Industry committee  Okay, I'm happy to follow up.

Industry committee  Absolutely, and we have a number of networks. We have a PEM fuel-cell network, a hydrogen research network, and a solid oxide fuel-cell network outside of Alberta. They're tied into universities across the country, identifying the research expertise of each professor. We have a website where we tie in and they can find out what each is doing.

Industry committee  Actually, the government does now. Many programs require researchers who are getting money to link in with the private sector. You have to have a certain matching amount. That sort of guides the research that they do. But I think you do need some fundamental pure research going on, and you don't want to hamper that at the same time.

Industry committee  I did want to add something that's not directly related to IRAP, but it is related again to the need to look at these sectors and to provide national strategies, and within those to take a purchase incentive. I think it's ironic that all of our wind technology is imported, mainly from Denmark, where they had a national strategy for wind power, but there's no incentive for fuel-cell products.

Industry committee  They have a challenge with greenhouse gas reduction and creating clean energy. A lot of fuel cells operate directly on natural gas, but because of their efficiency, they help reduce the greenhouse gases and the emissions that come out of using natural gas. We're not talking about replacing fossil fuels.

Industry committee  It's enough for 20,000.

Industry committee  Absolutely, and there is that. We have memorandums of understanding with the California fuel cell partnership and the Scandinavian fuel cell partnership, where we share lessons learned. Right now there is a lot of global collaboration to get the market established. Then we'll blow our brains out in competition.

Industry committee  I appreciate what John is saying, but at the end of the day, we do make choices. You have to. As individuals we have to make choices, and as governments we have to make choices. So it's not really possible to say “Let's just create a policy that lets whoever emerges win” unless you create it equally for everybody.

Industry committee  In summary, again, the hydrogen fuel cell sector is the number one clean energy R and D investor in Canada, with over $1 billion of investment in the last five years. I hope we can keep that going, and I would recommend that the government restore a policy on hydrogen fuel cells—in other words, develop a national strategy.

Industry committee  Thank you very much, and thank you for the invitation to speak today. I'm going to be referring to the hydrogen fuel cell sector of Canada. It's interesting, because I think the hydrogen fuel cell sector represents a direction the government is trying to push the industry towards in science and innovation.

Finance committee  Again, the investment the federal government has already made has been completely returned. The $100 million alone, in terms of the income tax of the 2,000 jobs and the economic spin-off benefits, have already been returned multi-fold. So there's the immediate yield. In terms of your question related to the impact on greenhouse gases, we're talking about implementing a 20-fuel-cell bus fleet in Whistler before, during, and after the Olympics.

Finance committee  I think $300 million a year over the next 10 years would be a reasonable investment and would be matched by the private sector. It's not nearly what the U.S. is doing, but we are much more focused in what we're doing.

Finance committee  Yes, the hydrogen and fuel cell technology definitely improves emission particulates for clean air and greenhouse gases. It's a zero emission or a near zero emission technology. As to the cost, we're making a proposal to match what the private sector is doing. We're calling for $300 million a year in investment for the three areas I discussed.

Finance committee  Mr. Chair, can we stick to the mandate of the committee? It seems to be a political debate rather than direct questions about what's being put into the budget. From everybody, if we could do that, I'd really appreciate it.

Finance committee  Canada is an exporting nation. Our wealth comes from exporting, and in terms of our sector for hydrogen and fuel cells, we are going to be exporting and generating revenue that comes into Canada. So we're looking for an even playing field with the major markets. Obviously the U.S. is Canada's largest export market.