Agriculture committee  Yes, core funding is needed for basic research, but it has to be part of a continuum. I am referring to fundamental questions that require answers in the longer term. They include genetics, studies on mastitis or maintaining a pathogens bank from one year to the next. Those examples show us that restricting the program to five years poses a problem.

Agriculture committee  I could maybe add that, based on how the Dairy Research Cluster program is set up, a work plan is approved for a five-year period, and very few changes can be made along the way. Since we do not have five years to complete this program, it is easier to stick to the initial plan.

Agriculture committee  Of course. If universities do not provide them with funding so that they can work, they will have to look for grants in the private and public sectors.

Agriculture committee  The dynamics of dairy production research in Canada are good. But even so, researchers need money to do the work. If they don't have funding for some reason, they are in fact going to go in an area of research that is funded.

Agriculture committee  That's correct. Research areas often have to be linked to industry priorities. Academics work to move the industry forward. We are often ready to invest in those priorities but, in return, we need funding for the rest of the work we are doing.

Agriculture committee  I am going to answer in French. I would like to further respond to the more specific questions on areas for improvement, especially regarding the administration of clusters. It was a challenge to learn the rules and vocabulary, such as vote 1 and vote 10 or to adjust to the government's fiscal years, with appropriations that are fixed and non-transferable from year to year.