Thanks to all the witnesses for coming today.
I have two questions on which I want to get comments from all of you.
One of the reasons we hear that we need patent term extensions, from a government perspective, is that we'll get more research and development out of the companies, more investments, essentially, in that area.
We had extended patents in the past. In the Mulroney government, we had quite an extension of patents, but our business enterprise investment, BERD, has been dropping. It's been pointed out in numerous reports that one of the biggest problems we have in innovation in Canada is the lack of investment by private companies in the R and D field. It does seem to be asking for more patents. Longer patent life may not accomplish the promise of increased research and development funding from the business sector.
I'm wondering if you can comment on that. Am I totally off base, or do you have something you can suggest?