Mr. Speaker, I respect the member on the other side, but what he just said is disgraceful.
Statistics Canada's website shows that federal funding for science and technology has been cut by 6% over last year. For example, the government just got rid of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, which cost about $5.2 million, and it cut the budget of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans by nearly $80 million.
Many academics, business leaders and government experts signed a joint letter calling on the government to cancel cuts to several departments.
I think we have a long way to go to give our scientists the recognition they are calling for.