SRSR Committee Report

Supplementary opinion

BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS

First, the Bloc Québécois salutes the Committee members and staff for their professionalism and the work they accomplished during this study, and thanks all the witnesses and citizens who contributed to the debate on research and scientific publication in French.

However, the Bloc Québécois feels that the report does not go far enough and does not fully respond to Quebec's demands in terms of research and education.

The Bloc Québécois wishes to point out that, under the Constitution Act of 1867, education is a prerogative of Quebec and the provinces. Since scientific research is a corollary to education, we support the idea that all funding for university research should be transferred to Quebec, so that Quebec can invest according to its priorities.

Like any developed nation, Quebec needs to train its scientists in order to advance its society and economy.

With the Parent Commission of 1961, Quebec has made considerable efforts to increase access to education. Since then, Quebec has never ceased to ensure that the education system is fair and equitable for all, to ensure that the equality of opportunity is real. These efforts have rewarded the society economically and transformed it into one of the most progressive and equitable in the world, as evidenced by the social solidarity expressed through its many social programs. 

The Bloc Québécois believes that this ideal can only be maintained and pursued if the federal government recognizes the fiscal imbalance that persists between the federal government, Quebec, and the provinces.  The Bloc Québécois believes that the most obvious remedy to this problem is for the federal government to withdraw completely from this field of activity, while granting Quebec the means to assume these responsibilities.