QUESTION PERIOD — Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Canadian Innovation
February 4, 2026
Senator Moreau, Canada has earned international recognition as a leader in high-quality, impactful research. Can you outline what specific, timely measures the government is implementing to ensure that Canadian research — a lot of which is publicly funded — does not just remain world-class academically but also results in more domestic commercialization, stronger Canadian-owned intellectual property and higher productivity across our economy?
I ask the question because a recent analysis by the C.D. Howe Institute confirms that while Canada produces high-quality research and ranks well in academic research and development, or R&D, we generate far fewer patents than expected from that research.
I’ve often highlighted how Canada struggles to commercialize its ideas, and when it does, entrepreneurs are too often eager to sell to foreign buyers.
The government understands that Canada’s growth has been held back at times by weak productivity associated with low investment toward intangible assets like intellectual property. This government is taking concrete steps to turn this around, which has been reflected in the results-driven approach of the last nine months — not the last 10 years.
This government has made significant investments to elevate intellectual property, or IP, programs such as the IP Assist program, totalling over $150 million. Canadians will also be encouraged to hear that we have the Intellectual Property Strategy to help Canadian businesses understand, protect and access IP.
Thank you for that answer. That is very positive and hopeful, like we say.
Thank you.
Things will change rapidly, hopefully.
Perhaps it’s time for the government to consider tying public dollars to commercialization outcomes here in Canada so that firms scale up domestically rather than sell their innovations abroad, because the problem is there too.
Could you elaborate on what support programs the government does have in place for those initiatives?
To further strengthen the intellectual property ecosystem in Canada, the government will conduct an intellectual property performance review to identify new ways to retain and commercialize intellectual property here at home.
More specifically, the government is already moving toward providing further flexibility to innovators in Bill C-15, with the formalization of regulatory sandbox processes, just as I mentioned to your colleague Senator Klyne.
Extending similar measures in controlled —
Thank you, Senator Moreau.
