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& Eggheads | Monthly Meetings | Symposium
| Submissions to Parliamentary Committees
The Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) www.pagse.org
is a cooperative association of more than 25 national organizations
in Science and Engineering. It was formed in June 1995, at the invitation
of the Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada. The national
organizations that comprise PAGSE represent approximately 50,000 individual
members from industry, academia, and government sectors. They work
collectively to represent the Canadian science and engineering community
to the Government of Canada, and to advance research and innovation
for the benefit of Canadians. PAGSE is not a lobby group. It does
not seek an audience in order to advance the cause of specific science
and engineering initiatives: rather, its intent is to address the
broader issues of science and engineering policy at the national level.
To be truly representative of the science and engineering community
in Canada, PAGSE must ensure that individual members of member societies
and associations are aware of the activities that are undertaken in
their name. While details may be found on the PAGSE website (www.pagse.org),
PAGSE also provides a periodic summary of activities.
Bacon & Eggheads:
PAGSE, in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Canada (NSERC), sponsors a monthly breakfast meeting held on Parliament
Hill, and known as “Bacon and Eggheads”. Speakers at the
meetings inform parliamentarians about recent advances in science and
engineering. During the last year PAGSE has organized the following
presentations:
- Can oil sands production and upgrading be sustainable?
Murray Gray, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University
of Alberta
Thursday October 25, 2007
- Trading Water for Oil - Tailings Management in Surface-Mined
Oil Sands
Randy Mikula, Natural Resources Canada
Thursday November 29, 2007
- What are we flushing down the drain? Assessing the hazards
of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.
Chris Metcalfe, Trent University
Tuesday February 5, 2008
- Preparing for the next pandemic: how can we gain the upper
hand against new diseases
Eleanor Fish, University of Toronto
Thursday March 6, 2008
- Bionic Limbs – from science fiction to reality
Thursday April 10, 2008
Kevin Englehart, University of New Brunswick
- Understanding the plastic brain
Thursday May 8, 2008
Bryan Kolb, University of Lethbridge
PAGSE Monthly Meetings:
Guests, representing science and engineering in the government and
industry sectors, are invited to monthly PAGSE meetings to present their
perspectives on science and engineering in Canada, on the activities
of their organizations, as well as the potential issues and challenges
that they would like to see PAGSE address. Members also consider federal
activities and reports and how best to promote and sustain Canada’s
scientific base. The meetings are held at the University of Ottawa.
During the last year PAGSE has welcomed the following guests:
- October 16th 2007: Eliot Phillipson, President,
Canada Foundation for Innovation
- November 22nd 2007: Iain Stewart, Director General,
Policy Branch, Industry Canada.
- January 17th 2008: Claire Morris, President &
CEO, Association of Universities & Colleges of Canada
- March 6th 2008: Jim Bruce, Environmental Consultant,
Climate & Water
- April 25th 2008: David Stewart-Patterson, Executive
Vice-president, Canadian Council of Chief Executives
PAGSE
Symposium 2008 – Leaders in Canadian Environmental Research:
PAGSE invited 6 outstanding researchers to Ottawa on May 8, 2008
to participate in a day of activities including discussions with representatives
of funding bodies and science policy divisions. Delegates’ expertise
covered a range of areas: marine ecosystems, remote sensing, hydrology,
forest disturbance, biodiversity and the impact of climate change
on a major sector of the Canadian economy - tourism.
The researchers attended the PAGSE flagship breakfast series: Bacon
& Eggheads; they subsequently participated in meetings with
presidents and other executives of granting councils, and with policy
analysts from governmental and non governmental agencies. Discussion
focused on research needs, scientific strengths, policy development
and on key issues for a successful Canadian economy. The delegates
gave their perspectives on the research context in Canada, on environmental
challenges, opportunities, intellectual capacity and on science policy
– issues critical to achievement of the ‘knowledge’
and ‘people’ advantages of the federal science and technology
strategy. A reception co-hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons,
the Hon. Peter Milliken, was held on Parliament Hill at the end of
the day. It gave Members of Parliament, senior federal government
officials, granting council executives and invited guests an opportunity
for informal discussion with the delegates.
Submissions to Parliamentary Committees
I. House of Commons Finance Committee
PAGSE submits a brief each fall to the House of Commons Standing Committee
on Finance (HCFC). In August 2007, it submitted a brief on the theme
“
The Tax System the Country Needs for a Prosperous Future”.
