If we cut research, then we can also cut innovation and the high knowledge-level style of jobs we need. In fact, I love being in Ottawa, because when I look around I believe that short of downtown U of T, the highest proportion of Ph.D.s and master's students in the country are on Parliament Hill. We need them for policy making, we need them in health, and we need them in science and engineering. We aren't anywhere near where we need to be. And the Conference Board...I love “strikingly low”. It kind of hits you there. So how are we going to get there? And if the baby boomers retire, who is going to replace them?
On September 15th, 2009. See this statement in context.