Mr. Patry, I really liked your remark on basic research as it compares to innovation. You said that we should not make too strict a distinction. In fact, that would be very reductive. Nevertheless, in general, there has been a levelling off of federal spending on research and development.
I'd like to go back to comments made by the senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, Mr. Tiff Macklem, when he addressed the Economic Club in Toronto, in October. He talked about very grave concerns regarding the dramatic reality that some Canadian exporters eventually go bankrupt or turn to the domestic market. In fact, there are 20% fewer exporters. I would venture to say that there is a link between that and our shortcomings in innovation. Would you make that kind of connection?