Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (Canada)
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| Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (Canada) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology |
| Legislature | Parliament of Canada |
| Type | Standing committee |
| Jurisdiction | Industry, Science and Technology |
Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (Canada) The Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology is a permanent parliamentary committee of the House of Commons of Canada that examines matters related to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Innovation policy, and industrial strategy in Canada. The committee conducts studies, holds hearings with stakeholders such as representatives from Nortel Networks, Bombardier, Shopify, and BlackBerry Limited, and produces reports that inform ministers including the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade. Members draw on testimony from organizations like the National Research Council (Canada), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Canada Foundation for Innovation to guide parliamentary oversight and public policy.
Mandate and Functions
The committee’s mandate derives from the standing orders of the House of Commons of Canada and intersects with statutes administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Competition Bureau (Canada), and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. It reviews legislation such as amendments to the Competition Act, deliberates on initiatives like the Strategic Innovation Fund, and evaluates programs administered by the Business Development Bank of Canada and the Canadian Space Agency. The committee examines issues including digital infrastructure involving Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, and Telus, procurement matters involving Public Services and Procurement Canada, and standards affecting the Standards Council of Canada and the Canadian Standards Association.
Membership and Leadership
Membership comprises MPs from multiple parties represented in the House of Commons of Canada, with proportional representation reflecting caucuses such as the Liberal Party of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada, New Democratic Party, and occasionally smaller groups like the Green Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois. Leadership positions include a chair elected by committee members and vice-chairs, and chairs have included parliamentarians who later served in cabinets or caucus leadership. The committee collaborates with officials from the Privy Council Office, engages witnesses from institutions like the Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada, and invites experts from universities such as the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia.
Activities and Studies
The committee undertakes studies on topics ranging from broadband access and municipal partnerships involving Infrastructure Canada to intellectual property policy linked to the World Intellectual Property Organization and trade agreements such as the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. It has examined matters including research commercialization with stakeholders like the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, aerospace procurement with Pratt & Whitney Canada and Airbus, and competition in digital markets concerning firms such as Google, Amazon (company), Meta Platforms, and Apple Inc.. Studies often feature testimony from think tanks like the Fraser Institute and the C.D. Howe Institute, labour perspectives from the Canadian Labour Congress, and industry associations such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Information Technology Association of Canada.
Legislative and Policy Impact
Reports and recommendations from the committee have influenced legislation and policy debates on topics including amendments to the Competition Act, funding decisions affecting the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and regulatory approaches for telecommunications overseen by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The committee’s input has been referenced in parliamentary debates in the Senate of Canada, budget consultations with Department of Finance (Canada), and policy directives to agencies like the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the National Research Council (Canada). Its work has intersected with international frameworks such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and bilateral dialogues with United States–Canada relations counterparts.
Subcommittees and Working Groups
The committee has formed subcommittees and ad hoc working groups focusing on subjects like industry studies, science policy reviews, and ethics in research, collaborating with entities such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, provincial ministries like Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and municipal bodies including the City of Toronto. Subcommittees may conduct focused reviews on technology standards with contributions from organizations like the International Telecommunication Union, or on regional innovation ecosystems involving stakeholders such as MaRS Discovery District and the Communitech hub.
History and Evolution
The committee traces its antecedents to earlier parliamentary committees addressing commerce, industry, and scientific affairs in the postwar era, evolving alongside institutions such as the National Research Council (Canada) and the expansion of Canada’s high-technology sectors exemplified by companies like Saskatchewan Research Council, CAE Inc., and Magna International. Over decades the committee’s priorities shifted with landmark events such as the privatization debates involving Canadian National Railway, the telecommunications consolidation including the rise of Rogers Communications and BCE Inc., and the growth of digital platforms like Shopify and BlackBerry Limited. Its evolution reflects interactions with international agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement and domestic initiatives including the creation of the Strategic Innovation Fund and the modernization of the Competition Act.
Category:House of Commons of Canada standing committees