Evidence of meeting #20 for Science and Research in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cohere.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Members speaking

Before the committee

Evan Solomon  Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation
Schaan  Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Industry
Vats  Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Research Sector, Department of Industry
Brennan  Committee Researcher

Some hon. members

Agreed.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

The drafting instructions are done in camera. We will have to suspend the meeting, because we are in public, and then move in camera to give the drafting instructions.

Go ahead, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I don't see any problem with setting out instructions for future reports, but that wasn't planned for today.

When we have advance notice, we prepare the right guidelines for writing the report. I feel comfortable and am ready for us to begin. I wonder if my colleagues are open to making any other adjustments if necessary, but I don't want to hold up the committee's work. Perhaps we can do it again in the next few days.

I'm trying to figure out how we can organize ourselves.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

It is up to members to decide and let me know. If we would like to go ahead with the drafting instructions, we can do them today. If members are not prepared, we will have to wait until we come back.

Go ahead, MP Noormohamed.

Taleeb Noormohamed Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC

In fairness to everybody, if the question is whether Mr. Blanchette-Joncas has had time—obviously we're working on a lot of other things—to give drafting instructions, one option could be, if everyone agrees, that we begin the drafting of the—

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

I have something. Based on my discussion with the analyst, if everyone is not ready today, someone from each party can send drafting instructions in writing to the analyst by December 23, if members so desire. Then they can start working on the draft reports. Once we come back, we will see when we can go through the draft reports.

Go ahead, MP Baldinelli.

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

We'll still get the draft reports when we return. Getting a reply by the 23rd won't delay you from having draft reports.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

I will pass it to the analyst to let everyone know.

Kelsey Brennan Committee Researcher

The exact schedule is hard to determine in advance; it will depend on the length of the reports, but we should be able to get them to translation by mid-January, potentially for review by early February.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Does that seem good with everybody?

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

That's both reports. Is that correct?

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Yes.

Does that seem good for everybody?

Go ahead, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Have you named the reports? I want to make sure this is clear to everyone; you are referring to the report on the impact of federal funding allocation criteria on research excellence in Canada and the report on antimicrobial resistance, correct?

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Yes, it's both, because we completed the committee meetings for them.

Because we passed the motion to have an additional one meeting for artificial intelligence, we will have to do that before we can give drafting instructions. After that meeting, we will have the summary of evidence, and then we can go into it, so it will be for that too.

Please, before the end of the day on December 23, send instructions to the clerk of the committee. They will be circulated to the analysts so they can start working.

Is there any other business?

Go ahead, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC

Madam Chair, I would like to wish all the members of the committee, as well as the scientific community that listens to us attentively, a happy holiday season. We are thinking of them and we wish them quality time with their families and loved ones.

I would like to thank all the people who make the work of this committee possible, namely the analysts, clerks, interpreters, and all the technicians. I thank them for their excellent work and for enabling us to advance science in Canada.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Thank you, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

On behalf of all members of this committee, I will take the liberty to thank the clerk of the committee and our amazing analysts for all the work they do. Without their work, it is difficult to get our work completed. It has been a great session. We have done some important work.

I would like to take a moment to thank all members for the work they have done on this important committee. The scientific community and researchers are looking towards the work we do.

Also, I'll give a big thank you to all the staff on all sides: the staff of the MPs, as well as from all the whips' offices and the House leaders' offices.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

It is not possible for us to do the work we do without the help of our staff.

I'll give a special thanks to my staff, who put in a lot of time, particularly Jeff Jedras.

Also, on behalf of all committee members, I'll give a big thank you to our interpreters for all the work they do.

I hope that all members and staff have good holidays. From my family to your family, merry Christmas, happy holidays and all the best for 2026. Let's do the work Canadians have sent us here to do. I'm really excited to get into 2026.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

Some hon. members

Agreed.

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

Thanks for all the collaboration today.

The meeting is adjourned.