Science and Research Committee on June 1st, 2026

[Wendy Therrien]

I think some of the points my colleague made earlier are fundamental to the ability to retain talent in Canada. Number one is creating the kinds of ecosystems that produce the spinoffs that Canadians want to work at and want to stay at. Then it's having those pathways between a university or a college, as we talked about, so that the innovation cycle continues to drive itself. Not everywhere in the world will you have top-of-the-line quantum computers and top-of-the-line quantum researchers and companies all coming together. When we can create those ecosystems, people don't want to leave. Those ecosystems don't exist everywhere. We need to really concentrate on building up the strengths we do have so that we're creating the environment that allows that.

Fundamental research investment, applied research investment—those are all our building blocks. Then, as we talked about, there's the IP policy that allows us to retain our talent, and the kind of champion programs that identify companies that are winners and that we don't want to have leave our country. It's that whole menu of things that allows us to retain the Canadian talent, because at the end of the day, it's Canadians who will protect our country.

[Juanita Nathan, Liberal, Pickering—Brooklin, ON]

Do you feel that we are moving in the right direction?

[Wendy Therrien]

I think there are a lot of the building blocks, but I would be remiss not to say that we need to do better at helping to retain the international talent that we attract to our universities and colleges.

[Juanita Nathan, Liberal, Pickering—Brooklin, ON]

Thank you.

Canada benefits enormously from international collaboration in science and research. As government strengthens research security measures, how do we ensure that we remain open to global collaboration while also protecting Canadian interests and sensitive technologies?

[Wendy Therrien]

Absolutely, and as Dr. Blais mentioned, it really depends on the kind of research we're doing. In terms of the fundamental research we're doing in areas such as quantum and other areas that are technologically sensitive, it's fine for that research to be open, because we're at the very fundamental level. As we move forward towards more applied levels, it's important to have the safeguards in place in order to know who you're partnering with, who's going to have access to that research and who controls the intellectual property.

That kind of reflection is being stimulated by policies that are at the federal level, but ultimately, it is our responsibility at the university level to be applying those principles on a project-by-project level and putting in place the mechanisms to know who we're working with and why, and the kinds of partnerships that are trust-based, as well as the kinds of legal agreements that allow us to be really clear about what we're doing and why and for whom.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Tony Baldinelli]

Thank you.

Thank you to our witnesses, and thank you to the members of Parliament.

We've completed two full rounds of questioning. Seeing that the clock is past six, is it the will of the committee to continue on for an additional round or does the committee wish to adjourn?

[An hon. member]

Adjourn.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Tony Baldinelli]

I have agreement to adjourn.

Thank you. This committee is adjourned. Thank you to our witnesses.