Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the knowledge economy emerging and becoming an ever more vital contributor for continued sustainability of northern economic growth, it would seem like a sector this government would seek to stimulate through strategic investments and development and innovation strategy that rewards private sector investment in innovative solutions. This would also prepare us for the coming reality of carbon pricing and green economy solutions to northern mining and manufacturing. For, in the end, innovators will move to jurisdictions that support innovation. That is why I am quite dismayed to find that our Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has not commissioned a strategic plan on how to benefit from the emerging knowledge economy.

On March 22nd of last year, the Government of Canada committed in its 2017 budget the next steps for an innovation in jobs skill plan. This is a long-term plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class by helping Canada's highly skilled work force develop the skills they need to evolve and keep up with the demands of a changing workplace. This was followed by the announcement of $1.26 billion in the Strategic Innovation Fund on March 30th, which will ensure that Canada remains a top destination for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs. This is the kind of investment that we desperately need here at home, Mr. Speaker.

Business innovation funding is available to Canada's aerospace and automotive firms and will expand to support high-growth tech sectors such as clean technology, information, communications, and agri-food.

Mr. Speaker, it's very clear to me that this indicates that not only does the federal government appreciate the need to invest in our innovators, but they are giving a helping hand to provinces and territories by contributing some of this money to our local governments so we can develop innovation on a local level. This government should not only take its note from its federal counterparts, but also attempt to capitalize on that funding to support our local innovators.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the deputy minister of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and I'll quote what he said here: "Other departments are looking at research facilities, but I don't think, to be honest with you, it's fair to say that we don't actually have a focus now in ITI that is looking specifically at the innovation and knowledge agenda."

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the Members of the other side of the House that the first commitment in its mandate of this government is, and I quote: "Making strategic investments in infrastructure, resource development, work force development and the knowledge economy." Failing to even implement the strategic plan is not what we expected when we all concurred on this document.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister on ITI on innovation and knowledge economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.