Evidence of meeting #17 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was innovation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
No, just generally. Would it be fair to say universities—
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Conservative
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President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Mainly universities. In the health sector, it's slightly different: 80% of it is actually in hospitals, but hospitals that are affiliated with universities.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Universities, primarily with their partnerships.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
When you consider the research and development investment by the government, did you consider as well the $2 billion over two years of the knowledge infrastructure program?
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President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
I was taking that into account. I'm talking about the investments, globally.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
You included that in your calculation to suggest it wasn't sufficient? My understanding is that research and development is steadily increasing.
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President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
It is steadily increasing, and that's what I'm saying.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Along with the 6% consistent increase in health care funding, and the research and development and the knowledge infrastructure program, you're very happy with what our government has done for research and development, generally, over the last four years. Is that fair?
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President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Absolutely, and we believe it's important to keep up the good work.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Absolutely. Thank you very much.
Mr. Fried, I'm so glad you mentioned life cycle in the oil business, because I'm from Fort McMurray and I watched all of these naysayers for years not talk about life cycles, and I want to talk about that a little bit.
Of course, shipping fuel is used to transport oil back and forth from third world or developed countries, and other countries—Saudi Arabia, etc. A lot of people don't consider the fact that there is a life cycle to oil, from the start to the finish. Indeed, I have seen many calculations indicate that the oil sands oil is within 1% to 3% of total life cycle oil from conventional oil sources, such as Saudi Arabia.
I'm wondering if your corporation has taken a position in relation to Venezuelan crude, which has to use shipping and is actually much more carbon intense than the oil sands oil, and also the California crude, which is also much more carbon intense. I wonder if you've taken a considered approach on those two suppliers of oil.
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Policy Coordinator, Oxfam Canada
Certainly not. We're an international development organization. Our concern is poverty, and climate change has an impact on poverty.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
You've approached Canada in relation to greenhouse gases. I specifically checked your website, and there's no mention whatsoever in relation to California crude and Venezuelan crude, which obviously are much more carbon intense than anything that we do in Canada, and frankly there are different employment obligations and different ethical considerations with their workers and the people around it.
I'm curious as to why Oxfam did something in relation to Canada and not in relation to two sources of oil that are much more carbon intense. But I'll leave that for now.
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Policy Coordinator, Oxfam Canada
We are Canadians, and we believe we have a responsibility to speak up for Canadian society—
October 19th, 2011 / 4:45 p.m.
Policy Coordinator, Oxfam Canada
We are one of the top ten emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. We have to do something about it.
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Policy Coordinator, Oxfam Canada
It's up to you. I leave it in your hands. You're the experts as to what should be done.
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Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I agree 100%, but when you say top ten, though, you mean per person, do you not?