Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Poirier, federal government published the Bouchard report, but Quebec also had its Bouchard report, whose authors are the eminent Guy Rocher and sociologist Jacques Bouchard. In that report, published in 2021, they recognized CEGEPs as key institutions that support Quebec and its objectives regarding access to education, regional development, technical training and adaptation to modern challenges.
That conclusion is very important. In your remarks, you mentioned some eloquent figures and pointed out the relevance of CEGEPs throughout Quebec. You said that the federal government allocates just over 2% of the budget to CEGEPs, colleges and polytechnics. If I give 2% of my budget to something, that means I don't give much to it.
I'd like to hear what you have to say about that. Would you go so far as to recommend that a minimum of 10% of the funding for higher education research be allocated to the college sector, mainly for the purpose of conducting applied research, and that this funding be sustainable and predictable?
I'd like to hear your opinion on the importance of that support.