Industry Committee on March 18th, 2010

[Richard Dicerni]

I will look into it and get back to you on that.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Let's talk about funding for the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences. We know this is a very sensitive subject for the Conservative government, which still doesn't believe in climate change. There are significant reductions. Do you think this has been redirected elsewhere? Really, that will have a negative impact on this sector of the economy and research. I know that you can't get involved in politics.

To the Conservative government, its concern being sovereignty in northern Canada, it's good for shipping and exploration. Probably the less climate research done, the better the chance that it will warm up and we can get through the ice to exploit the resources. I would not say it is a big diabolical plan, but still it is surprising that programs like this would be abandoned. Probably people in your department are advising the government on the research grants plan. I know grants are still being given to other sectors.

Was climate a priority for you when you were preparing important suggestions?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Cardin.

Briefly, Mr. Dicerni.

[Richard Dicerni]

If you look at the Department of Industry documents, you can see that we are involved in a number of issues and programs. It keeps us very busy. The particular case you raise comes under the Department of the Environment and is not under our authority. I already have enough work with what I am responsible for and I would not venture to comment on another department.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

We will move on to Mr. Garneau for a final question.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My first question will be very brief. Last year, the budget cut $148 million over three years from the three research councils. Has that money been restored?

[Richard Dicerni]

No.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

So the announcement of a modest increase this year is not in addition to restoring that $148 million.

[Richard Dicerni]

I would add that if you look at all the budgets for the funded councils, you will see that there are several other components that have been added to the councils' programming. I would also stress that for the $50 million you are referring to, there were no cuts to what is called "fundamental research". It was other activities that were eliminated.

However, there have been additions in various other areas, so the total of the budgets allocated to the funded councils is higher.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Thank you.

I have a second question.

I'll ask this one in English. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business assesses the impact of the resumption of EI premium increases beginning next year over four years. They have estimated that as many as 200,000 jobs might be lost by reintroducing these hikes beginning next year. Do you have any interpretation or analysis of their figure of this potential loss of 200,000 jobs when EI premiums begin to increase again next year?

[Richard Dicerni]

We have taken note of this study.

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Have you gone beyond taking note of it?

[Richard Dicerni]

We are pursuing our study of the study.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Okay, so I take it from your answer there that there has been no analysis done yet within Industry Canada.

My third question--this is going faster than I thought--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Marc Garneau, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

--is on the rural broadband strategy. I believe there was $225 million allotted last year. I've heard the government talk about $200 million in the last couple of days, but I think it was $225 million and I don't want to quibble about that. I understand only about $20 million has gone out the door so far and that it's been associated with studying and getting ready to allot actual money to build towers and run cable and things like that. When that $225 million is spent to provide additional rural broadband infrastructure, and when that's deployed, what is your estimate of how much will still be missing in terms of rural broadband across our large country? How much money would it take to do it 100%?

[Richard Dicerni]

It's always that last quarter of a mile that becomes quite expensive. We are looking at a variety of techniques, obviously including satellites. We're looking at what the provinces are doing. A lot of provinces are moving ahead to complete broadband coverage.

The private sector continues to invest in certain areas. I agree with the member of Parliament, Ms. Ashton, who said that some spaces are never going to be totally rentables, from a business perspective.

We've had the privilege of appearing before your committee regularly. The next time we come back we'll have a much better sense of how much the investment that is going to be made this time will cover and how much will be left. At this point today, I can't give you a number, because that depends on the negotiations we're going to have with the potential proponents.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Dicerni.

We now have eight votes on the Supplementary Estimates. Committee members have three options on each vote. You can agree to a vote, reject it or reduce it.

We will now proceed with these eight votes.

We have eight votes, and we'll begin with vote 5c under ACOA.

ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Vote 5c--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions..........$1

(Vote 5c agreed to)

The second vote is vote 10c under ACOA.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation

Vote 10c--Payments to the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation pursuant to the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation Act..........$1,465,000

(Vote 10c agreed to)

We now have the votes under Industry.

INDUSTRY

Department of Industry

Vote 1c--Operating expenditures..........$1

Vote 5c--Capital expenditures..........$1

Canadian Space Agency

Vote 35c--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions..........$1

National Research Council of Canada

Vote 50c--Operating expenditures..........$1

Vote 60c--The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions..........$1

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Vote 70c--The grants listed in the Estimates..........$1

(Votes 1c to 70c inclusive agreed to)

Shall the chair report the supplementary estimates (C) to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay, all the votes have been adopted and the chair will report them back to the House. Thank you very much for coming today.

Just a final note for members of the committee. The clerk has distributed the draft report on the Canada Business Corporations Act. I ask that you take a look at it in advance of Tuesday's committee. Also, please keep in mind that it's a confidential report and it's a breach of privilege to divulge that information ahead of its tabling in the House.

We'll see you next Tuesday. This meeting is adjourned.