Science and Research Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

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

I think the defence industrial strategy will bring in a lot of funding, because one of the defence challenges is really to provide more support for the research and development ecosystem, so, for example, researchers at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, Université Laval or across Quebec.

I think, as you say, one of the challenges is going to be commercialization. Our goal will be not only to help the armed forces, but also to commercialize the research. Given that this will be the first defence industrial strategy in our history, I think there will be good news for our CEGEPs and our various colleges.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Can you name another federal program that fully compensates for the loss of the college and community innovation program?

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

I just told you about the defence industrial strategy. I think it's going to be—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

So that strategy includes funding—

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

I think that's why there's a lot of interest. Not only will the regional economic development agencies receive funding, but so will the research councils. In terms of funding, colleges will have access to a new initiative, the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science, or BOREALIS.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Madam Minister, with all due respect, I will be pleased to discuss this with you or with the deputy ministers.

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

Me too.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

However, applied research, commercialization and basic research are still different things, particularly when you talk about a defence strategy.

I want to come back to your statement that your government prioritizes science. Recently, there were cuts, particularly at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute, in my riding, the largest francophone oceanography centre. Twenty positions were cut, and there are more to come. There are more than 1,000 positions in agriculture and agri-food research centres across Canada.

You talk about supporting manufacturing companies. How are you supporting manufacturing companies when you cut research that helps them remain competitive and develop innovations, among other things?

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

I think you're confusing things. You're referring to basic research and the commercialization of research, but these are different things. You also referred to what we do at the Department of Industry, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

I want to tell you that, over the past four years, $34 million were sent to the Université du Québec à Rimouski, located in your riding. I congratulate you on your work. I think that's really good news.

I know that agriculture is important to you. It's important to me as well, but I can only control my department. During the 2024–2025 fiscal year, between $60 million and $64 million were allocated to agricultural research at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, the University of Alberta, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, York University and Brock University.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Minister—

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

I do think that's good news.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I understand that you want to buy time to avoid answering my questions—

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

No, not at all.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

—but I can read a budget, and I can read the press releases that you send out publicly.

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

I'm convinced of that.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

As the minister who represents and defends science, aren't you afraid of the consequences, particularly on the competitiveness of businesses and the manufacturing sector, when jobs and scientific research are eliminated, for example at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada or Fisheries and Oceans? I understand that these aren't your departments, but indirectly, who is defending science in your government?

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

Of course, it's my colleagues and me. The proof is that $1.7 billion has just been invested to attract talent. We have just invested the largest science budget in our history.

In fact, I want to tell you that the Université du Québec à Rimouski and the Université du Québec network are very pleased with our investments. We hope that the Government of Quebec will also give more to science. I will be pleased to work with them on that. In fact, I'm always in contact with my Quebec counterparts on these issues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Minister.

We will now proceed with our second round of questioning, and we will begin with MP Ho for five minutes.

MP Ho, please go ahead.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for appearing here today.

Today's a good day. It's always a good day for Canadians when the Liberal government borrows Conservative ideas and we see the costly EV mandate get scrapped.

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

I thought you were going to say it's a good day because we have a fantastic auto strategy. I'm convinced that's what you meant, so thank you for that.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

We'll get this started.

The Prime Minister announced back on January 16 that your government will allow up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into the Canadian market. As you know, multiple governments internationally, including those of the United States, Israel, Poland and a couple of others, have restricted or effectively blocked Chinese-made EVs over security concerns. Is there a view that these governments are overreacting?

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

Let me be clear. In 2023, there were already 44,000 EVs from China coming in. Mainly, they were Teslas, Polestars and Volvos. We expect that for the 49,000 cars, that will be the case, but at the same time, we're ready to create jobs through investments from Korea, from—

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

I'm sorry. I want to get—

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

I'm sorry. I'll just finish my sentence.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Many countries are drafting rules now concerning—