Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, witnesses, for attending today.
I'm very interested in talking a little more about SR and ED.
I have done some research online and I have actually come across some people who indicate that they are experts at SR and ED. R&D Partners, for instance, say that they have a reputation and track record as a leading Canadian independent R and D tax adviser that has been in business for over 10 years, has successfully filed over 1,000 projects and $100 million in R and D tax credits, has a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the current R and D tax rulings, and an excellent relationship with federal and provincial tax authorities across Canada.
Are you individuals familiar with this particular company, R&D Partners? It's on the web. It's one of the first three hits that come up. I just wondered. They seem to indicate that they have an excellent track record. They have successfully filed over 1,000 projects and $100 million in R and D tax credits. It seems to me that there are experts out there who seem to know what they're doing, and I am not one of those people.
I want to confirm my understanding of the changes to the SR and ED program. The total pot of money is going to remain the same. In fact, my further understanding is that some of your groups have lobbied for more direct funding before and fewer SR and ED credits. Is that fair to say, Mr. Lavoie, that there's more money going to direct funding? My understanding is that any savings from the SR and ED program will not go back into general revenues. They're going to be used to directly fund initiatives that SR and ED would have gone for. Is that fair to say? The money is not being reduced.