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Stephen Scott
View Stephen Scott Profile
Stephen Scott
2021-06-01 20:01
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good evening.
Clause 261 is a proposed amendment to provide the National Research Council with the ability to incorporate and stand up arm's-length entities such as not-for-profit organizations. Under this amendment, the NRC would be able to establish special-purpose collaboration models that increase and deepen linkages between NRC researchers and academics and the private sector.
The NRC's new biologics manufacturing centre facility, which will be operated through a public-private partnership over the longer term, is an example of where a new collaboration model could be used.
Stephen Scott
View Stephen Scott Profile
Stephen Scott
2021-05-17 15:56
Yes, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon.
My name is Stephen Scott, and I work as the director general of policy, strategy and performance here at the National Research Council. I am joined by my colleague, Christine Jodoin, director general of the biologics manufacturing centre project.
The NRC legislative amendments are about positioning the NRC to deliver domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity in Canada going forward. There are two proposed amendments to the National Research Council Act. First, there is a proposed amendment to enable the National Research Council to manufacture and produce medical products, such as vaccines, on a larger scale to respond to pandemics and other public health needs.
Currently, the NRC is authorized to produce medical products, on a smaller scale, for things like clinical trials and experiments. This new authority would provide the NRC with the ability to manufacture vaccines on a larger scale, once the new biologics manufacturing centre at the Royalmount campus in Montreal receives regulatory approval by Health Canada.
Second, there is a proposed amendment to provide the NRC with the ability to incorporate and stand up arm's-length entities, such as not-for-profit organizations. Under this amendment, the NRC would be able to establish special purpose collaboration models that would increase and deepen linkages among NRC researchers, academics and the private sector.
The new biomanufacturing facility, which will be operated through a public-private partnership over the longer term, is an example of where a new collaboration model could be used.
Thank you, and we would be happy to take any questions.
Christine Jodoin
View Christine Jodoin Profile
Christine Jodoin
2021-05-17 16:03
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
On a practical basis, to give an example of the interpretation, under this current authority NRC is able to do R and D and production of an experimental nature. Right now, for example, our human health therapeutics research centre can do production on a 20-litre, 50-litre, 500-litre bioreactor capacity basis. Depending on the material in question, this can be up to 250,000 doses a month, for example. This is under the current authority.
With the biologics manufacturing centre, the capacity that we are building and designing is to produce with the capacity of a 500-litre bioreactor and a 2,000-litre bioreactor, and thus a total bioreactor capacity of 2,500 litres. As Stephen said, this is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 litres of production capacity a month, an equivalent of two million doses a month, with the caveat, of course, that it depends on the vaccine type and the manufacturing yield.
This is just to give you the comparative notion that this is larger-scale manufacturing. That's why we're proceeding, to ensure certainty that we can manufacture at that scale, with the biologics manufacturing centre.
View Gabriel Ste-Marie Profile
BQ (QC)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Minister, as you know, the greater Montreal area and other parts of Quebec are home to thousands of tech start-ups. At the beginning of the pandemic, they told us that the wage subsidy program was inadequate in terms of coverage. A start-up is, by definition, a business where someone puts up their own money while working towards a technological development, which, once ready, they can sell and reap the benefits of. The government turned to the innovation assistance program, administered by the National Research Council of Canada.
Now, some start-ups are asking why the program was not extended until September 25, like other income support programs. As we know, the innovation assistance program provides more than $250 million in funding, largely to start-ups. Some have even warned that, if the program ends, they could go bankrupt by the end of the pandemic.
Why end the innovation assistance program when we are this close to the goal line?
View Chrystia Freeland Profile
Lib. (ON)
Thank you for your question.
I must say, I certainly recognize how important Montreal's innovation ecosystem is. Toronto, where I'm from, has a similar ecosystem. Mr. Julian is here, and Vancouver, in his riding, has an ecosystem as well. The same is true of many other Canadian cities and municipalities.
