About SR&ED

Canada’s Scientific Research & Experimental Development Program (“SR&ED”) was introduced in 1985 by the Progressive Conservative Government of the day. Then finance minister – the Honourable Michael Wilson – brought it in as a replacement for the failed (and seriously flawed) SRTC program.

Initially the definition of SR&ED was found in the Regulations to the Income Tax Act (Reg. 2900). In February of 1995, it was included in the definitions section (Subsection 248(1)) of the Income Tax Act, where it is ostensibly more ‘permanent’.