Mr. Speaker, this government has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to science and technology. We are proud of the work of scientists at the NRC and in other departments and have made important investments to support their research. These investments have helped to attract and retain talent, support excellence in science, bring discoveries and innovation to the marketplace, and build science and technology infrastructure.
I will quickly point to just a few of our recent successes.
Last fall, the National Research Council of Canada flew the world's first civilian jet powered by 100% biofuel.
Last year, Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics, TRIUMF, played a role in supporting the discovery the Higgs boson subatomic particle.
More recently, astronaut Chris Hadfield became the first Canadian ever to take command of the International Space Station.
To improve Canada's economic performance, the NRC has been provided with $121 million, over two years, to support its transformation to focus on business-driven, industry-relevant research.
To conclude, the government is extremely proud of the world-class work that our scientists and researchers do. They help us achieve key goals, such as improving public health, ensuring safety of foods and products, building strong and vibrant economies across the nation and ensuring a clean and healthy environment.