Start-ups are a very important part of our growth plan. Canadian innovators will find quite a few measures in the budget that are meant to help them, especially small and medium-sized businesses wanting to make growth-oriented investments.
The budget truly focuses on growth and the future, with numerous programs that will be particularly helpful to these types of businesses. If you like, I can put together a list and send it to you.
Jennifer Littlejohns
View Jennifer Littlejohns Profile
Jennifer Littlejohns
2021-04-26 11:27
Thank you, Chair and members of the committee, for the invitation to appear before you today.
My name is Jennifer Littlejohns. I am the director for the advanced clean energy program at the National Research Council of Canada. My educational and professional background is in the field of biological engineering and chemical engineering. Prior to my current role, I spent a combined 12 years as a researcher in the private sector and in federal laboratories, where I worked in the area of biofuels production from waste.
The National Research Council of Canada is Canada's largest federal research and development organization. Uniquely placed in the Canadian R and D ecosystem, the NRC is able to leverage relationships and build partnerships between academia, industry and the public sector. The work includes working with other departments—for example, those participating in today's panel. Through these partnerships, the NRC takes research impacts from the lab and brings them to the marketplace. Each year our scientists, engineers and business experts work very closely with thousands of Canadian firms and help them bring new technologies to market. In that vein, the NRC partners with many academic institutions, industry, and government organizations on a range of projects within the biofuels as well as the hydrogen space.
The NRC has been working in the area of bioenergy and clean fuels for over three decades and has provided R and D solutions to many industrial partners. Specifically, over the last eight years the NRC has worked with more than 30 industrial partners through the bioenergy program. These activities range from helping with the development of new technologies for pre-commercial advanced biofuels to also optimizing commercial processes.
Today I'll speak about two NRC programs focused on clean fuels production: the advanced clean energy program and the materials for clean fuels challenge program.
The advanced clean energy program examines greenhouse gas emissions reduction through emerging clean energy technologies. This program is supported in part through Natural Resource Canada's office of energy research and development. Through this program, we're researching areas that include the production of biogas, renewable natural gas, bio-crude and synthesis gas. The program has a focus on using problematic waste feedstocks for clean fuels production, including industrial waste water, food waste and municipal solid waste. Their use for clean fuels production can aim to both reduce waste while producing low-carbon fuels.
Besides waste, many feedstocks need to be exploited for clean fuels. Therefore, we are working with other federal labs, such as Natural Resources Canada's CanmetENERGY, which is working on complementary technologies for clean fuels production from forestry materials.
Hydrogen production technologies are also of interest under this program. The NRC is exploring longer-term opportunities in Canada through zero-emitting processes. An example is electrochemical processes. We also continue to work with counterparts at NRCan who are exploring options such as converting natural gas to hydrogen. Finally, we have activities on life-cycle analysis to identify the greenhouse gas intensity of various clean fuels. We work with other federal partners on that.
The materials for clean fuels challenge program is supporting technologies to convert waste carbon dioxide into net-zero fuels and the production of clean hydrogen using renewable electricity. The focus of the program is on early, high-impact, high-reward research in such materials as catalysts and membranes. There are currently 16 collaborative projects across four countries with partners from academia and promising Canadian start-ups.
Looking ahead, I welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues from NRCan as they establish and launch the clean fuels fund announced in budget 2021. I'd also like to state that the International Energy Agency has identified that biofuels and hydrogen are very key parts of the global effort, along with such other technologies as electrification, to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
With that, I'd be happy to any of your questions.
Mitch Davies
View Mitch Davies Profile
Mitch Davies
2021-02-22 11:04
Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the invitation to speak to you today about the National Research Council's role as part of the Government of Canada's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I'd like to begin by acknowledging that NRC facilities are on the traditional unceded territories of many first nations, Inuit and Métis people. Their ancestral footsteps and rights extend beyond the boundaries that exist today, and we respectfully honour these peoples' rights, history and relationships with this land.
