Mr. Speaker, Canada's economic success in the next century will depend largely on a vigorous and accessible research and development infrastructure.
In its 1997 budget, the Canadian government set aside $800 million to establish the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The government also promised to increase the funds earmarked for granting councils by $400 million over the next three years.
The Canadian government is pursuing two specific goals. First, it is strengthening partnerships between universities and industry. Second, our government is increasing assistance to graduate students in the form of postdoctoral research scholarships.
The Canadian government will continue to play an active role in the field of research, which it sees as the key to the prosperity of all Canadians in the economy of tomorrow.