Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thanks also goes to my fellow committee members for wanting to continue this work on universities. As I see it, support for research is important.
Today is August 14. Mr. Martel, the university's current rector, will clearly remember what this day represents.
My father was the registrar at the Université du Québec 10 years ago. On that August 14, I was at the cottage, finishing up construction on the tree house he had started for his grandkids.
The day before, August 13, the Université du Québec had honoured him. I mention the date of that anniversary, Mr. Martel, to highlight the work that you, yourself, and Johanne Jean, the current head of the Université du Québec system, do. Those are still vivid memories for me.
My first question is obviously for the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, or UQAT, official. I'm very proud to be able to discuss these issues in a setting like this.
What role does a university play in a region, specifically, Abitibi-Témiscamingue?