On the specific topic that's the subject of the committee's current study, I would like to address the NRC's role in the government's efforts to develop vaccines and therapeutics for Canadians, and to increase our country's domestic biomanufacturing capacity in the near and medium term.
The NRC is working with partners across government to advance research and development for vaccines and therapies to prevent and treat the spread of COVID-19 in line with the best advice provided by the Government of Canada's vaccine and therapeutics task forces. This includes the NRC's collaboration with VBI Vaccines, first announced in March 2020, to develop a vaccine targeting COVID-19 and related respiratory viruses.
The NRC is also supporting VIDO-InterVac at the University of Saskatchewan in the development and production of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Canada's support for VIDO-InterVac was among the first decisions made to support made-in-Canada vaccine projects.
Through the National Research Council's industrial research assistance program, we are working closely with made-in-Canada vaccine and therapeutics developers and providing more than $32 million to finance six of the most promising domestic vaccine candidates and four domestic therapeutics candidates to prevent and treat COVID-19.
In support of the government's effort to expand Canada's biomanufacturing capacity, the NRC is preparing to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines through the construction of a new "good manufacturing practices compliant" biologics manufacturing centre at our Royalmount site in Montreal. Once complete, the new biologics manufacturing centre will be capable of large quantity end-to-end production of vaccines, approximately two million doses per month, depending on the vaccine candidate.
I'm pleased to report construction of the new facility is on track for completion by the end of July 2021. The completion of technology transfer for specific vaccine and Health Canada approvals of both the facility and the vaccine and related manufacturing processes will then be the steps remaining to achieve production for use in Canada. To this end on February 2, the Prime Minister announced the signing of an MOU with Novavax to pursue the production of its COVID-19 vaccine at the NRC's biologics manufacturing centre. This is a significant milestone in this project, to be working with a vaccine producer with a product well advanced in the development process.
Finally, in support of Canada's biologics manufacturing capacity for research, the NRC is also building a permanent clinical trial material facility at our Royalmount site in Montreal. Once complete, this facility will be able to produce 500 litres of clinical trial materials per month to support future vaccine research and development in Canada.
Further to the work under way to assist in bringing vaccines and therapeutics to Canadians, I'd like to share specifics about the broader NRC contribution to deliver many other measures as part of the science, innovation and industry response to COVID-19, supported by close to $800 million in new funding.
Significant among these measures was doubling funding available to Canada's innovative companies through NRC's industrial research assistance program. This increased funding supported jobs and preserved value through the business and operational challenges caused by the COVID-19 economic downturn. In addition, the NRC leveraged its experience to build a made-in-Canada system to test lots of new-to-market critical PPE, representing over 120 million products that were made available to the Canadian marketplace to meet the needs of frontline health workers. We provided over 3,000 COVID-related advisory services to innovative firms, created close to 900 youth job placements and post-graduate employment opportunities, and supported over 2,200 firms and more than 26,000 jobs through the innovation assistance program.
In closing, I want to assure Canadians that the NRC has pursued many avenues to secure solutions to the many challenges brought on by COVID-19. We leveraged our long-standing relationships from labs to factory floors. I want to recognize the work of NRC employees across the entire organization who have worked tirelessly to deliver so many critical initiatives to support Canadians during this challenging time.
I thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today and I would be pleased to take your questions.
Mitch Davies
View Mitch Davies Profile
Mitch Davies
2021-02-04 13:04
Madam Chair, perhaps I can start. Then I'll ask a colleague to talk about the contractual negotiations.
It is a fact that the researchers at the National Research Council are familiar with the technology underlying the AstraZeneca vaccine. In fact, the facility that is being built, the biologics manufacturing facility, would have the capability to make that type of vaccine. The important matter, of course, is the company with which you're going to strike a deal to pursue that. In this case, we announced earlier this week the MOU with Novavax, which is to pursue production at that facility and in line with our capabilities, which have been mentioned.
I'll ask my colleague if he'd like to provide further information in terms of the discussions that were undertaken with each of the vaccine manufacturers, including AstraZeneca, which I think Minister Anand did address. It was part of those conversations at the early stage.
