I have a couple of recommendations.
As it pertains to the governance of a different approach to that funding environment, make sure that the universities, colleges, polytechnics, CEGEPs and industry are all sitting at the table with an equal voice, recognizing that if institutions are willing to state that they have the partnerships across all three levels, then all three levels having a say should reinforce the role each of those institutions has at that combined table.
In terms of your question, “Does collaborative research happen?”, in our case yes, it does, between us and the Okanagan campus of UBC, in areas like aerospace and robotics. Those partnerships are indeed alive and are producing well.
What I and a number of my colleagues are reinforcing with the committee today is that in order for those partnerships to truly thrive, the colleges, polytechnics and CEGEPs need to receive the parity of esteem that is given to our research universities.