Science and Research Committee on Oct. 31st, 2022

[Chad Collins, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thank you.

Very quickly, then, Professor El Zaïm, we've heard from multiple witnesses that all stakeholders need to play a role in encouraging and increasing the number of French research publications in Canada.

In your recommendations to us, in your opening statement, you mentioned, quite clearly, what you expect from the federal government. What role do post-secondary institutions in the province play in the recommendations you provided to us earlier this evening?

I'll take that in written form, if I could, Madam Chair, because I think I'm out of time at this point.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you so much, Mr. Collins. Yes, you're out of time and we'll have that answer, if we may, in writing.

Thanks so much to you all.

We will now go to Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas for two and a half minutes.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a brief question for Ms. Niemann and then I will proceed with my motions.

Ms. Niemann, I referred to Mrs. Pilote's recommendation to “encourage the federal government to support open access publishing in French so that research papers can be found, read and disseminated by anyone with Internet access around the world.”

I would like to know Érudit's views on investing in open access publishing. What is your opinion on disseminating research in French, not only in Canada, but internationally?

[Tanja Niemann]

Thank you for the question.

I fully support it. Every day, my work at Érudit aims to promote open access and outreach. We consider ourselves lucky to have the support we already have from the governments of Quebec and Canada.

However, in order to grow, have a greater reach and have more influence—an aspect on which we have to work on, as has been made abundantly clear here—even more concerted efforts are needed to advance open science and open access.

We need concrete action for publications and better grants to allow them to transition to the open access model and break free from the current economic framework. People are struggling with that right now. No one is against open access, but we have to find ways to finance the transition to open access and implement tools and services needed to support this publishing model. We have to find ways to do it and to invest in this.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Thank you, Ms. Niemann.

Should federal funding be contingent on scientific research and publications being available in open access and in both official languages?

[Tanja Niemann]

I am very much in favour of that. We have to find ways to do it.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Thank you very much.

Madam Chair, I am going to move my first motion, which I gave notice of last week:That the deadline for the submission of briefs in relation to the study of research and scientific publication in French be extended to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 24, 2022.

I will give a bit of context for my colleagues' benefit. As members know, last week's meeting was cancelled, which extended our committee study. However, last week was also the deadline for submissions. During our committee's previous study, which was also extended, we gave witnesses 10 extra days to submit briefs.

I simply want to extend the same courtesy to the witnesses who have already appeared during our current study. A 10-day extension would take us to Thursday, November 24, 2022. I hope to have your support.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you so much, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

Is there any discussion or hands up among the committee?

I see Ms. Diab.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

It is a good idea.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you.

Is there any other discussion?

Do we have agreement amongst the committee?

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

It's yes for me.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you so much, committee.

Mr. Blanchette-Joncas, I believe you said there's a second one.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Yes. I already shared it with my colleagues who are here in person. I will read it. The clerk can then forward it to members who are participating virtually. I move: That the committee again invite the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, to testify as part of the study on research and scientific publication in French during one of the meetings of the committee to be held during the month of November.

I will give a bit of context, colleagues. I have made previous requests for the minister to appear before our committee. The clerk made the arrangements, but the minister refused, unfortunately. We do not know why. He probably has a pretty busy schedule. Nevertheless, I want to give him the opportunity to appear.

This study matters a lot to me. Moreover, since we are examining the modernization of the Official Languages Act and the government has recognized the decline of French, the circumstances seem appropriate.

I really want the minister to join us for this study, explain what his policy direction is and tell us what this committee can do to help him implement measures to increase the presence of French in scientific research and publication in Canada.

I ask for your support to allow the minister to appear before this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you so much, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

I believe we have Mr. Collins and then Mr. Lauzon.

[Chad Collins, Liberal, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

I think it's a reasonable request. I would just ask, if there's an opportunity, to add that we invite the minister to the moon shot study, which is next, and then we allow questions on the research study that we're undertaking now and sort of kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. I'm certainly supportive of that, but I think we should move on from this study, start the next one, invite the minister and then he will be there for both, if that makes sense.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you so much, Mr. Collins.

I'll go to Mr. Lauzon.

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Of course, we don't know the reasons why the Minister refused to appear for this study. Perhaps his schedule was too full.

With that said, I support Mr. Collins' proposal. Although this study was extended, it is coming to an end, and that will mean we can start our next study. I don't have the Minister's schedule, but perhaps he will be able to free up time for this other study. If that is the case, we could ask him questions about either subject, and kill two birds with one stone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Mr. Lauzon.

I'll have to ask the clerk if there are any further hands.

I see that Mr. Tochor's hand is up.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

This study is important enough on its own to have the minister, and I think the next study is equally as important. I would encourage that we should have the minister in on this study before it concludes. I think the month of November is broad enough to find an evening on a Monday night in the five weeks to come.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Mr. Tochor.

Is there any further discussion, colleagues?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Yes, Madam Chair.

I would just like to verify with Mr. Collins how we are going to divide the time if we include the Minister in the committee's next study.

I hope the Minister has enough time to testify regarding research and scientific publication in French. Obviously, I am open to the idea of having him testify as part of the next study, but without interfering with the time I hope he is devoting to this study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Mr. Blanchette-Joncas.

Mr. Clerk, you'll have to help me. I don't have the list.

It looks like Monsieur Lauzon has his hand up.

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

I'm sorry, Madam Chair.

It's an old hand.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Okay, thank you.

Is there any further discussion? I'm hearing a split here, colleagues. We're going to have to come to some agreement. Is the discussion finished on this?

I see that Mr. Collins's hand is up.