Science and Research Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[Dr. Tijs Creutzberg]

This country is attractive to international researchers. There's no question. We have a very good reputation in research.

In terms of increasing that, look at some of the challenges facing Canadian researchers in accessing research funds—the funding systems to support their research areas—and make sure we have funding for that.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

In the global context, what does AI leadership realistically mean for Canada?

[Dr. Tijs Creutzberg]

What does AI leadership mean for Canada? I'm not sure if I can cleanly answer that. It's not something I'm prepared to answer. I'll leave it at that.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

How do we ensure that Canada remains a leader in AI?

[Dr. Tijs Creutzberg]

Certainly, we have to fix our innovation ecosystem. The comments that my colleague made are on the mark. It's tricky. The global economic order is shifting. What made sense 10 years ago no longer makes sense today. We have to adapt and change in the context of the new geopolitical realities, which we don't have the answers to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you. The time is up for MP Rana.

With that, we will now proceed to MP Blanchette-Joncas for two and a half minutes.

Please go ahead.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I just want to inform you that I will be asking a few questions, but I will stop before my time is up to move a motion.

My question is for you, Ms. Nguyen. We haven't forgotten about you.

Is the main roadblock keeping SMEs from adopting AI the lack of structured funding for experimental development, rather than a technology issue?

[Anne Nguyen]

Thank you for the question.

Yes, the challenge around AI adoption is really operational in nature, in terms of literacy. We have to be able to establish a common base. We've talked a lot about research at this meeting, but if we aren't able to identify high-potential business environments, we're really going to miss this historic opportunity to adopt AI that will help us perform better and optimize things. So, on a common basis, we have to succeed in establishing institutions, independent authorities without a competitive position, and then put in place benchmarks, criteria, common languages and tools for all businesses, regardless of their size.

I should also point out that we have different economic realities, because there are a lot of unions. Today, AI is capable of taking charge of a number of mechanisms and processes from end to end. We have to break down the silos we work in so that we can integrate these tools into our economic realities.

The first step would really be to make that common base available so that people can rise up. Once they rise up, they will really want to keep innovating.

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

Are there any other vital elements you would like to share with us today?

[Anne Nguyen]

It's important to understand that there are three types of professions that may be at risk or exposed to artificial intelligence. There are professions in which people can improve their performance, professions that can be transformed and professions that will be at risk if they can't be moved in the right direction. Given that reality, I think it's also important to recognize the impact of the work we're doing thanks to Brigade IA in Quebec. It brings together 95 AI experts at all levels, from research to adoption. These individuals are able to adapt all of that to those realities, so we need talent on the ground—

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

Pardon me, but I have to interrupt you, Ms. Nguyen.

Madam Chair, the national AI strategy will have a structural impact on our economy, national security, critical infrastructure and digital sovereignty. In such a strategic area, it's essential that Parliament and the public have full and complete visibility when it comes to the consultations, the stakeholders and the documents that guided the strategy. Transparency is not optional when you're dealing with decisions that will bind Canada for decades.

The motion I'm introducing is simply to allow the committee to exercise its oversight role and ensure full and timely accountability. I'll read it now. We also debated this motion on February 2. It reads as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Standing Committee on Science and Research order the Department of Industry and the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation to table, within thirty (30) days of the adoption of this motion, all of the following documents relating to the development, content, governance, and implementation of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, namely: The complete list of all stakeholders—individuals, organizations, companies, institutions, or governments—who participated, directly or indirectly, in the public consultation, targeted consultations, or preparatory work, including identification of any contributions received anonymously, as well as any analysis, note, or justification that allowed for the acceptance of anonymous contributions; All briefs, written submissions, comments, questionnaires, responses, and documents transmitted, in their entirety, whether solicited or unsolicited.

I am now ready to debate this motion with my colleagues in order to adopt it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

We have a motion on the floor, which has been brought by MP Blanchette-Joncas.

We will have to suspend the meeting because this motion was debated earlier. Is it all right if we let the witnesses go?

MP DeRidder, go ahead.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Before we suspend the meeting, can I put a motion on notice? It's just a notice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

No, we cannot get into anything. We already have a motion on the floor and we have to debate that. He has asked.

I just wanted to get the members' permission to let our witnesses go. Is everyone okay with that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thanks a lot to all the witnesses for appearing before the committee and providing your input. You are okay to leave.

The meeting is suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I call the meeting to order. The floor was with MP Blanchette-Joncas.

Just to clarify, we were debating this motion at the meeting on February 2, and the debate was adjourned. Procedurally, what needs to be done is that if MP Blanchette-Joncas wants to bring it back, he can ask for the debate to resume to start the debate.

Go ahead, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm simply asking that we resume the debate that was suspended when my motion was introduced on February 2.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

MP Blanchette-Joncas would like to resume the debate. When the debate was adjourned, we were on a subamendment moved by MP Baldinelli that the amendment be amended by replacing the words “sixty (60) days” with the words “thirty (30) days”, and by deleting the words “and that the information be in compliance with information that would be given via an Access to Information and Privacy request.”

I will also read the amendment that was moved by MP Noormohamed that the motion be amended by replacing the words “within seven (7)” with the words “sixty (60)”; by adding after the words “all of the following documents” and the words “from September 1st, 2025, to the present,”; by replacing the word “Pan-Canadian” with the word “National”; and by adding after the words “in their entirety, whether solicited or unsolicited;” the following: “and that the information be in compliance with information that would be given via an Access to Information and Privacy request.”

The copies of the motion with the amendment and the subamendment are being distributed by the clerk to everybody. We are on the subamendment. Thank you.

MP Blanchette-Joncas has moved to resume debate on this motion for which we have a subamendment, an amendment and the main motion. Now we will vote on whether we resume debate on the motion.

I will ask the clerk to please take the vote on whether we start the debate.

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

Before we call the vote, I would hope that we'd be allowed to have all our members in place here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Where is the member? Has he left?

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

He just stepped out. My understanding is that my own staffer is going to get him. He was going up to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Because MP Blanchette-Joncas has moved to resume debate, we need to vote whether we resume the debate or not.

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

Someone's going to get him right now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Give it one minute. We have to—