Question Period Note: RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION IN FRENCH

How does the Government of Canada support research and scientific publication in French?

• Canada’s official languages are at the heart of its diversity, heritage, and national identity. That is why the Government of Canada launched the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028.
• This action plan provides $8.5 million for Canadian Heritage to enhance French-language research, among other measures.
• Canada’s granting agencies also advance the government’s commitments around official languages by supporting research and scientific publications in French. For example, since 2017, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s PromoScience has funded more than 50 French-language initiatives.

The granting agencies support French-language research and researchers through a broad range of programs and services.

Access to funding opportunities

Researchers can access programs and services of the granting agencies in the official language of their choice. The agencies offer all submission, evaluation, and administrative services to applicants in both French and English. The granting agencies encourage applicants to submit their applications in their preferred official language, and researchers are free to choose their preferred official language for communication and accessing granting agency programs, including funding applications.

Translation and application support

The translation of research results is an eligible expense as set out in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, the comprehensive set of the principles and directives that govern the use and administration of research grants funded by the granting agencies. In addition, the granting agencies have increased the availability of translation services for peer reviewers and researchers so that information on programs and services is available in both official languages at all stages of the research funding process, from application to peer review.

Recognizing that French researchers face unique challenges and require specific supports, the Official Languages Action Plan includes an investment of $8.5 million over five years for Heritage Canada to support the creation and dissemination of scientific knowledge in French. This funding includes support for SARF (Service d’aide à la recherche en français), administered by Acfas, which is a national service providing postsecondary researchers with assistance in French, including when they are applying for funding from the granting agencies.
Publication in French

The granting agencies support scholarly publications and journals in both French and English. For example, SSHRC funds scholarly publications through the Aid to Scholarly Journals (ASJ) grants, which support Canadian scholarly communication by helping journals to offset the costs associated with publishing scholarly articles, digital publishing, and journal distribution on Canadian not-for-profit platforms.

On July 4, 2023, the granting agencies announced a review of their open access policy. The review’s goal is to ensure that any peer-reviewed journal publications arising from agency-supported research are made freely available in both official languages, without subscription or fee, at the time of publication. As part of this exercise, the agencies held stakeholder workshops in February and March 2024 to seek feedback and input from wide ranging stakeholders, including researchers, students, and librarians representing French researchers and francophone communities and organizations. Following these consultations, the granting agencies published a “What we Heard” report on the workshops. The new version of the policy is expected to be made public by the end of 2025.

Promotion of French science and research

The granting agencies deliver several initiatives that support science outreach, science communication, and the mobilization of scientific knowledge in French across the country. NSERC’s PromoScience program, which supports hands-on learning experiences for young students and their teachers, funds many Francophone organizations to deliver French language science promotion activities. Since 2017, PromoScience has funded more than 50 French-language initiatives and, in fiscal year 2020-21 alone, there were nine active PromoScience grants focused on official language minority communities, including eight focused on French-speaking communities outside of Quebec. SSHRC provides funding for scholarly and scientific exchange and knowledge mobilization through its core programs, such as Connection Grants, which fund events and outreach activities. In 2022-23, SSHRC funded 129 Connection Grant applications submitted in French, or 21.8% of all grants awarded.

• Open access to French-language research is a key part of the transmission of French research. The granting agencies are currently reviewing their open access policy, with the goal of ensuring that any peer-reviewed journal publications arising from agency-supported research be made freely available in both official languages. The review is considering impacts of open access on the broader research ecosystem, including publications in French.

• The Government of Canada also created an external advisory group, through the Official Languages Action Plan, to recommend improvements to support the creation and dissemination of French-language research in Canada.