Finance committee  Is it a question of whether intellectual property is a barrier to bringing the people in?

Finance committee  I haven't heard that directly from researchers at McGill in Quebec, but we do hear it from businesses. We hear from other international partners that they would like to see a stronger IP framework. Within the pharmaceutical industry, I'm sure you know, that's something they talk about.

Finance committee  I probably could send you something—it probably would take longer—in terms of the kinds of programs and comprehensive improvements. Certainly the licensing and training for professionals really have to be much more open and flexible. In some professions—I'm more familiar with medicine—we've done some of that, but there's a lot more to do in terms of evaluating external training in a reasonable amount of time and assisting immigrants with the complexities and the bureaucracy.

Finance committee  In terms of the amount of funding that we as a country invest in basic research, we score quite well. I think you know that. In terms of funding and performance down the pipeline in research and development, we score not as well. That's why there's a plea for the increased funding for partnerships, for international collaborations, where we don't score as well as other countries.

Finance committee  Well, I think we have been moving in the right direction, but I actually think that in 2013, with the $37 million reduction without any reinvestment to compensate for it, we're actually going in the other direction. There are countries that are doing that, but I think it's not the wise thing to do.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. I think the federal government has several places to make an impact. One of them, I think, that's fairly obvious is where there has been progress but indeed there could be more. That's in terms of alleviating the barriers to immigration and to licensing for professionals.

Finance committee  In closing, we ask the committee to consider renewed and growing support for direct and indirect costs of research through the federal granting agencies; continued support for CFI, and additional mechanisms for funding knowledge infrastructure, such as another round of the knowledge infrastructure program; and funding for international partnerships through support for student and faculty mobility, seed funding for collaborations, and funding for multinational initiatives.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the standing committee for the opportunity to present to you. My name is Rosie Goldstein. I'm the vice-principal for research and international relations at McGill University. Canada's universities are strong contributors to the science, technology, and innovation agenda of our country.