Science and Research Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Thank you, Kelly. That's a really good question. This is the type of question we should be getting from opposition members, for different reasons.

First and foremost, we know that China has leapfrogged a lot of the auto sector around the world. This is not a phenomenon that is only going on here in North America. It is happening in Asia. It is happening in Europe. Rather than just not acting, our goal is to make sure that we're investing more in the cars of the future. However, at the same, we know that we're dealing with U.S. tariffs.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I'm going to interrupt, because I've asked for a strategy on how we're going to become a global leader compared to China, not about investment.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Listen, it's not fair. You're asking me questions and not letting me answer—

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I respectfully—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

It's one person at a time.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I respectfully ask you to please answer the question that I have asked, which is how we are going to—

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I am answering your question.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

You're not.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Yes, I am. You have to listen. I'll be able to give you some answers. The goal is to have a conversation.

This is a really good question that you've asked me.

Indeed, when it comes to electrification, we have been leading, but we've sometimes had differences between our research and commercialization. We need to do more. I agree with you on that. It would be a pleasure for me to work more with you on that.

I want to protect auto workers as much as you do. We're in it to protect the same people. The question is, how do we do it? That is why we think the auto strategy is a good way to square a circle. It is protecting our industrial base, which is not all about electrification—you and I know that—but about going ahead towards the future of cars.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Ms. Joly, I'm going on to a new question, because I didn't get an answer and I don't want more of my limited time taken away.

The second pillar was “create”. There have been a lot of claims today that our innovation ecosystem is alive, well and healthy, but the reality is that that's completely untrue. We don't have the infrastructure we need for our computing capacity. We hold only 12% of our own Canadian patents, while 87% have become foreign-owned. Our commercialization is limited, costing us $75 billion yearly, or 2.7% of our GDP, and $5 billion in lost tax revenue.

These failures are leading to a brain drain. Our talent is leaving our country because we cannot commercialize. What is your file doing to protect the intellectual property generated here in Canada and control our licensing terms to enable our own commercialization in sustained manufacturing?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

When it comes to brain drain, as you mentioned, I really think we're in a brain gain mode right now. That is why we came up with a talent attraction strategy. Universities are already calling us. I've had contact with many university presidents.

A lot of people, I must say, particularly from south of the border, are looking to go north. That's the first point. Now—

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Again, Minister, I'm sorry for interrupting, but you're not answering my question. My question is, what are you doing to safeguard our intellectual property and support our manufacturing? That was the question. Please answer it.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

I'm heading there. I'm just taking the different elements of your question, because I want to make sure—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I apologize for interrupting. The time is up for MP DeRidder. Thank you.

We will now proceed to MP McKelvie for five minutes.

MP McKelvie, please go ahead.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Thank you, Minister Joly, for joining us today here at the science committee.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

Thank you, Jennifer.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

I'm very excited to learn more about your mandate. In particular, I've learned a bit about BOREALIS, but I was hoping you could share with us what BOREALIS is and how it will catalyze new collaborative research in science across Canada.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

BOREALIS is a great opportunity to bridge science to our national security and defence. It is an initiative that was launched by the Department of National Defence, but it also works with the Department of Industry to support dual-use research. We know that's the case in other jurisdictions. We've never really done it here in Canada. That's the initiative.

We'll have more to say as well in the defence industrial strategy that is coming up soon. Our goal is to support researchers who can work on AI, climate change research and robotics or different advanced technologies, and who can develop a different type of research that can be good for civilian commercial purposes or for everything that is much more linked to the needs of our Canadian Armed Forces.

That's how I would summarize BOREALIS.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

Thank you, Minister. I'm certainly looking forward to that unfolding, and learning more about it.

We've had great success on the pan-Canadian AI strategy. We've been talking about it a lot at this committee. While I don't want you to touch so much on the success of it, how have we learned from it, and how can we bring it forward to expand on other strengths in Canada, such as quantum technology and biotechnology?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

My colleague, the minister in charge of AI, is in charge of developing a new AI strategy. Where our files connect, and what I've been working on with him on, is much more about how we have AI adopted by the different industries that I'm representing as a minister. It may be aerospace, everything linked to clean tech, everything in the auto sector or even in steel and aluminum, etc. It's advanced manufacturing in general.

We know that we can really boost our GDP through AI investment, because it will create productivity. We also know that in other jurisdictions, including in the U.S., the vast majority of growth right now is happening not only because of the fact that data centres are being built but because there is an adoption of AI capabilities. That's what Evan Solomon, the Minister of AI, and I are working on.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

How is ISED fostering collaborations among the tri-councils. You have NSERC, CIHR and SSHRC. How are you looking to break down silos and drive innovation?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

There are different things we're doing concretely right now because of the work on the talent attraction strategy. I was able to work with the three of them on their priorities and develop a program that was going to support their needs.

Of course, there was an important report from university professor Frédéric Bouchard talking about governance in the science sector. I know there's been conversation about a capstone agency and reform for the governance of our research councils.

I'm very interested. I know there's been good work done by Parliament on this, but if you had any recommendation from the committee regarding the governance of our research councils, I would be more than interested.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

We conducted a study on research excellence, and hopefully there will be some good recommendations that come out of it in that report.

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC]

That's perfect.

[Jennifer McKelvie, Liberal, Ajax, ON]

You have a strong commitment to bringing the best talent in the world here to Canada, but I think it's also important that we continue to collaborate. I know you've been working very hard in that regard internationally. I was just wondering if you could speak to some of those highlights, in particular Horizon Europe.