Science and Research Committee on June 11th, 2026

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

How much time do I have, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You have one minute and 30 seconds.

[Kurt Holman, Conservative, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I would like to give my remaining time to my colleague MP DeRidder.

Thank you.

[Kelly DeRidder, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

There seemed to be a bit of a reaction when my colleague asked questions about merit-based hiring. I'm going to disagree with the reaction, and here's why.

As a woman in STEM, I'm glad it's merit-based, because I went to school, got educated, got into STEM, applied to the job on my own merit and got the job. If it diverts from anywhere beyond that, there are two consequences that happen: First, I question if I'm there just because I'm a woman or if it's because of my qualifications; second, sitting in those boardrooms, people question if I'm just a DEI hire or if I'm there on my own merit.

My question for the council is this: Why ask the questions, then, if it's on merit?

[Shannon Quinn]

It's important that the NRC, as a federal organization, serves the people of Canada, and we want to serve all the people of Canada equitably. There's no either-or in terms of DEI or merit. In fact, it is the experience of the National Research Council of Canada that we do better research, better development and better innovation when we bring to bear the full breadth of the diversity that this country has to offer, so we try to make sure that we track whether we're fully accessible in our programming.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Dr. Quinn.

We'll now end this panel with four minutes for MP Nathan. Please go ahead.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses who are here today.

I'll direct this question to Dr. Nantel.

Many students may not view defence-related industries as a traditional career path, despite growing demand for highly skilled workers...especially women.

What has Niagara College learned about attracting students to emerging fields, such as drone systems, photonics and advanced manufacturing, and how can we encourage more young Canadians to pursue careers in these sectors? If you have any special programs to attract students, especially women, to these fields, can you talk a bit about them?

[Marc Nantel]

Thank you for the question. That's a very good question, and I wish I had a recruitment person right next to me to tell me what they are doing specifically.

As an example, Niagara College is open to the community to come and visit our labs at any time. One big event that we have had every year for the past two years, and I hope it continues, is a FIRST robotics competition at our Welland campus. It brings in about 1,000 high school students, along with their parents, who have built a robot to compete in a particular contest. They spend the weekend at a big festival of robotics, and they visit our labs and talk to our recruiters. There are a number of students from diverse backgrounds, diverse sexual orientations and genders, and diverse countries of origin who come to the college for such events and then learn about our programs. That's one example.

We recruit a lot of students internationally, although fewer than before, and we welcome these students and advertise all of our programs in STEM or other subjects to them, including hospitality, health care and all of that.

We really need domestic students, especially now, and we want to make sure we capture as many as possible. We try to communicate to all of them as best we can.

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

Thank you for that answer.

Perhaps I can pose the same question to you, Dr. Quinn.

In research, do you see more women participating now than you did before?

[Shannon Quinn]

We do, and we see across our own organization the very significant contributions that women are making.

Perhaps I'll turn to my colleague Dr. Lefebvre, because she is very active in this area.

[Julie Lefebvre]

We do keep track of our hires, for example, in order to look at the demographics of those who are applying and, from a merit perspective, are getting opportunities and jobs with the NRC. We've seen a really nice representation and interest coming from women.

Moving forward, we start to see them in some areas where, for example, there might be less representation, particularly in some of the physical sciences, which fall under my division, with increased engagement and interest coming at much higher levels, beyond post-doc. They are even applying for actual positions. It's been very nice to see the progress over the past seven years or so since I've been at the NRC.

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

That's very good. Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You have 17 seconds.

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

Okay.

I would like to thank all of you for joining us here for the study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, everybody. On behalf of all the members of Parliament, I really want to thank all the witnesses for appearing before the committee.

I wish Dr. Nantel a happy retirement. Thank you for all the work you have done in this field.

Before we adjourn the meeting, I want to mention a few things.

Monday, June 15, will be our last meeting before the summer adjournment. We will have drafting instructions to the analysts for the study of governance and accountability of federal science policy, the institutions and the EV study. Please come prepared to give drafting instructions.

The second thing on the agenda will be a discussion of future business and our scheduling when we come back in September, as well as the consideration of the draft report on the impact of the criteria for awarding federal funding on research excellence. We have these things on the agenda.

Go ahead, MP Baldinelli.

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

Madam Chair, on the order of the agenda, could I propose that we go first to the criteria for federal funding, ensure that this is done and then get to the drafting instructions?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Okay.

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

It's just to make sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We can decide on the day of the meeting, I think, as we come in.

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

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We will go through these things. Members can talk to each other and figure out how they want to proceed, but these are the items on the agenda for Monday's meeting.

Thank you once again.

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

The meeting is adjourned.