Science and Research

The committee held its first meeting of the 45th Parliament to elect a chair and vice-chairs. The clerk presided over the election of Salma Zahid (Liberal) as chair, Tony Baldinelli (Conservative) as first vice-chair, and Maxime Blanchette‑Joncas (Bloc Québécois) as second vice-chair. The committee then adopted routine motions, including retaining analysts from the Library of Parliament.

The committee dealt with several motions to continue or begin studies. It adopted two Conservative motions to adopt and table reports from the previous Parliament: one on federal funding distribution among post-secondary institutions and another on science and research in Canada’s Arctic in relation to climate change. Both reports will be presented to the House, and the government will be asked for a comprehensive response.

The committee adopted a Bloc Québécois motion, as amended, to study the impact of federal funding criteria on research excellence, using evidence from the previous session and holding four meetings. It also adopted a Liberal motion, as amended to four meetings, to study antimicrobial resistance, including its drivers, impacts, and research needs. A Conservative motion to study the power grid’s capacity to meet the federal electric vehicle mandate was debated but not adopted; members disagreed on whether the topic fit the committee’s mandate and raised jurisdictional concerns. The meeting was adjourned after the motions were resolved.