Science and Research Committee on Sept. 17th, 2025

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

Let's see if we can get all three at the same time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Seeing no further debate, we will take the vote on the motion. If there is consensus, we can do it by a show of hands.

(Motion agreed to)

MP Blanchette-Joncas, please go ahead with your round of questioning.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I'll continue with my questions for Mr. Normand.

Federal government funding already helps to fund major research infrastructures, but they're concentrated in a few large anglophone universities. Quebecker and francophone researchers, especially in the regions, don't have equitable access. Without infrastructure, even the most deserving researcher can't reach their full potential.

Would you support implementing a sharing model that ensures the presence of nodes in francophone universities so that scientific merit can be fully expressed everywhere?

[Martin Normand]

I basically fully agree with the concept. Pooling resources is the way to go.

However, since our network of institutions extends across the country, access to research infrastructure could become more difficult. One example is Campus Saint-Jean at the University of Alberta: It doesn't have an immediate neighbour with research infrastructure that operates in French and would meet the needs that aren't currently being met.

If the government wants to move in that direction to ensure equitable access to these infrastructures, additional funding should be provided to make it possible to travel between provinces and carry out research projects in another province's labs. It should also be ensured that the infrastructure and computer equipment are available in French so that some of those projects can be carried out.

I basically agree in principle, but I think there are other barriers that have to be removed for this solution to be effective.

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

In terms of barriers, it's important to understand that data is needed to analyze situations. There has to be transparency for the federal government to be accountable.

Would you be prepared to require the annual publication of success rates, detailed by language, region and size of institution, and officially recognize projects with high scientific merit that are funded by organizations other than the three granting councils?

Academic freedom demands that scientific value prevail over all other external criteria.

[Martin Normand]

Yes. In any case, under the Official Languages Act, all the granting councils will be required to produce data to show how programs do or don't have a direct negative impact on francophone communities. That data infrastructure will be essential for all institutions, including the granting councils, to meet their obligations under the act.

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

In closing, do you have any other concrete suggestions for changing the funding criteria to establish real equity and ensure that scientific merit remains the only determining criterion?

[Martin Normand]

It's important to tackle the linguistic and institutional biases in evaluation and prevent a negative perception that scientific publication in French has political content or is less objective than scientific publication in English. From there, the evaluation criteria will be able to take us much further and enable us to move toward fairer treatment of applications submitted in French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

With that, this panel will come to an end.

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

Madam Chair, I apologize, but I have just a quick question. I just want to follow up on the words of my colleague, Mr. Noormohamed.

He had asked Mr. Doyle a question—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Are you trying to ask some questions?

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

I'm not asking a question, but Mr. Noormohamed just asked Mr. Doyle if he could present a brief, I believe, on ways that the Government of Canada can best commercialize its research—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm coming to that.

With that, I really want to thank all three witnesses for appearing before the committee. If you were not able to answer any questions, please make a written submission to the clerk of the committee, and that will be circulated to all the members of the committee.

Go ahead, Mr. Singh.

[Jagsharan Singh Mahal, Conservative, Edmonton Southeast, AB]

I just want to clarify that your comment, Madam Chair, was only in reference to the questions that were not answered, not otherwise.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

It's otherwise also. If they were not able to answer any questions because of time, they can make a written submission, or if there is anything else that they were not able to bring to the attention of the committee because of time, they can make written submissions. Those will be circulated to the members of the committee and will be considered while drafting the reports.

Do I have the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Okay, thank you. The meeting is adjourned.