I would be glad to. Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members, for the invitation to speak with you today about Industry Canada's 2013-14 supplementary estimates (B). I'll make some very brief opening remarks and then I will turn it over to David Enns to take you through the supplementary estimates in a little more detail.
As you know, Industry Canada's mandate is to help make Canadian industry more productive and competitive in the global economy, which in turn improves the economic and social well-being of Canadians. Our supplementary estimates requests are being made in support of this mandate.
The estimates we are here to review today show an increase of $101.6 million to Industry Canada's authorities, approximately half of which is to deliver on budget 2012 and budget 2013 commitments.
I will explain where the increases fit into our high-level objectives as a department, and then David Enns will cover the individual items.
At Industry Canada, we have three strategic objectives for implementing our mandate.
The first is to ensure that Industry Canada's framework policies, on things like foreign investment, intellectual property and competition, among others, are modern and efficient. This creates marketplace conditions for economic growth, protects consumers and helps businesses respond to market changes.
To support this objective, Industry Canada is requesting access to royalties collected from intellectual property arising from research work at the Communications Research Centre and from the Industry Canada-owned corporate name search system at Corporations Canada.
Our second strategic objective is to promote innovation in Canada. This is accomplished by investing in innovative R and D projects, by supporting research, education, and innovation in post-secondary institutions, and by fostering collaboration among research institutes, universities, colleges, and the private sector.
To support this objective, Industry Canada is submitting three items. The first two are to deliver on budget commitments to continue to support R and D in the automotive industry through the automotive innovation fund, to attract international students to come to Canada for research institutes and graduate fellowships, as well as to support Canadian students pursuing short-term research opportunities abroad through the Mitacs Globalink program. Third is an item to accelerate funding that was slated for 2014-15 for the Bombardier CSeries R and D project, which will be completed this month.
Finally, the third strategic objective for Industry Canada is to strengthen the competitiveness of businesses and communities by supporting key sectors and industries, ranging from advanced manufacturing to tourism. To this end, Industry Canada is requesting funding to provide loans and support to young entrepreneurs through the Canadian Youth Business Foundation and to support initiatives under the government's youth employment strategy.
I'll conclude my remarks simply by thanking you for inviting us today and I'll turn it over to David Enns.