Thank you, Mr. Chair.
And I thank the witnesses for coming.
What we've been hearing quite a few times, as we've embarked on this study, is that there's a shortage of long-term vision and long-term planning and strategizing for our industries to grow and prosper in technology and innovation. You see, not just with agriculture but any industries that have done well in the world, that government has played a key role. When you see in Israel all the technology that they're coming out with, or Germany, or wherever, and that it starts in schools or at very young ages and that it goes all the way through, you understand that this environment has to be there.
It's very disturbing to see that we spend a lot of time and have our brightest and best leaving us to go to other countries where they see that their skills can be used. They probably see that there is some commitment there. That said, if we as government at present are funding innovation and technology in an ad hoc way without really working with the industries and looking at the bigger picture, we'll keep falling behind.
Let's compare some of these other countries. What are they doing better than we are to foster better scientists, better research, better synergy between all stakeholders? How can we change what we're doing here? Is it that we should be working better with the provinces and other stakeholders within the government circles?
I'll start off with you, Mr. Hall.