View Ali Ehsassi Profile
Lib. (ON)
View Ali Ehsassi Profile
2021-02-02 12:14
Thank you very much.
Now I will turn to Mr. Stewart.
I'm quite surprised that you have been barraged with a number of questions that really don't relate to PHAC and instead relate to the NRC. For the benefit of the members of our committee, could you explain the differences and the responsibilities of PHAC and the NRC, please?
Iain Stewart
View Iain Stewart Profile
Iain Stewart
2021-02-02 12:14
Of course. The National Research Council is over 100 years old. It's a 15 research centre institution that does research with a lot of partners, about 800 different partners a year. In any given year, they have many projects with all kinds of companies from all across aerospace, life sciences, agriculture, you name it.
Of course, the Public Health Agency is focused on the public health of Canadians, whether it's funding programs to support things like addressing early childhood development, or the opioids crisis, or, on the other hand, today very evidently preparing for an immunization program and responding to the pandemic.
I'm being red-flagged so I'll stop there.
View James Cumming Profile
CPC (AB)
Good morning, Madam Chair.
Good morning to my fellow committee members.
You have all received the motion that I will be putting forward. I do respect the work of this committee and the work the committee is currently on. However, in my mind, with my colleagues who signed the letter, we have a significant issue in front of us regarding the domestic production of vaccines. Earlier in the year, it was announced that Canada would have a production capability of up to 70,000 to 100,000 doses per month. We've seen that the U.K. has already started with making appointments. Here in Canada we still don't know when vaccines will be supplied, when they'll they'll be stored, and when they'll be distributed.
On November 20, Health officials confirmed that Canada did not negotiate the right to domestically produce vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca, implying that even if Canada developed the capacity to produce vaccines, we're putting Canadians at the mercy of international production. This is a very significant issue for Canada, because without a vaccine and without rapid testing, it will be very difficult to see our economy return. It's been 11 months, and thousands of jobs have been lost. We've spent billions of dollars. We've accumulated, as we saw from the economic update, significant debt.
Although we have supported many of the programs that have been put forward, we do think the ability for Canada to access vaccines and to have the ability to produce vaccines is critical for the economic recovery for the country.
My motion is as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology commence a study on the emergency situation involving the domestic manufacturing capacity for a COVID-19 vaccine;That this study examine the May 12, 2020, announcement by the Government of Canada regarding $44-million to refit a National Research Council facility in Montreal for the purposes of the production of a vaccine in collaboration with CanSino Biologics, and review and examine all related issues, including:(a) the investment of $44-million into the facility and the necessary upgrades to space, technology, equipment and personnel that would need to be made as a result,(b) the potential impact of this initial announcement on the government's plans to procure other vaccines,(c) the facility's prior capacity to manufacture vaccines, including past delivery orders and schedules, and(d) the dissolution of the announced partnership between the National Research Council and CanSino Biologics on August 26, 2020, and its impact on the planned upgrades to the facility; andThat, in order to fully study this emergency situation, the Committee invite the Minister of Health, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, each to appear separately before the committee for at least three hours, provided that(a) in respect of each of the ministers who does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, the Chair shall be instructed to report to the House forthwith a recommendation that this committee be empowered to order his or her appearance from time to time, and(b) in respect of the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, if he does not agree, within one week of the adoption of this motion, to accept this invitation for the length of time prescribed, a summons do issue for his appearance before the Committee at a date and time determined by the Chair but no later than three weeks following the adoption of this motion.
Madam Chair, that is my motion. I do think this is a critical issue for Canadians and a critical issue for this committee to be able to study and to be able to get answers for Canadians.
Thank you.
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
I do not have the amendment in French, but I will read it in English. I apologize. It was submitted in English.
I would like to replace the second part of the motion with the following:
That in order to fully study this emergency situation, the committee invite the Minister of Health, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, each to appear before the committee for one and a half hours
Then it would continue, “provided that”, followed by paragraphs (a), (b), etc.
Seeing no further debate on that amendment, all in favour? All opposed?
(Amendment agreed to)
The Chair: Now, I'd like to go back to the motion as amended. Do we have any further debate on the motion as amended? There is no further debate. Is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The Chair: Perfect.
With that, I will work with the clerk to see what we can do to schedule the witnesses who have been identified in this motion.
With respect to the other studies that are currently ongoing, we will verify the availability of the others—for instance, the telecom witnesses, as well as the competition commissioner—and get back to the committee.
We will also get back to the committee to let you know if there is a possibility of adding additional meetings between now and December 11, if any slots are available.
Also, of course, we will get back to the committee should the House adopt a motion allowing us to have additional meetings in the hybrid format for the week of December 14.
I'm going to turn to the clerk to see if there are any other outstanding action items coming out of today's discussions that I'm missing. No? Okay.
Perfect. Are there any other questions or comments?
Seeing none, I will now call this meeting adjourned.
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
I now call this meeting to order. Good morning, everyone.
Welcome to meeting number six of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of September 23, 2020. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. Be aware that the website will show the person speaking rather than the entirety of the committee.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I'd like to outline a few rules, as usual. Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting, and you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of “Floor”, “English” or “French”.
For members participating in person, please proceed as you usually would when the full committee is meeting in person in the committee room, keeping in mind the directives from the Board of Internal Economy regarding masking and health protocols.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on video conference, please click on your microphone to unmute yourself. For those in the room, the microphone will be controlled as usual by the proceedings and verification officer. This is a reminder that all comments must be addressed through the chair. When you're not speaking, please mute your microphone.
With regard to the speaking list, the clerk and I will be doing our best to maintain the speaking order.
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the committee is meeting today to continue its study on the main estimates 2020-21.
As is my normal practice, I will hold up a yellow card when you have 30 seconds left in your intervention and a red card when your time is up. Please respect the time limits, as we want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to have their turn.
I'd like to welcome our witnesses for the first panel. We have the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages. I will introduce our other guests at the end of this first panel and the beginning of the next so that we do not delay any further.
With that, I will turn the floor over to Minister Bains. You have the floor for five minutes.
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
Thank you very much.
With that we will have to end our questioning, because we have to move into the votes for the main estimates. I'd like to thank our witnesses again for their time today, and their testimony. If any follow-up is required.... I know there was some documentation requested of the deputy minister. Could you please make sure that it gets to the clerk so that he can circulate it to the committee members?
With that, before us we have the various votes under the main estimates. I believe there is some agreement here, but I would like to ask the committee if there is consent to carry all the votes on division and report the same back to the House.
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chair: That is perfect. Thank you.
ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$68,395,032
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$223,992,801
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
CANADIAN NORTHERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$17,365,446
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$45,339,219
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$195,845,837
Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$51,745,453
Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$67,965,000
(Votes 1, 5 and 10 agreed to on division)
CANADIAN TOURISM COMMISSION
Vote 1—Payments to the Commission..........$95,665,913
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
COPYRIGHT BOARD
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$3,834,507
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$459,957,408
Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$7,433,000
Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$2,389,191,705
Vote L15—Payments pursuant to subsection 14(2) of the Department of Industry Act..........$300,000
Vote L20—Loans pursuant to paragraph 14(1)(a) of the Department of Industry Act..........$500,000
(Votes 1, 5, 10, L15 and L20 agreed to on division)
DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$42,274,210
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$228,161,383
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF CANADA FOR THE REGIONS OF QUEBEC
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$40,468,977
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$255,628,788
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SOUTHERN ONTARIO
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$30,390,354
Vote 5—Grants and contributions..........$218,183,579
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$454,716,057
Vote 5—Capital expenditures..........$56,400,030
Vote 10—Grants and contributions..........$461,135,770
(Votes 1, 5 and 10 agreed to on division)
NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$54,411,479
Vote 5—Grants..........$1,304,972,077
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL
Vote 1—Operating expenditures..........$34,825,266
Vote 5—Grants..........$938,395,419
(Votes 1 and 5 agreed to on division)
STANDARDS COUNCIL OF CANADA
Vote 1—Payments to the Council..........$18,321,000
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
STATISTICS CANADA
Vote 1—Program expenditures..........$539,369,331
(Vote 1 agreed to on division)
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
Good morning, everyone.
I now call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number five of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of September 23, 2020. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website. Please be aware that the webcast will always show the person speaking rather than the entirety of the committee.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I'd like to outline a few rules.
Members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of floor, English or French.
For members participating in person, proceed as you usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in a committee room. Keep in mind the directives from the Board of Internal Economy regarding masking and health protocols.
Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. If you are on video conference, please click on the microphone icon to unmute yourself. For those in the room, your microphone will be controlled as normal by the proceedings and verification officer. I remind you that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair. When you're not speaking, please mute your microphone.
With regard to the speakers list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to maintain the order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or in person.
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), the committee is meeting today to commence its study on the main estimates 2020-21.
As is my normal practice, I will hold up a yellow card when you have 30 seconds remaining in your intervention, and I will hold up a red card when the time for your intervention is over.
I'd now like to welcome our witnesses.
Today we have the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. We also have the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development. From the Department of Industry, we have Simon Kennedy, deputy minister; Paul Thompson, associate deputy minister; and Douglas McConnachie, assistant deputy minister and CFO.
Each witness will present for up to five minutes, followed by rounds of questions. We want to be able to get two rounds in for the first hour with the ministers, so I will be very rigid on the clock.
With that, I will turn to Minister Ng. You have the floor for five minutes.
Roger Scott-Douglas
View Roger Scott-Douglas Profile
Roger Scott-Douglas
2020-06-04 15:54
Thanks very much, Mr. Chair, committee members and other witnesses. It's a pleasure indeed to be here.
I'm Roger Scott-Douglas, secretary general of the National Research Council. I'm very happy to be joined today by David Lisk, vice-president, industrial research assistance program; Jean-François Houle, the vice-president responsible for our COVID pandemic challenge response program; and Lakshmi Krishnan, director general, human health therapeutics branch.
Like others, I will begin by briefly explaining a little bit about the National Research Council.
We are the largest federal science organization, with close to $1.2 billion in expenditures. Over the course of the last 104 years that we've been existence, we've served as an instrument of the federal government in trying to find scientific and technological solutions to significant challenges, which is very much the call of the moment. We do that in two principal ways. We have a research and development side where over 2,000 scientists, engineers and technicians work in 14 research centres across 22 sites. On the IRAP side, the industrial research assistance program side, we also have about 400 people of whom 255 are industrial technology advisers working with close to 8,000 firms annually—high-potential, early-stage innovative firms that are so important to the innovation economy of the country.
In the context of COVID, the National Research Council, as part of the Prime Minister's announcement of the $1 billion that's been given over to COVID, received funding and support for, effectively, seven measures, which I would like to briefly outline. Then my colleagues and I would be most interested in answering any questions that members might have. I'll walk through each of them at a very high level, explaining a little bit of what lies behind them. I might, before getting into those details, talk about the important work the National Research Council, along with other science organizations across the country, has tried to provide to the community.
We've had over 350 requests for technical advice, for short-term support for companies, to provide such things as the quality assurance on N95 masks that the Public Health Agency has asked of us, and for other measures that support the community, individuals, the provision of personal protective equipment, and so on and so forth. This I say only to show how connected we are with both the larger federal group as well as communities across the country.
In terms of specific measures, I'll run through the seven key things.
The first—and this is Jean-François Houle's responsibility—is the pandemic response challenge program. We were fortunate enough to receive $15 million in the medical countermeasures announcement by the Prime Minister. There are essentially four themes or pillars to that work. All of these are collaborative programs where the National Research Council scientists pair up their expertise with individuals in academia and the private sector to come up with technological and scientific solutions to these challenges. These are short-term applied scientific efforts. The first theme is around rapid detection and diagnosis. The second theme is around therapeutics and vaccines. The third theme is monitoring and surveillance, data analysis, tracking for testing and that kind of thing. The fourth is around enabling adaptive responses, including innovative solutions for the delivery of health care. We have in the organization both the human health therapeutics branch, of which Lakshmi is the director general, and also the medical devices lab, which Jean-François will be able to speak about.
The second big thrust is the announcement of, in total, about $44 million that will be used by the National Research Council to upgrade and enhance the capacity of our Royalmount biomanufacturing facility.
It's currently a research lab. We're going to be upgrading it such that it obtains levels of good manufacturing practices and enables us to provide testing for promising vaccine candidates. Ultimately, once a candidate has been found, we hope it provides the successful industrial production for first responders and so forth.
We have three vaccine collaborations as well, with VBI Vaccines , an Ottawa-based company with an attachment to Massachusetts; VIDO-InterVac from the University of Saskatchewan; and CanSino Biologics in China, which is one of the leading international vaccine researchers.
In addition to that, on the IRAP side, which I mentioned Dave Lisk was responsible for, we're working with Innovation Canada under the innovation solutions Canada program. We have been given $15 million to set up challenges for which innovative SMEs and others will provide technological solutions. We've launched three challenges so far, surveying and assessing quite a few proposals for low-cost sensors, for diagnostic kits and for made-in-Canada filtration material. We'll be launching a couple more in the days ahead.
In addition to that, IRAP has kind of red-circled, if I can put it that way, and reallocated $12.5 million of its budget to help innovative SMEs develop proposals for the kinds of products necessary for the COVID response, such as PPE, testing diagnostics, and tracking and detection products, and that kind of work. We've also organized subject matter expert teams around those broad themes to provide expert analysis when we can.
The next area, the wage subsidy, is a very significant support. Several of the witnesses have spoken about it. Some groups fell between the gaps, particularly early-stage pre-revenue innovative firms, high-potential firms. The government has provided $250 million to IRAP for the innovation assistance program, which effectively provides highly qualified personnel with a wage subsidy—it's about $10,000 per employee, retroactive to April 1—with the idea of delivering the program as quickly as possible. Unlike others, it is not an entitlement program; it's a discretionary program. We're evaluating firms with the highest potential to go forward. We're happy to say that as of May 28, we have already established 1,939 contribution agreements for close to $200 million.
The final thrust of work, which is a critically important part of our future, is youth, particularly those highly qualified future STEM innovators. In that regard, we have a couple of very important programs under way. The government has a long-standing youth employment program. It was topped up to the extent of about $153 million—IRAP will have a portion of that—and will be targeting SMEs, meeting their needs to keep graduates. Within the National Research Council, we have a need to bring on STEM grad students and post-docs, and we've allocated $7.5 million to do that.
Thank you very much.
Jean-François Houle
View Jean-François Houle Profile
Jean-François Houle
2020-06-04 16:37
Sure. I will probably talk more about the technology and the solution development around diagnostic testing, and then my colleague David Lisk can talk about the work they're doing with companies that are closer to market and dealing with more mature technologies.
Within the pandemic response challenge program, we do have a “detect and diagnose” pillar of research. That one is aimed at identifying platforms that are maybe six to 12 months out in terms of development to maturity. Our role is really to act as an accelerator to help develop those technologies. In some cases, these technologies come from academic centres. Some have in fact been supported by Rob and his group, maybe at Genome Canada or the CIHR. We provide them with the expertise and knowledge to help them robustize the technology and eventually scale it, with the hope that this will be transferred over to a company. We also work with SMEs that have promising technologies and need to deal with some thorny research issues in order to get this technology to market as well.
That has been the approach within the pandemic response challenge program. We are also launching challenges for loftier goals—higher risk, higher reward. We actually launched recently a call for proposals for technologies from academic centres and small companies that could augment some internal technology at the NRC. That would allow for a chewable diagnostic or something that could be deployed somewhere else or closer to the patient, or maybe even at home.
With that, maybe I'll turn it over to Dr. David Lisk to talk about the work we're doing with companies.
David Lisk
View David Lisk Profile
David Lisk
2020-06-04 16:39
Okay.
We work with 8,000 companies a year. Many of them are in the health space. We have invested currently in 12 COVID test companies that are going to test solutions to find the virus or the antibodies; plus, we have current clients who have technology and tracking space. One of them is Thrive Health, which currently has seven million users in Canada who are actively tracking.
I'll stop there in the interest of time.
View Glen Motz Profile
CPC (AB)
You commented that obviously intrusions into research have occurred. Do you recall back in 2014 the cyber-threat that occurred inside the systems of the National Research Council? It resulted in a complete shutdown of their entire network and, in fact, it had to be entirely replaced right down to the wiring. This intrusion is said to have cost in excess of $100 million to remedy. Do you think the motive behind that was fraud as well or some other purpose?
Scott Jones
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Scott Jones
2020-05-20 15:45
We assessed that the National Research Council breach was very much focused on intellectual property theft.
View Glen Motz Profile
CPC (AB)
You guys were involved in that investigation. Did you also help secure the new network?
View Glen Motz Profile
CPC (AB)
Okay, good.
The government of the day pointed the finger at Chinese-state-sponsored actors. Would that be correct in your assessment?
Scott Jones
View Scott Jones Profile
Scott Jones
2020-05-20 15:46
That was the statement given by the government at the time.
View Glen Motz Profile
CPC (AB)
Okay, so now, moving forward, was your organization, Mr. Jones, as an adviser on cybersecurity and computer security, consulted on the new partnership agreement between the National Research Council, the Chinese-owned CanSino Biologics and the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences for the development of the new COVID vaccine?
Scott Jones
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Scott Jones
2020-05-20 15:46
We are regularly working with the research partners across the government, including all of the health sector, to make sure that we're providing the most up-to-date cybersecurity advice so that defences continue to be right at the cutting edge.
Scott Jones
View Scott Jones Profile
Scott Jones
2020-05-20 15:46
We've been involved in working on all matters of cybersecurity with the research areas.
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, meeting number six.
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(5) we are studying the supplementary estimates (B) for 2019-20.
We have with us today from the Department of Industry Mr. Simon Kennedy, deputy minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, as well as Mr. Douglas McConnachie, our assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer, corporate management sector, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Gentlemen, you will have 10 minutes to present, followed by a round of questions. The floor is yours.
View Sherry Romanado Profile
Lib. (QC)
We have some votes on the supplementary estimates (B), so I ask the members to stay for a moment.
Can I get unanimous consent to lump together the votes that we have to do today?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
ATLANTIC CANADA OPPORTUNITIES AGENCY
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$3,932
Vote 5b—Grants and contributions...........$3,457,536
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to on division)
CANADIAN NORTHERN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$500,000
(Vote 5b agreed to on division)
CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY
Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$69,178,862
Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........$930,000
(Votes 5b and 10b agreed to on division)
DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$2,696,570
Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........$67,926,793
(Votes 1b and 10b agreed to on division)
DEPARTMENT OF WESTERN ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$49,043
Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$5,524,559
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to on division)
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF CANADA FOR THE REGIONS OF QUEBEC
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$34,622
Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$2,790,618
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to on division)
FEDERAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR SOUTHERN ONTARIO
Vote 1b—Operating expenditures..........$46,519
Vote 5b—Grants and contributions..........$4,434,631
(Votes 1b and 5b agreed to on division)
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Vote 5b—Capital expenditures..........$1,375,185
Vote 10b—Grants and contributions..........$5,560,708
(Votes 5b and 10b agreed to on division)
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL
Vote 5b—Grants..........$1
(Vote 5b agreed to on division)
The Chair: Shall the chair report the votes on the supplementary estimates (B) to the House?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chair: Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.
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