Science and Research Committee on June 4th, 2026

[Mitch Davies]

The NRC would have contributions in terms of our research work in advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics and areas of this nature. In response to this question, I would refer to NRCan, which has the Canmet lab at McMaster. It has a very integral role in the steelmaking industry in the region. We're there to support whatever NRCan will need from us to support the programs it's delivering to the steel sector.

We've divided this space in a way that it has built up a lot of competency and research strengths over the years, and we wouldn't want to replicate it. We want to find out where we can be an additive to what it's already doing, because it has a very significant presence. I think our being in McMaster in the new southern Ontario innovation hub will be very good to support synergies between us and NRCan in this regard as well.

We're trying to address the needs of our automotive sector, which is where we're very much focused.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

The government has committed $962 million over eight years to renew the NRC's facilities. How much has been spent, which facilities have been renewed and what new research capacity has been unlocked?

[Mitch Davies]

I can report that at the moment—and this would be funding related to the defence industrial strategy, as well as the renewal of NRC facilities—we have close to $1.2 billion of capital renewal projects under way right now.

Last fiscal year, we delivered 256% more procurement for these projects than we did the year before. The NRC is in a building phase that it hasn't ever had in its history. We are delivering, and we're delivering at speed. We have a large portfolio of projects under way. Many of those are still in flight. I could provide information on the list of projects. We publish this, so Canadians can find it if they look on our website for the areas we're investing in.

It's all of our facilities. Here, at the Ottawa airport, we're renewing our wind tunnel. We're renewing our facilities for advanced manufacturing. We're renewing our biotechnology facilities. Across the council, it's actually a very significant time to build.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

The NRC launched 74 international projects and co-chaired Eureka. It's the first time a non-European country has led this position. How do those partnerships translate into concrete, long-term benefits for Canadian companies and workers?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Give a 10-second answer.

[Mitch Davies]

Our co-chairing Eureka with Germany is the first time a non-European country has co-chaired and the first time there have been co-chairs. This is the largest public innovation network on the planet. It means that our SMEs work with SMEs that are part of the European countries and also beyond. They work together. They're combining their strength and then they grow together. It's a big win for our SMEs.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

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]

Mr. Davies, have you met with the Minister of Industry since she took office in April 2025?

[Mitch Davies]

I certainly have. I've met the minister and I've also participated in a number of events. The minister has announced matters that relate to the council.

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

What did you discuss?

[Mitch Davies]

I wouldn't share the topics discussed between me and the minister. Part of my role is supporting her, and the discretion one has to have, of course, as an official supporting their minister is quite appropriate. I wouldn't reveal the details of our discussions.

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

So you're paid with taxpayers' money but your advice on helping the public is confidential. Is that right?

[Mitch Davies]

We might provide information, advice and support for a minister. We also do that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I apologize for interrupting. The bells are ringing. A vote has been called. I need unanimous consent from the members if they would like us to continue for another 20 minutes.

Is everyone okay with that? The bells have just started. They will be 30-minute bells, so we will go for 20 more minutes.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Please go ahead, MP Blanchette-Joncas.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. By some strange coincidence, interruptions always seem to happen when it's my turn to speak.

Mr. Davies, I understand that your discussions are confidential, but did you discuss your strategic plan?

[Mitch Davies]

The discussions I've had with the minister have been focused on specific files that are quite important. In one case, the discussion now is a matter of where we see our plan publicly to move forward with the Canadian photonics fabrication centre. As the minister took on her responsibilities, I was there to explain what we were doing and about potential plans, but I wouldn't go beyond that in sharing the nature of our discussion.

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

I'm trying to get to the bottom of a big mystery, but I'll need your help. The government says it wants to strengthen its scientific autonomy, its sovereignty—a word that gets thrown around a lot these days—its industrial autonomy and its technological sovereignty. However, I have a hard time understanding how all that will get strengthened by downsizing the largest federal research agency in Canada.

[Mitch Davies]

I think the important job for us is to deliver the goal that's been described, which is to maximize opportunity in Canada to take our best ideas and see them realized. Everything we do will be focused on that.

In making choices about specific programs and some areas of research, we've made strategic decisions on areas where we think we'll have the biggest impact. I think we can live with restraint and make decisions that make sense, but also still contribute on a large scale. In some cases, some of the smaller programs we may have retained have been discontinued, but I think we've made choices that relate to the goal of building up industrial development, because we have used our strategic plan to guide our process.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

The time is up for MP Blanchette-Joncas.

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

I think I still have 25 seconds left, Madam Chair, because of the interruption.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Okay. We restarted the clock after we talked about the bells, so go ahead.

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

Thank you.

Mr. Davies, I want to know which research sectors would have received more resources if not for the federal government's cuts. What would the NRC have done back then that it can't do now?

[Mitch Davies]

Our strategic plan, which preceded the approach of the government to seek reductions to the comprehensive expenditure review, stood intact before and it stands intact after. In fact, it guided the decisions that we made.

In a long-term research organization, you have many areas where researchers will build up areas of expertise—