The theme was governed by the stated priorities for briefs to the Finance
Committee for 2007.
Summary of the Submission:
Canada’s economic health relies on its human, natural and environmental
resources and a legislative environment that allows effective mobilization
of these resources. In research and development (R&D) this economic
health requires strength and balance in public, private and academic
sector initiatives. The new federal strategy for science and technology
provides the framework for strengthening Canada’s research and
innovation performance across sectors. It also recognizes the need
for measures to encourage industrial and private sector R&D.
Long-term research and monitoring that is essential to the public
good must be conducted in the public sector and supported with public
funds. A dynamic research environment in universities fosters new
knowledge, its distribution to other sectors, interdisciplinary partnerships,
education of students - and ensures a repository of expertise. This
pool of skilled human resources is drawn on by the private and public
sectors.
The research activities of the private sector are motivated by efficiency
and profit margin, as well as by competitive forces: this sector requires
a mix of realistic incentives and regulations. The corporate sector
already benefits from generous R&D tax credits which particularly
favour small firms. Credits are a major government tool for influencing
the overall level of business-led R&D; the issue is thus whether
they should be expanded or made more effective.
The Partnership Group recommends:
- Increased incentives to attract and retain the best scientists
and engineers;
- Increased support for research infrastructure in federal laboratories
and for indirect costs;
- Fiscal incentives to encourage private sector investment in
R&D;
- Support for strategic international partnerships and access
to international scientific programs/data.
II. Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science & Technology
PAGSE submitted a brief to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs,
Science & Technology in January 2008. The Committee was reviewing
the federal S&T strategy.
Summary of the Submission:
The Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) endorses
the overall direction and principles of the Federal Strategy: Mobilizing
Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage. It considers
the strategy a sound policy statement and applauds the promotion of
greater balance between research and development performing sectors.
PAGSE also commends the Government for its measures to sustain and
improve Canada’s scientific and technological infrastructure
through the programs of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the
indirect costs of research program and other measures.
The following could be considered in implementation of the Strategy:
- Measures to improve communication across research and development
performing sectors;
- Implications of transferring non-regulatory federal government
laboratories to university campuses or industry. Transfers could be
effected in parallel with increased funding for university-based research;
- Improved data management / archiving;
- Expanded support for fundamental (university-based) research
and for indirect costs of research; for work in remote areas, notably
the Arctic; and for the vital public service function of federal laboratories;
- Greater support for international research partnerships and
programs; possible establishment of a Fund to support Canadian leadership
and participation in international science initiatives.
III. House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
PAGSE submitted a brief to the House of Commons Standing Committee
on Industry, Science and Technology in April 2008. PAGSE also responded
to an invitation to appear before the committee in June, 2008
Summary of the Submission:
Science is a strategic resource for Canada and underpins its economic
and social well-being. Research and development are performed in the
public, private and academic sectors, each of which addresses different
needs: strength and balance is required across all of the sectors.
The new federal strategy for science and technology provides a framework
for research and innovation; it also recognizes the importance of
measures to encourage industrial and private sector R&D, of international
leadership, of a dynamic research environment and of a repository
of expertise to serve the needs of the economy. Canada must be responsive
to changing priorities and relentlessly pursue scientific and technological
excellence; its research establishment must be productive, innovative
and adaptable.
Research in remote regions is costly but essential to environmental
stewardship, sovereignty, security and knowledge of the resources
and conditions of these regions. Big science initiatives represent
‘flagship’ programs and facilities, and require sustained
financial commitment. Strategic international research alliances allow
Canada to position itself in the international community. They provide
profile, credibility, international leadership opportunities and access
to methodologies, expertise, facilities and data that might not otherwise
be accessible.
There is a need to encourage an integrated ‘systems’
approach to Canada’s science and technology endeavours that
will result in value-added outcomes for its investments. We also require
strong data management, analysis and archiving capacity, in order
effectively to monitor and assess changing conditions, and to stimulate
the development of new technologies.
PAGSE offered the following recommendations to sustain and advance
Canada’s economic health and international stature.
- Strengthen mechanisms for independent scientific advice to Government;
- Reinvest in federal research infrastructure and science for the
public good;
- Encourage the archiving of scientific data, as a legacy for comparative
purposes and analysis and as a base for future development;
- Adopt a strategic approach to investments in big science initiatives
and international science partnerships.
For further information on activities, please visit the PAGSE website
www.pagse.org
17/6/08
