Science and Research committee  It's been just developing those relationships and having the expertise within our institution. Our institution, as you know, supports the entire province. We support all industry sectors. When industry or a community has a problem, we can pull together a team to deliver those solutions.

Science and Research committee  We're sensitive to that for the students. Within the research area, we actually initiated looking at researching food security among our students. We're also working with local food supports and providing opportunities at campus for our students. I know that housing is an issue in Saskatoon, but I don't think it's as critical as in other areas of the country, given some of the housing availability that we have.

Science and Research committee  This campus is very exciting. It's the first place anywhere in the country where we're going to have a U15 university, a top polytechnic and an innovation park all together in one location. The opportunities for collaboration for that sector are huge. We have really good, close relationships within the community and with industry partners.

Science and Research committee  That's a great question. Yes, there's a big difference. There's some applied research at universities, of course, but a lot of it is basic theoretical knowledge research, which is critical for our society. In the polytechnic sector, it's all about the partners and dealing with solutions, so we need funding mechanisms that can work at the speed of industry, as was talked about at the earlier session, and are more timely.

Science and Research committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the committee for the invitation to appear as part of your study on the balance of federal government funding to post-secondary institutions. I bring to you, as part of my comments, 16 years of experience overseeing research administration at a U15 university, and now almost nine years of experience at a top-10 polytechnic and college.