Good day, Chair, committee members.
I will be making my presentation in English; however, I would be delighted to answer questions in French, should there be any.
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, on behalf of Genome Canada, I'm pleased to participate in this consultation process leading to the 2012 federal budget.
Recognizing the central role that genomics will play in Canada's future, the federal government supported the establishment of Genome Canada a decade ago to foster this comparatively young science. In our first 10 years of existence, three key foundational activities were accomplished.
Genome Canada and six regional genome centres were formed to induce and support genomics research activities across the country in sectors of strategic importance to Canada. A national strategy was developed that aimed at fostering genomics developments in terms of scientific output, infrastructure support, and research talent. In funding research, we incorporated considerations of ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social challenges as a means of improving the likelihood that scientific discovery would lead to real world benefit.
We've delivered a real return on investment, leveraging the $915 million received from the Government of Canada into $2 billion in research through co-funding agreements with international partners, the private sector, universities, and, very importantly, provincial governments.
Five world-class science and technology innovation centres have been created in Canada to build an advanced, highly sophisticated technological foundation for Canadian researchers, companies, and others to support genomics initiatives across the country. Genome Canada has established a unique, effective operating model that combines national leadership with the ability to respond to regional needs and priorities.
More than 150 large-scale research projects--these are about $10 million each--have been undertaken and are fuelling the development of Canada's bio-economy. We've developed a cross-sectoral approach to create the multidisciplinary expertise needed to address complex challenges that impact Canadians directly. This approach touches upon most key sectors that are critical to future Canadian growth and prosperity: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, the environment, energy, mining, and human health.
More than 20 private sector companies have resulted from our research investment. Our strong focus on commercialization has led to more than 350 patent applications and patent awards, as well as 24 commercial licence agreements. More than 10,000 highly skilled personnel have been trained in genomics throughout this period.
There are a lot of examples. Some are listed in my sheet. In human health, in the areas of cancer, diabetes, and autism, the approach is helping patients but also helping to improve the economics of our health care system.
In forestry, genomics is helping to choose trees to plant: which tree do you plant after 14 million hectares of forest have been destroyed by the mountain pine beetle? Genomics is there.
In mining, energy, and the environment, microbial communities are being looked at through genomics in terms of helping to get new remediation technologies up and running. The sequencing of the salmon genome will provide improved management of wild fish stocks and enhanced brood stock development for the aquaculture industry.
Over the last 10 years, we have been very successful regarding any benchmark study, and in order to fully capitalize on the promise of genomics and keep pace with the rapid rate of evolution and the impact of this young science, we've set ourselves new objectives for the next five years: investing in large-scale science and technology to fuel innovation; connecting ideas and people across the public and private sectors to find new uses and applications for genomics; and translating discoveries into applications that create valuable products and services delivering direct benefits to Canadians.
Mr. Chairman, to continue the process of generating discoveries and accelerating their translation into direct benefits, we're requesting stable, multi-year funding of $500 million over five years--$100 million per year. We intend to multiply that funding substantially so that a net investment of approximately $1.5 billion--so that's three to one--will be made in Canada in genomics. We will do so in recognition of the central role of genomics in our economic and social future and the expectation that we're on the cusp of significant and dramatic change.
The economic and social benefits that we're reporting to you here today are only the earliest indicators of the net benefit to come. We do understand the fiscal challenges facing the Government of Canada at this time, but we believe this needs to be balanced with the innovative agenda, which will drive the economy that Canada needs to set its new priorities.
Stable multi-year funding will optimize Canada's chances of playing a major role in the future bio-economy; according to the OECD, this will be worth nearly 3% of global GDP by 2030. Canada, given its footprint, should be expecting a larger percentage of that pie.
Genome Canada has aligned itself with the objective of the federal government's Advantage Canada initiative and has become an integral part of the innovation agenda, bringing return on investment to all citizens of Canada over the past ten years, and continuing partnership with the Canadian government in sharing goals and objectives of job creation and economic development. Our next ten years will provide even greater ROI to Canada.
Mr. Chairman, Canada's genomics enterprise has just begun the process of expanding Canada's innovative capacities. We ask for your support in realizing this promise.
Thank you very much.