Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for your presentations.
As the chair indicated at the outset, we had a very productive week focusing in on biotechnologies. We visited a number of university research centres. I must say that producers themselves are saying the same thing with regard to the importance of research investment.
Mr. Van Tassel, your association was probably among the first to have informed us of the fact that Canada's investment in research is far lower than what it used to be. You also showed us how important it is to ensure the sustainability of the agriculture and agro-food sector, and that we need to raise today's level of investment. These are things we have been hearing.
Furthermore—and this is of particular concern to me—we have been told that the government is currently investing in university research, but has changed its priorities. As a result, the food sector is no longer a priority as it used to be. That really is quite concerning. We will try to remedy the situation by exerting the necessary pressure. I am convinced that you will do likewise.
In your brief, Mr. Van Tassel, you refer to private investment as opposed to public investment. You state that the private sector must continue to invest. However, the industry cannot depend solely on the private sector. You make an interesting comment: “ [...] the long-term objectives vary with the sources that fund the research.”
In fact, as we heard during our trip across Canada last week, private sector firms will often place orders and award contracts to researchers. Whereas their interests are often in the short- to medium-term, we also have to allow researchers to work on things that are not immediately marketable. They need to do basic research, which does not necessarily yield instant results.
I would like to hear you talk about the importance for us, as ordinary citizens, of ensuring that our tax dollars help fund that research.