Thank you.
Mr. Nilson, I've spent twice as much time as a university professor in economics as I have in politics, and I've been struck by the importance of regional universities to their communities. The little “UQs” in Quebec, for example, are central to the future of their communities. So if we're going to have policies that favour new activities and jobs in regions and not just in the big cities, then I think your proposal is really important. I really subscribe to your first recommendation, where you call for “The creation of a funding program by the Federal Government that supports core operating funding for research centres at regional universities, where the economic and social benefits of the applied research can be clearly demonstrated.” For example, in places like Chicoutimi, I notice that the universities are central to their future, and often the outlook for traditional jobs in those areas is not very good.
I guess my question to you is, are you guys banding together in some way to have a united front? I know the big universities such as the University of Toronto and McGill try to hog all of the money, saying they're excellent and you're not. I've been there. Are the smaller universities based in the regions trying to act in a concerted fashion in this area? If not, I think it would be a good idea.