In the wake of the Liberals' election to power last October, there has been considerable interest in the federal government's re-engagement with research. When the new cabinet was unveiled, the number of ministers with direct ties to universities, including the appointment of medical geographer Dr. Kirsty Duncan as Minister of Science, and economist Dr. Jean-Yves Duclos as Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, sent an encouraging message to the post-secondary sector. Indeed, the creation of a new department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) signaled a clear commitment to establishing positive relationships with the scientific community.

Much of what we might expect from the new government appeared in the ministerial mandate letters that were publicly released last November in an unprecedented move. Mandate letters outline the government's priorities and provide a "to do" list for each Minister during their tenure.

An overview of the mandate letters offers a strong indication of how federal research dollars most likely will be allocated. Climate change emerges as a pivotal government priority with climate action and clean energy appearing in the mandate letters of several ministers, including Environment and Climate Change, Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Thus far, the federal government has committed to invest $100 million more per year in the growth and development of cleantech companies, support energy efficiency and electric vehicles and create a $2 billion fund to support projects to cut carbon emissions.

Other priorities have implications for researchers across a range of disciplines, including the government's commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous populations, healthcare, reform of public institutions, including Senate and electoral reform, and public safety priorities, including development of a national action plan on post-traumatic stress disorder. ISED Minister Navdeep Bains was directed to develop an Open Data Initiative and expand effective support for incubators, accelerators, the emerging national network for business innovation and cluster support, and the Industrial Research Assistance Program.

Since the release of the mandate letters, Canadians have also had an opportunity to gain a closer look at the government's priorities through the December 2015 Throne Speech that promised new investments in public transit, green infrastructure, and social infrastructure. Additionally, the Prime Minister's recent visits to several university campuses have resulted in announcements of commitments to water and stem cell research.

As Paul Davidson, President and CEO of Universities Canada, recently noted in an op-ed for Research Money, “there's a re-set happening in Canada.” In this time of renewed federal attention to the research community, it's important for us to be aware of the emerging priorities and to think strategically about how best to leverage opportunities to promote our own research accomplishments. I would invite you to read the full text of the mandate letters and think about what opportunities for your own research agendas they might afford. Finally, I would encourage you to pay attention to the upcoming federal budget that will provide more insight into this "re-set" moment and the possibilities for post-secondary researchers.