The federal government is set to deliver its fall budget with a promised focus on building a strong Canada while positioning the country for long-term prosperity.
Among the major nation-building projects being championed are fighter jets and nuclear submarines, high speed rail, ice-breakers, ports, mines, roads, pipelines and more.
One critical sector is conspicuously under-represented: post-secondary education. Once regarded as deserving of federal funding and a key player in our national interest, support has slowly dwindled.
However, Canada's nation-building vision must include a focus on nurturing the current and next generation of thinkers, workers, innovators and dreamers.
A new collection of essays we've edited, Knowledge Under Siege: Charting a Future for Universities, examines the purpose of universities and how they can best seek truth, make discoveries and pass on work skills, knowledge and wisdom as well as fulfil their unique responsibility of asking difficult questions of governments, other power structures and society itself.
