Industry Committee on Dec. 7th, 2017

[Jim Eglinski, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I'm sure that I had 15 seconds left.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

I'm sure that Mr. Bernier can share that time with you.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the floor. Is that...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Quickly.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

There are 12 of 15 seats on the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council that are vacant. There are also 80% of the seats on NSERC, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, that are vacant. Has the minister reached out for your advice on the appointments for these positions?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Not yet. There has been reach out for other things, but I've been here for barely three months, as you know. Between getting started and responding to things, I'm sure they'll reach out if they need to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Thank you.

Mr. Baylis, you have five minutes.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Chair, I'm going to share my speaking time with Mr. Fragiskatos.

In your statement, Ms. Nemer, you touched on a very important point when you said it is essential to support discovery-focused research. You even mentioned a few areas in which Canada is particularly strong, such as research on the Arctic, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and artificial intelligence.

Could you develop your thoughts on this? How do you intend to use this lead Canada has to promote research, particularly in the areas you mentioned?

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Canada is strong in certain areas because it invested over several years, not only in discovery, but also in developing talent. Platforms like Google and Facebook are interested in coming to settle in Montreal or Toronto because they know talents are being developed in Canadian universities and colleges that can meet their needs.

You asked me how to make the best of our lead. Well, we can develop a strategy that includes research, enterprises and the development of talent. The development of technology has very important repercussions on legislation. There are very important societal aspects to consider. There have to be round tables and national consultations that will call on all sectors to consider these different aspects.

For instance, we are developing a strategy on the Arctic, as you know. We have begun to put in place a strategy on artificial intelligence. We have to work on each area in turn, and do what is necessary.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Excellent.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Thank you very much.

I think it's wonderful to have you here today. The government is very fortunate and, dare I say, Canadians are very fortunate to have you in this role.

Dr. Nemer, I wanted to ask you about the importance of basic research, but I want to do so by asking you your thoughts on how exactly the Canadian population can be galvanized to support basic research and investment in basic research. For me, I think it's communicating the issue in economic terms. When we think about the essentials that people rely on these days in the modern economy, we can't help but talk about the smart phone or the automobile. The smart phone and the technologies used in it, as you well know, are the result of what started as basic, curiosity-driven research. When it comes to cars, air deployment sensors, shatter-proof windshields, and extended-life tires are all the end result of basic research.

If the matter is framed in that way and if a link is tied between basic research and economic development and growth, I wonder if there's something to be said about that kind of an approach when it comes to communicating to the public about the importance of basic research investment.

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

Thank you very much for the question. It is really critical. We talk about literacy for numbers, and I talk about literacy for science. Literacy for science is really an appreciation of what's behind what you're eating, and what's behind the decisions you're making when you buy a car or a refrigerator with a sticker about energy saving. As to explaining basic research in terms of its impact, I mean clearly we can talk about what physics has given us in terms of the MRI, in terms of diagnostics, in terms of a lot of things that people have had experience with, and I think the public would understand this.

I think what happens often with basic research is the time frame. Are we patient enough to wait for 20 years to see the impact, or for 10 years? This is why a continuous pipeline is really important, because by the time something is ripe for application and we're going to see the benefit, well, we're working on something else that will also be feeding this pipeline and this continuous improvement.

I can tell you that in my own research I've been really fortunate, because in my own lifetime my research has led to applications. This doesn't always happen, but when it happens it's great, right? I don't think I've ever met a researcher who's not eager to have his or her research applied to the benefit of humanity—be it in terms of the technology, best practices, social innovations, or what have you.

The one thing that we always also neglect to talk about is the training. When I started my career, I didn't know that I was going to make any groundbreaking discoveries. I was sure hoping for it. What I was certain would happen is that I would train great people who would be leaders and who might themselves make discoveries. I think this is something that, as a country and as a society, we need to be reminded of constantly: it's not necessarily us or the scientists, but it's the ones they are training, the next generation that is being trained with the basic science, as I mentioned.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Canadians appreciate science, but it's important that they appreciate it even more. So thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Thank you very much.

We're on a tight timetable and it's going to get even tighter.

Mr. Bernier.

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Nemer, I want to sincerely congratulate you on having accepted this position. As a member of the opposition and critic, it is very rare that I congratulate the government on anything, but I am going to do so in this case. I read your biography, and like all of my colleagues, I believe you are a very good choice. I have no questions, but I want to congratulate you and wish you all the best in your new duties.

With that said, I would like to move a motion that you have in front of you for a vote for the committee. The motion reads as follows:

That the Committee review the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Investment Canada Act (ICA); and that the Committee invite relevant stakeholders to appear before the end of 2017 in order to...

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Mr. Bernier, I want to make sure everybody gets their copies.

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Hang in there.

[Dr. Mona Nemer]

I don't want to be out of order, but while the paper is being distributed, I just want to say this.

Mr. Bernier, I am very happy to see you again. You may not remember me, but I remember you very well. You were the first minister with whom I made an announcement when I arrived at the University of Ottawa in 2007. I am very happy to see you again, and I thank you for your kind words.

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you.

I feel old.

I will reread the motion: That the Committee review the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Investment Canada Act (ICA); and that the Committee invite relevant stakeholders to appear before the end of 2017 in order to provide members with information about the impact on pensioners of companies involved in bankruptcy proceedings such as Sears Canada and U.S. Steel.

What I'm asking of the committee is to vote on that motion. Merci.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Go ahead, Mr. Longfield.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Let the record show that my hands went to my head. I would love to discuss this motion, but I really want to discuss with Dr. Nemer the work she's doing. I think we need time to discuss this motion rather than vote on it. I'd like to find some time in our schedule to discuss the motion. I just can't see us doing it today in the three minutes that we have left in Mr. Bernier's time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

Mr. Baylis and then Mr. Jeneroux.

[Frank Baylis, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I move that we adjourn the debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Dan Ruimy]

We are voting on the motion to adjourn the debate.

(Motion agreed to)