seeks to move forward on its economic and innovation agenda, it’s hard to shake the feeling that—despite some welcome measures—Canada has once again missed the bigger picture.

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Tuesdays: Innovation & Industry Newsletter

The policies, decisions, and people working on investment and regulation in the industry and innovation realm.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy