Discussion · Government Orders
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Québécois
“The finance minister says he wants Canada to lead in innovation, but he is cutting millions of dollars from college research. I want him to explain how a country can lead in innovation while cutting funding for science.”
“Mr. Speaker, in the last budget and economic update, the Minister of Finance boasted about wanting to make Canada a global leader in innovation. However, in his last budget, he cut $40 million from the college and community innovation program. We reminded him of that and pointed out the inconsistency. The Liberals say they want to be leaders, but then they turn around and make cuts. The minister ended up reversing course in the economic update. He announced funding that basically reduces the cuts, but the program’s budget is still being cut by $5 million. I would like the Minister of Finance to answer the following question. Does he know of any country in the world that wants to excel in innovation but that is cutting its investments in science and research?”
Mr. Speaker, in the last budget and economic update, the Minister of Finance boasted about wanting to make Canada a global leader in innovation. However, in his last budget, he cut $40 million from the college and community innovation program. We reminded him of that and pointed out the inconsistency. The Liberals say they want to be leaders, but then they turn around and make cuts. The minister ended up reversing course in the economic update. He announced funding that basically reduces the cuts, but the program’s budget is still being cut by $5 million. I would like the Minister of Finance to answer the following question. Does he know of any country in the world that wants to excel in innovation but that is cutting its investments in science and research?