Official Languages Committee on March 8th, 2012

[Dr. Danial Wayner]

Thank you.

That's a very general question.

If you don't mind, I'll just switch to English so I can make sure that I capture all the nuances of what I'd like to share.

In general, NRC has a role to support—

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Are you suggesting that we British Columbians miss the nuances when we speak French? Yes, of course.

[Dr. Danial Wayner]

At NRC, one of our roles, of course, is to support innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises, so we have a number of mechanisms to do that. One of them is our industrial research assistance program, which allows companies to come to NRC to provide a business case for an investment, and we have a contribution program that allows us to make a direct financial contribution to support those investments, which has to be shared with a matching contribution from the company itself. Across NRC, we have over 240 industry technology advisors who are in the field, who meet with these companies on a day-to-day basis, who support them not only with our contribution program but by providing business advice and strategic advice, helping them understand markets, and where the market growth can be not only domestically but globally. That is one mechanism that NRC has to support these companies, but the IRAP advisors in the field will also direct them to the parts of NRC that have research facilities or expertise that can support them as well.

In the context of the program that we're discussing today, if there is a software company that has potential or that has a technology for language translation, over the last 10 years we have built a world-class team.... I'll just say NRC's role in the program might be different from other programs because we are a research and technology organization. I can't stress enough how long it takes to build a team such as we have. We are very proud of what we've done over the last 10 years. We started with virtually nothing and in 10 years have built a team that has been able to develop technologies that are really, truly world class, and in some cases best in the world.

In reference to Madam Michaud's question, a significant part of our investment, of course, is in the salaries, in building these teams. Seventy per cent of our expenditures are salaries because we're a research provider and we actually have our own teams. We have an open door in order for companies to come in and discuss opportunities with us. We have programs that would allow us to build collaborative projects to help specific companies. What we expect is that we share the cost and share the risk of developing those technologies. But there are a number of ways for NRC to support these small companies, and currently one of our dreams is to have global domination of various industries, especially in the information technology sector.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much.

I think I have a point of order from Mr. Menegakis. Go ahead.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I notice there's a photographer present in the room taking pictures of the proceedings. That is not standard practice here. It's not something we approved ahead of time.

I think it raises the question of a privilege in the future, and I'm making that point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

As chair, I used my authority to allow the photographer to be here, simply to take pictures of Monsieur Aubin when he speaks during his round. But if the committee wishes to change that, I'm your servant and I'm prepared to ask the photographer to leave.

I note, though, that Monsieur Aubin has the floor right now for five minutes, and I've been assured by the photographer from La Presse that he's only going to be using pictures of Monsieur Aubin. Monsieur Aubin has consented to the use of these photographs.

If the committee is willing, we can allow the photographer to stay for another five minutes to take these pictures for an article they're working on. If not, as I said, I will follow your direction.

Mr. Bélanger, you have the floor.

Then it will be Mr. Godin's turn.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have no objection, provided you guarantee us that you will also allow it when we want to do the same.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes, of course.

If media were to come in here to take pictures of the committee generally, obviously I would seek the consent of everybody here. In this particular case, it's simply Monsieur Aubin. I sought the consent of Monsieur Aubin. He consented. I asked the photographer not to be intrusive. That's the basis on which I made my decision.

As I said, if the committee wishes to overrule me in this regard and ask the photographer to leave in advance of Monsieur Aubin's five minutes, I obviously will follow the wishes of the committee.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

Then it will be Mr. Trottier's turn.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Perhaps that could have been decided in advance. We could call it a minor error. It's normal for a photographer to follow a member since he needs to take his picture. That's been done in the past. That's the way it is in all political parties. It happens often. Personally, I once had a Radio-Canada photographer follow me for a week. He followed me into committee meetings and only took pictures. It's always been that way. To my knowledge, it hasn't been prohibited.

I just wanted to state my opinion. On another day, that could happen to one of you: a newspaper or magazine photographer might want to follow you. I know there are number of new members around this table who don't know that this has happened in the past. It is normal for citizens to see the work that politicians do; that's part of a healthy democracy. That's the brief comment I wanted to make. I'm in favour of this practice, regardless of who is subjected to it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The photographer has asked me if he will be able to take pictures once the meeting has started.

In the interest of not disrupting the proceedings of the meeting, I quietly asked Monsieur Aubin if he consented, and he did. But in the future, if I know in advance that a photographer will be here, I will seek the consent of the committee before the meeting begins.

Monsieur Trottier.

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I will be brief. Thank you for that clarification.

Furthermore, Mr. Aubin is so good-looking, I understand why someone would want to take his picture.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

We agree on that way of proceeding.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Mr. Aubin, you have the floor.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Le président, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Just a moment, please.

Yes, Mr. Menegakis.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

I respectfully request that this matter is not finished.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

I believe I had the implied consent of the committee to allow a photographer from Le Presse to take the photos.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

I don't feel comfortable with a photographer being behind me.

If Mr. Aubin would like pictures, he can have them before the meeting starts or after the meeting ends. He can pose for the pictures. I have no problem with that.

I think it sets a dangerous precedent. I don't like it. Therefore, I'm asking that we vote on this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

Yes, Monsieur Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I would like to make a comment. This doesn't set a precedent because it has always been this way.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay. All those in favour of allowing the photographer to take photographs of Monsieur Aubin?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The photographer will remain and may take photographs.

Monsieur Aubin, you have the floor.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

First of all, on this March 8, I hope you will allow me to express the hope that one day we will stop celebrating this day because we will have achieved equality in society. I would also like to note, incidentally, that my party has taken some real action in that direction. I believe this is really the way to go, but, in the meantime, I tip my hat to all those who, day after day, make an effort to achieve equality in our society. Thank you. That's all for March 8.

I thought it particularly interesting to hear about translation machines. This may be a new form of robot. In preparing for this meeting, I went onto the web, particularly the National Research Council site, where I found a paragraph that gave me a bit of a start and on which I would like to hear your comments. It was under the heading of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre. It read as follows:

Due to the highly technical and dynamic nature of the content, expectations of adherence to Government of Canada Common Look and Feel and Official Language requirements may not be met.

Can someone explain to me why? Is it difficult to talk about science or astronomy in French? If we can develop specialized robots in medicine or legal affairs, can we imagine that it might be possible to create one that can process scientific data?