Science and Research Committee on March 31st, 2022

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

I'm wasting my two and a half minutes, so I'd better get going.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

No.

Mr. Cannings, we have to let Mr. Blanchette-Joncas go ahead for two and a half minutes, and then go to you.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I would like to thank my colleague Mr. McKinnon for this present. I would have accepted it in the first round, but I will take it in the second.

My question is for Mr. Rafuse.

Mr. Rafuse, my question is somewhat broad: what are your priorities in terms of what you expect from the federal government?

[Dr. Victor Rafuse]

That's a very good question.

I think the expectation is to broaden or increase the funding for discovery research. I think that's fundamental even for the megaprojects like Dr. Smith has been talking about. You actually have to have individuals across Canada who can participate in such a phenomenal facility.

I think we need to make sure that we keep them funded and increase the funding of all Canadians who deserve funding.

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

Thank you.

I'm going to continue quickly with a question for Ms. McIsaac.

Ms. McIsaac, I was really intrigued by your research chair in early childhood. In Quebec, we put the early childhood system in place over 20 years ago. It takes ingenuity, but also a lot of courage to implement a social project like that, and I think it is now inspiring the rest of Canada.

Have you had a chance to collaborate with the scientific community in Quebec concerning your research chair's studies?

[Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac]

Yes, that's a really great question.

I think we certainly do have a lot to learn from those in Quebec with respect to where we're going in our early learning and child care system in Canada. It's really an exciting time to be doing research and science in this field.

Yes, I have had the opportunity to connect a bit with scientists in Quebec. I think more cross-Canadian collaboration would be so important as we move forward with this really fundamental shift in the way that our early learning and child care system is being built and supported and implemented for our families, for early childhood educators. and for Canadians.

So, yes, I have, and I look forward to more opportunities.

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

Thank you.

Ms. McIsaac, quickly, can you tell me what your priorities are in terms of what you expect from the federal government?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

There are 20 seconds left.

[Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac]

In addition to discovery research, I think bringing the voices of Canadians to science and research is really important. Leveraging and making sure that the research that we do has and impact on additional research, on policy, on practice, and that Canadians can access that information and that information is being [Inaudible—Editor].

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

Thank you, Dr. McIsaac. You are always very succinct and we appreciate that.

Mr. Cannings, for two and a half minutes, please.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm going to direct my questions to Dr. Rafuse.

With regards to Canada's funding things that we're good at, it seems there are certain areas where Canadian research has excelled and has attracted good researchers from around the world.

I'm wondering about your own field, the Brain Repair Centre. I know when I worked at UBC in the department of zoology, we had ICORD working on the repair of neural systems.

Is that one of the areas that you think Canada excels at? How should we be nourishing these areas of excellence?

[Dr. Victor Rafuse]

Yes, I would agree 100%. Canada hits well above its weight in neuroscience research, and I think [Technical Difficulty—Editor] maintain it to this day. I think we were successful in attracting people from all over the world to come here to make Canada a place to establish their career.

What do we have to do to maintain that and increase that? We need—and we're doing it—to develop systems to collaborate better across Canada. Trying to find funding opportunities to enable us to do that more efficiently would be outstanding.

All across Canada in pretty much every university that I can think of there's some expertise, if not outstanding expertise, in neuroscience. The idea is how do we communicate together? We do it because it's the nature of science, but to make it really grow and to become something bigger than what it is today really requires an ability—

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

I have a quick question. I'm sorry, the yellow card is up.

I'd like to get some quick final thoughts on smaller universities. You mentioned the University of Prince Edward Island. You said I think something like CFI is not a national program.

How can we make sure that we provide the funding for those smaller places?

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

You have eight seconds.

[Dr. Victor Rafuse]

In one sentence: Get rid of the match.

[The Chair, Liberal, Kirsty Duncan]

That was succinct. I want to say thank you, Mr. Cannings, and also to all of our witnesses.

We thank you for your research. We thank you for sharing your research with us, and we all wish you continued success. We'll say good night to you.

To our colleagues, if we could log off, we have to come back for committee business. We have quite a bit of work to do.

Thank you again to the witnesses.

[Proceedings continue in camera]