Science and Research committee  I may have to ask for a clarification on the question of public funding to support citizen science. We have funding that we direct towards citizen science programs sometimes as a grant contribution to an NGO, for instance. Sometimes it's a university partner, or sometimes it's our own program and we provide some funding to facilitate training or equipment in support of those programs.

Science and Research committee  Thank you for this question. I've perused this portal and find it very useful. I know of many citizen science projects in the country that aren't on the portal, but it captures a number that I was unaware of. It's a valuable portal. My understanding is that it comes from ISED and that there are some programs in various other departments that are also represented on the portal.

Science and Research committee  Thank you for this question. I'll add a bit and then I would suggest to the chair that Parks Canada may have a big role to play and may have some comments on this as well. I think the portal is a good start to this, but a lot of the public might not be aware of it. As we grow citizen science projects, I think it would be very helpful to have communications and outreach strategies to work with schools and with communities to really expand on things.

Science and Research committee  Please go ahead, Aura. I would also suggest that Jennifer Provencher can probably provide some input on this. Thank you.

Science and Research committee  Thank you for this question. It is a good one, of course. This really gets into the policy realm, which is beyond the purview of the science, the scientists, the science managers and the science advisers here. We are certainly very interested and active in trying to understand the fertilizer usage in partnership with AAFC colleagues and understanding the impacts on the environment.

Science and Research committee  A lot of this will be deferred to our colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, but I would also submit that Aura Pantieras and the Canadian Wildlife Service have some comments to support this.

Science and Research committee  Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chair and honourable members. On behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada, thank you for the opportunity to speak here today. Thanks to the committee for bringing the important topic of citizen science to the table. Canadians care deeply about the environment—whether it is in terms of the weather, climate, wildlife, air quality, pressure or the state of our rivers, lakes and oceans.