Science and Research committee  I have a couple of recommendations. As it pertains to the governance of a different approach to that funding environment, make sure that the universities, colleges, polytechnics, CEGEPs and industry are all sitting at the table with an equal voice, recognizing that if institutions are willing to state that they have the partnerships across all three levels, then all three levels having a say should reinforce the role each of those institutions has at that combined table.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Mr. Cannings. I couldn't agree with you more around colleges being poised to be able to make federal policy or societal direction happen very quickly and actively. As you highlighted, within our sustainable building management program, the line between learning and applied research becomes very blurred within a college environment, recognizing that at each turn, our students are looking to have a marked impact on the communities that they live in, whether that be on a dedicated research environment or in the community learning-type environments that they find within their classroom.

Science and Research committee  As one would might imagine, colleges are working with multiple ministries within the federal government, looking to try to connect the variable dots that we have available to us for funding purposes, whether it be directed at a classroom-type environment or an applied research-type of environment, and are simultaneously looking to make progress with federal ministries on some of these important societal issues.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Dr. Jaczek. In terms of some of the allocation considerations, I would suggest understanding what the institution spends on its underlying infrastructure to support its applied research versus its pure research environment, recognizing and going back to my comment that many colleges, polytechnics and CEGEPs have had to effectively bootstrap those resources together with minimal funds coming from a tri-council environment.

Science and Research committee  You bet. Just over five years ago, Okanagan College was granted an NSERC and CFI-funded technology access centre, as referred to by one of my colleagues. In our case, it's our beverage technology access centre, so it specializes in unfermented, fermented and distilled beverages of all sorts.

Science and Research committee  Good morning. My name is Neil Fassina. I am the president of Okanagan College in British Columbia. My route to becoming a college president is somewhat unusual, having started my academic career in three U15 universities, followed by a vice-presidency at a polytechnic and a presidency at a research-intensive university.