Industry Committee on Dec. 7th, 2011

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Incorrect—

[Guy Caron, NDP, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

So explain to me why we should be apologizing to the Perimeter Institute: we have always recognized and will continue to recognize that it does great work.

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

You should apologize. Your member was wrong. You should apologize to the Comptroller General. You should accept the fact that when you're pointed out to be wrong, you should stand down, stand in your place, and apologize, as would your previous members of Parliament have done when they knew they were wrong. You have just cited where you got your information. I'm telling you that information is incorrect, and you will still leave the website up. I'd say that's discouraging.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It looks like we're clear, so we'll move on to—

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I think we're good here.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

You're good?

Mr. Richardson.

[Lee Richardson, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I just want to know, in terms of the commercialization of any research developed, is there any tie to government funding—either us or Ontario—that you're aware of?

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

I'm sorry, is there any funding for commercialization of research in Ontario...?

[Lee Richardson, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

No. Presuming this great research is at some point commercialized, and it sounds like you're going to reinvent the wheel and make some money, do we as a government get any return on our investment?

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Right now the funding that goes to the Perimeter Institute is in a grant form. There are other opportunities whereby the government can do contribution agreements, refundable loans, if you will, refundable contributions, but not in this particular case for this particular amount of money.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you very much, Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Richardson.

The bells have rung, so we will adjourn.