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Results: 1 - 15 of 18
View Pierre Paul-Hus Profile
CPC (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon to the witnesses.
The Innovative Solutions Canada program was launched in December 2017. So the 2019-2020 report was tabled two or three years after its implementation.
In the “Challenge Stream” component of this report, funding provided to companies, particularly in the technology and health fields, is discussed. Recipients of funding included 60 businesses. No indigenous businesses received funding, no businesses run by people with disabilities received funding, and only two businesses run by women received funding.
Is there a reason for this?
Lorenzo Ieraci
View Lorenzo Ieraci Profile
Lorenzo Ieraci
2021-05-03 15:50
Thank you for the question.
The Innovative Solutions Canada program is managed by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, or ISED. So I'm not in a position to answer the question directly, unfortunately. My colleagues who work in that department would be better able to answer questions about the parameters of the program and how it is managed.
View Pierre Paul-Hus Profile
CPC (QC)
So none of the three witnesses here today can answer these questions.
I assume the same will be true for my next question. In the 2019-2020 annual report, it states that only 2.6 % of the companies that applied to the programs were majority women-owned companies.
In your opinion, is this low percentage normal?
Lorenzo Ieraci
View Lorenzo Ieraci Profile
Lorenzo Ieraci
2021-05-03 15:51
Again, our colleagues at ISED would be better placed to answer a question about the Innovative Solutions Canada program.
I know, however, that the program, which was developed by our colleagues at ISED, is intended to encourage innovation in technology. Unfortunately, I don't know how the program is doing to ensure that companies are aware of the program and understand how it works.
View Pierre Paul-Hus Profile
CPC (QC)
This program was put in place by the Liberal government, and it was my Liberal colleague who wanted to study it today. We're trying to ask the right questions to understand what happened. Having said that, I understand that this is the responsibility of another department, and I don't blame you at all.
I would still like to go back to the “Challenge” component. Of the companies that applied to the program, 2.6% were majority women-owned, and of those, 2% received funding.
I assume you can't tell us why some companies were selected and others rejected, because that is a matter for ISED. Am I wrong?
Lorenzo Ieraci
View Lorenzo Ieraci Profile
Lorenzo Ieraci
2021-05-03 15:53
That's right. ISED representatives would indeed be in a better position to answer your question.
I can mention one point, though, that I hope will be helpful. The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises, or OSME, is one of the organizations that is part of our department. OSME has offices across the country, and one of its activities is to ensure that businesses view the Government of Canada as a potential client to which they can provide goods and services.
Some businesses may not think of the Government of Canada as a potential client. Through its activities, OSME ensures that businesses are aware of this fact, and helps them by explaining the procurement system. It lets them know what opportunities exist and explains how to be part of the procurement system.
View Dane Lloyd Profile
CPC (AB)
Thank you. That's a great segue to my next question.
A recent open letter from the Canadian council of innovators to the Prime Minister outlined that Canada is falling back disturbingly on the Bloomberg innovation index. We're now in 22nd place, behind Slovenia. I think most Canadians would be shocked to see that their country is not being innovative technologically.
Part of the reason CCI is pointing this out is that our government doesn't seem interested in partnering with homegrown information technology companies to develop those local Canadian innovators. Can you answer why our government doesn't seem to be partnering and trying to promote Canadian innovation?
Bill Matthews
View Bill Matthews Profile
Bill Matthews
2020-11-16 20:38
I can give a couple of reactions to that from a procurement perspective. There are existing tools out there that actually allow for Canadian innovation to be factored into procurement. You often hear from start-ups that—
Bill Matthews
View Bill Matthews Profile
Bill Matthews
2020-11-16 20:38
I am not sure I understand that part of the question.
View Dane Lloyd Profile
CPC (AB)
Well, in my experience, it seems like we've been seeing a lot of sole-source contracts to large American conglomerates. If there is no opportunity for Canadian companies to even bid or even present their services, how are any tools going to be useful for getting those companies business?
Bill Matthews
View Bill Matthews Profile
Bill Matthews
2020-11-16 20:39
I think we have a good range of contracts out there, Canadian and elsewhere, but we do have a sector dedicated to especially small and medium-sized enterprises who are looking to break in. That's what the OSME group does inside PSPC. There are other programs out there as well. There are existing programs that one can use and take advantage of and that try to assist Canadian industry where appropriate.
View Dane Lloyd Profile
CPC (AB)
How is this government looking on building the digital infrastructure? With COVID we know that it's even more necessary, now more than ever, with our EI systems being decades old. What sort of investments is the government looking at making to actually make sure we can operate as a technologically modern country?
Bill Matthews
View Bill Matthews Profile
Bill Matthews
2020-11-16 20:40
I think that question is probably best suited for Shared Services Canada and maybe some others. In terms of our role at PSPC, when there is a desire to upgrade or refresh or replace a system, obviously we would be involved in the procurement. If there is a competitive process, which for those large-type replacement projects there would be, we would have a role in the competition. But in terms of setting out the vision, that would likely be found elsewhere.
View Sébastien Lemire Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In your remarks, you mentioned a number of support programs for industry and innovation, including the Industrial Research Assistance Program, the Strategic Innovation Fund, Canada's superclusters, Innovative Solutions Canada, and several others.
Do you have the feeling that those programs have been well used? In a situation of recovery and long-term vision, which are likely to become permanent, in your view?
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