Evidence of meeting #6 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was funding.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ted Hewitt  President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Dominique Bérubé  Vice-President, Research Programs, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

You're giving the rest of your time to Mr. Baylis.

Mr. Baylis, you have a minute and a half.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

In your opening statements you talked about looking to what drives innovation and change in people. Then you gave an example. You spoke about the pipeline where we might have legal licence but not social licence.

Can you expand on that, please?

4:20 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

I think we see this quite a bit in extractive industries, but not exclusively. The ones I know best are the ones where I've had the most discussions, and they include FPAC, the Forestry Products Association of Canada; and on the other side of the equation, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

I think the issue is not so much, as you say.... I use pipelines as an example, but—

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC

That's a fine example.

4:20 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

I don't necessarily want to dwell on the pipeline issue.

If you're looking to extract resources in an area, for example, and it makes sense for the community and it makes sense for the company, and it's for the benefit of Canada, not everybody always agrees all the time with respect to how that should occur.

I think our aboriginal communities are good examples. We have lots of instances where companies have been prevented from operating on reserve territory or otherwise because they simply do not have the permission of the community to do so, and where the negotiations between the resource company and the community break down quite easily.

We see our role as providing that understanding that may help build the bridge between companies, or the government itself in terms of policy, and the communities that would resist that for whatever good reason they would have.

The the point is that we're not talking about legal issues. We're talking about intangibles, in a sense, that reflect or are derived from community sentiment or beliefs that may in some cases not even be valid. It's the kind of research we would do, and certainly people from the more technical side in the scientific or engineering areas could help allay those concerns, or in fact lead to whatever outcome would be best for the company and the people involved.

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

Thank you very much.

Mr. Nuttall, you have five minutes.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

I love how much you like introducing me.

Mr. Chair, I have a couple of questions through you to the agency today.

This year, with the federal budget coming up, I would like to know how much of an increase you requested in your budget this year?

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

Based upon our estimates, about $100 million over the four years. We were suggesting that we would ramp up with $25 million in the first year, and then work towards a $100-million increase overall.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

What percentage increase is that for you on your current budget?

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

I think that's about 7% for this year.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

And then a reduced percentage thereafter....

March 10th, 2016 / 4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

I think the total would be maybe a little bit more than 25.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

Around that. That's fine.

It says that for every dollar of funding, you get about 80¢ return on top of that, so anther 80¢ is contributed through outside resources.

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

Does that include volunteer work, i.e., work that is not paid for?

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

It includes both cash and in-kind contributions.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

What's the breakdown?

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

I would like to check, but I would suggest it's probably about 70:30 in-kind contributions and 30% cash.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

That's interesting. Okay.

4:25 p.m.

President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Dr. Ted Hewitt

That would include in the case of, say, a private sector partner, the contribution of individuals who would be assigned to a project and work on behalf of a project by that company or community organization. We consider that a valid contribution. I don't want to be unclear about that.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

Thank you for answering the question.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here today and for their time and the work they're doing here for their country.

It's important that we remember why we're here in Parliament: to serve the Canadian people. To me, as I've said before, that means being open, transparent, and accountable. It means that committees must take the time to study important issues of the day, that we must hear from stakeholders and issue reports for the benefit of the public and guide the government. It's important that we're able to carry out our role as parliamentarians to provide oversight to the executive branch of government. That's why it was disappointing when we had the Liberal members of this committee vote against inviting Bombardier executives to come to speak with this committee to lay out their case—

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

Excuse me one moment, please.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

—for why they are asking—

I have the floor, Mr. Chair.

—for help from the taxpayers of Canada and to study—

4:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy

You're speaking to a motion that has been turned down, Mr. Nuttall.

4:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON

I'm not speaking to a motion. I'm giving you a preamble.

—as a committee, what we can and can't recommend for the government in regard to which actions, if any, they should take.

We know we can't bind the government here in committee, but we certainly as parliamentarians are bestowed by the people of Canada with a responsibility to offer guidance to the government. To that end, I hope that we go through the consultative process—