Science and Research committee  Yes. I'm actually going to use an undergraduate example. As part of the NSERC program right now, there are undergraduate awards to support students during summer terms. There is a specific subgroup of that, which is focused on indigenous students. One thing we know about science and technology is that students who get access to research opportunities—especially during their undergraduate studies—are more likely to go on and choose graduate programs—master's and Ph.D. programs.

Science and Research committee  It is very much what the other speakers have spoken about, which is increasing the dollar value of the scholarships. These scholarships go to our best students, and I think that's a real opportunity. I also think that the number of scholarships has stagnated as well, so it's increasing the numbers.

Science and Research committee  I would venture to say that almost all of them are, and some of them are doing work that's very complementary to their studies. For example, they are teaching assistants in undergraduate labs, so they're enhancing their professional skill development and teaching skills. Those are great opportunities, but more and more students, even ones on the best federal scholarships, are also taking part-time jobs as servers in restaurants and other types of positions, because of costs.

Science and Research committee  I don't have the number with me. Maybe Dr. Blit has a better lens on that. I think there have been periods of time when the federal government, for example, has put extensive resources into the system. For example, through the early years of the Canada research chairs and other funding mechanisms, that was an opportunity for the universities to expand and recruit talent—not just to retain within Canada, but also to repatriate excellent researchers like Dr.

Science and Research committee  Thank you. Good evening, Madam Chair, vice-chairs and honourable members of the committee. Thank you for inviting me today. I'm speaking from the Haldimand Tract, traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabe peoples.