Science and Research Committee on Oct. 31st, 2022

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Vats, some witnesses have told us there has been a loss of confidence in the granting agencies when it comes to submitting an application in French. I will give you the figures: from five per cent to 12 per cent of funding applications are written in French, while French-speaking researchers represent about 21 per cent of the community.

Have you observed this imbalance at the granting agencies?

[Dr. Nipun Vats]

Yes, I think I have observed that there's a difference. As for what the reason for that difference is, unfortunately, we don't have enough evidence to assess what the cause is.

I think there's better data now being collected with respect to not only the language of the application but the official language the individual who's applying identifies with. I think we will get better data on this. The numbers on the face if it don't sound very good, but it's hard to draw conclusions without digging more deeply into what the meaning of that is.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vats.

I understand it is hard to draw conclusions, and that makes it even harder to propose solutions.

Can you provide the committee with the data on the percentage of applications filed in French as compared to the applications filed in English, for all three granting agencies, in the last 20 years?

[Dr. Nipun Vats]

I don't know whether it is available for a 20-year period, but I could put the question to my colleagues in the granting agencies for you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Vats.

It has been observed that federal funding for anglophone universities rose steadily. It went from 34.5 per cent to 38.4 per cent, while English mother tongue anglophones account for eight per cent of the Quebec population.

In your department, has it been observed that federal funding for anglophone universities in the province is causing anglicization to rise, particularly in research and scientific publication, when the official language of Quebec is French?

[Dr. Nipun Vats]

I don't have those statistics offhand. Just to clarify, according to those numbers, is that the share of research that's done in anglophone institutions, or is that the share of research that's done in English?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas, perhaps you would like to ask for a written answer.

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

Mr. Vats, I would ask you to send us a written answer to that question.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you so much, Monsieur Blanchette-Joncas.

For the last two and a half minutes—and our witnesses have been so kind in staying this extra time—we will go to Mr. Cannings.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Madam Chair, considering the late hour, I will simply pass on that and say thank you to all.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Mr. Cannings. That's very kind.

I would like to thank our witnesses. It's a late night. You have been very kind with your time and your expertise. We hope you have had a pleasant time and that you will want to come back again.

I would like to thank our clerk, our analysts, our interpreters and everyone who supports this committee and who has stayed late tonight.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

Just before we dismiss for the night, through you, Madam Chair, I would like to get an update on our digital binder for the next study, the moon shot study. In particular, a notice of motion needs to be posted and the witness list, please, if that could be updated. I guess the clerk would do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Mr. Mazier. I will pass it to our excellent clerk.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Thank you. Have a good night.

[The Clerk]

I think the room is getting up from the table, so....

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Okay. I see that. I think Mr. Mazier was just asking for an update.

With that, dear colleagues, I will say thank you to you all. Happy Halloween.

The meeting is adjourned.