The controversy continued to simmer yesterday, just as Genome Canada's board of directors issued a list of "key messages" that expressed overwhelming support for the budget. "Genome Canada is pleased with the federal government's 2009 budget in which millions will be invested in research infrastructure over the next two years," read the statement. "This is good news for the scientific community across the country."


While Genome Canada received no new funding in the 2009 budget, the board said it already has a pair of five-year funding arrangements in place with the federal government worth a total of $240-million and will be able to meet all its current funding obligations.


The organization has received $840-million in federal funding since its inception in 2000. Genome Canada received no mention in the Conservatives' first budget in 2006, but was given $100-million in new funding in 2007 and an additional $140-million last year.


No representative of Genome Canada was available yesterday to explain the group's apparent change in position on the budget, a spokeswoman said. Gary Goodyear, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, said the controversy stemmed from a "misunderstanding between a president and his board."