Thank you, Mr. Chair, and my thanks to you and your colleagues, Minister, for taking the time to join us today and to answer our questions.
I'd like to begin with a brief discussion about the National Research Council. Economic action plans 2012 and 2013 both expressed significant investments in the refocusing of the NRC, to the extent that in 2012 the investment was some $67 million. In 2013 it was another $121 million over two years. The focus clearly is to help the growth and innovation of businesses in Canada.
Understanding that the NRC is a vital part of Canadian research, can you explain to the committee what is happening with the refocusing of this vital organization, and what it means to overall research in Canada?