NRC makes adjustments to reduce deficit

The National Research Council (NRC) has instituted a wide range of cuts that will reduce the agency's deficit from $65 million to slightly under $10 million. The across-the-board reductions which will take place over a two-year period have already been implemented and apply largely to support services.

The deficit reduction strategy — part of the standard budgetary process — was initiated under Dr Pierre Coulombe in mid-February and concluded by senior management following his February 15th departure. Expenditures central to NRC's mandate were protected with the focus on items that could be postponed for a one- or two-year period.

While few details are available, RE$EARCH MONEY has learned that the cuts do not involve personnel and are more of a belt-tightening nature, impacting items like laboratory consumables and++ travel.

"Those adjustments are made. They're in the budget now," says John McDougall, who assumed the NRC presidency April 19th. "The support services people have been more generous in coming up with (with the adjustments) than the technical services side which is probably a good thing."