That would be fine. Thank you.
Bonjour, Mr. Chair and committee members.
As you mentioned, Mr. Chair, I'm David Enns. I'm the chief financial officer and the assistant deputy minister of the corporate management sector at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. You've already introduced my colleagues, so I won't do that again.
We're pleased to be here with you this afternoon to provide you with an overview of the department's supplementary estimates (A)s for 2016-17.
Through these supplementary estimates, the department is requesting $604.1 million. The majority of that funding was announced in budget 2016. The majority of it was for infrastructure investments, which I'll speak to in a moment. The remaining portion of our supplementary (A) request is for a number of items to support research, as well as our department's new responsibilities for Sustainable Development Technology Canada.
To begin with infrastructure, then, the largest single item being requested through the supplementary estimates is $500 million under the post-secondary institutions strategic investment fund program. This program will provide up to $2 billion over the next three years to accelerate infrastructure projects at universities to enhance and modernize research and commercialization facilities, as well as industry-relevant training facilities at colleges and polytechnic institutions. The program has already been launched—in late March, shortly after the budget announcement—and project decisions are expected this month.
The department is also requesting $9.6 million in 2016-17, out of a total of $15.2 million over two years announced in budget 2016, to maintain and upgrade federal laboratories and other federal assets at our Communications Research Centre, known as the CRC. The funding will be used for seven projects, but there are two main ones. The bulk of the funding, $4 million, will be used
this year to refurbish one of the centre's existing buildings into a modern, collaborative and innovative office space, in support of the CRC's research mandate. Then, $3.5 million will be spent this year to centralize all of the CRC's existing lab spaces.
The last infrastructure item included in the supplementary (A)s is $2.6 million, out of a total of $5.2 million over two years announced in the budget, for the federal economic development organization for northern Ontario, known as FedNor, to support community infrastructure projects for the celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary.
In support of research, the department is also requesting $24.9 million for two Mitacs programs: the Accelerate program for industrial research internships for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and the Globalink program for the delivery of international internships and fellowships.
Of that amount, $7 million is actually a transfer from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council related to a budget 2015 commitment to consolidate federal support for industrial research internships for postgraduate students under a single contribution administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
The department is also requesting $6 million, out of a total of $12 million over two years, to support Stem Cell Network's research, training, and outreach activities and to strengthen Canada's international leadership in stem cell research, as set out in budget 2016.
One of the final items that I will highlight here comes from the realignment of responsibilities for Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Effective November 4, 2015, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development was designated the minister for the purpose of the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology Act. That's the legislation that governs Sustainable Development Technology Canada. As such, $57.8 million is being transferred to our department this year from the two departments that previously managed the program, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
Finally, the department is requesting $2.5 million to increase the analytical capacity needed to support the defence procurement strategy and $1 million to expand the computers for school program, both announced in last year's budget.
That concludes my introductory remarks. My colleagues and I would be pleased to answer any questions you have.
Thank you.