The emergence of a research university model in Canada has increased significantly over the past few decades. From institutions that focused primarily on education, universities are striving to become large, research-focused centres. These changes have brought increased prestige to universities, greater graduate education, and more funding options. However, with increased research intensity come potentially detrimental effects on undergraduate education, added stress on faculty, and significantly-increased facility costs. In Ontario, differentiation of higher education is becoming limited, impacting student access. This paper examines the literature to understand the positive and negative impacts of Canadian universities' expanded focus on research and development.