Science and Research Committee on June 4th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

We will now proceed to MP Baldinelli, please, for two and a half minutes.

Then we will end the panel with the Liberals for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Quickly, according to the National Research Council Act, under subparagraph 5(1)(c)(vii), the mandate of the NRC includes using its powers to do “researches, the object of which is to improve conditions in agriculture”.

Over the past several weeks, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food has heard researchers, industry leaders, community reps and even provincial governments all deliver the same urgent message: Closing our agricultural research and development centres and experimental farm sites will cause long-term irreversible damage to Canada's agricultural research capacity, food security and food production.

Did the government ever consult NRC on this? What was your reaction to the closure of these sites?

[Mitch Davies]

Madam Chair, through you, I would share that the NRC has a research centre in Saskatoon that is very strongly focused on crop design.

The NRC's history in agriculture goes back to supporting the invention of canola, a multi-billion-dollar industry. We still see this as a key role. It's part of our strategy, going forward, to support agri-food in the areas of crop design, remote food systems and protein agriculture. This is under way. We've supported that through a challenge program over the last number of years.

It's a very high priority for NRC to stay focused on the agri-food economy as a big part of Canada's contribution to feeding the world, which we think is a very important thing. Of course, it's in our strategy, and we've maintained our support for that research—

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

Thank you for what you're doing in that regard.

What are your thoughts on the government's closure of these sites?

[Mitch Davies]

Through you, Chair, I would restrain my comments to what the NRC is doing. Of course, institutions that make decisions can come and provide information, in their own respect, on how they make those choices. I think those are questions better addressed to them. Thank you.

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

Quickly, also with regard to the mandate, subparagraph 5(1)(c)(v) talks about “the standardization and certification of the scientific and technical apparatus and instruments for the Government”.

Does that include things such as the national building code? Is that under the purview of the National Research Council?

[Mitch Davies]

The NRC serves as the secretariat for the system that creates the national building code, which is then put in place, from a legal point of view, by the provinces and territories, which have a responsibility to enact the regulations.

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

How does that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry. The time is up, MP Baldinelli.

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

I just wanted to ask this: Could you provide to the committee how the process works? Are there provincial committees that feed in? Are there union representatives? Who sits on those boards?

If you could share this, that would be awesome.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

We will now end this panel with MP Rana for two and a half minutes.

MP Rana, please go ahead.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair, again.

Dr. Davies, government committed $100 million over five years to the NRC's AI program, with over 325 projects launched in the first year alone.

What does that look like for small and medium-sized businesses on the ground?

[Mitch Davies]

Thank you for the question.

The AI assist initiative, which is part of the IRAP offering, is under way. We've been able to support AI firms that fit our profile in advancing very significant technology development. We are part of building an industry with advanced capability in AI in many areas. We've been able to see many companies through their development cycle with really significant support. Now that there is, as of today, an AI strategy with a broader set of initiatives.... A number of these small and medium-sized businesses are well positioned to participate in the broader strategy the government has now launched.

I think we've made the best use of IRAP's connections across the country. We have a very strong idea of who can benefit from this support. We've been able to deploy that funding, to very good effect, among the firms we work with.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

The NRC results report flags talent retention as a key risk, as you compete directly with both the private sector and universities.

What has the NRC done, and what can be done by the federal government, to keep Canadian researchers and their IP from going out of the country?

[Mitch Davies]

Our goal is to hire the best people we can. We also have to find the profile of people who want to work in our environment. If you want to work on research full time—to be committed and focused on that, beyond your academic work—we offer a great environment. Whether we could provide the kind of compensation you'd get if you joined a start-up that will grow.... We might not compete on that basis, but if you want to work long term in research for the public good and see a benefit to your country, we're the perfect place to go. We've seen some people we hired go and join a start-up, obviously. That's good. If they contribute to our country, that's fine. In fact, that kind of fluidity between NRC and start-ups in the ecosystem is something we want to encourage.

We always have to ensure that our workplace is outstanding. If we look at what our people think about working at NRC—whether we support them and whether it's a well-run organization.... If we do that well, our mandate is very exciting. Hopefully, they're going to stay with us, but we have to really focus, as management, on making sure our workplace is world class.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you very much for your valuable time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

With that, on behalf of all the members of this committee, I want to thank you for appearing before the committee and for the important work you are doing.

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

The meeting is adjourned.