Question Period Note: 2022-23 Departmental Results Report (DRR) - Innovation, Science and Industry

In 2022-23, what results has Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) achieved to position Canada as a global leader in innovation, and support Canadian businesses as they continue recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) worked with its portfolio partners to promote prosperity and sustainable long-term growth for Canadians and Canadian businesses.
• To stimulate Canadian innovation and competitiveness, ISED invested in clean technologies, enhanced Canada’s domestic biomanufacturing capacity, and supported small- and medium-sized enterprises in adopting new technologies to successfully transition to a digital economy.
• ISED and its portfolio partners funded projects through the Universal Broadband Fund to bridge the digital divide across Canadian communities, and launched the new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy to revitalize Canada’s tourism sector.

The 2022-23 Departmental Results Report (DRR) was tabled on November 9, 2023.
The DRR is Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) accounts of actual performance against the priorities, planned results and resource (financial and human resource) requirements in the Departmental Plan (DP).
In combination with the Public Accounts, the DRR informs Canadians and Members of Parliament of the department’s actual expenditures and results achieved.

Ministers of departments are accountable for their DRRs and must respond to questions on content and format.

The 2022-23 DRR is structured according to ISED’s Departmental Results Framework (DRF) and has three core responsibilities:
• Companies, Investment and Growth
• People, Skills and Communities
• Science, Technology, Research and Commercialization

The department’s DRR also presents the progress achieved in championing innovative Canadian companies and growing a strong, inclusive economy, and includes details on specific initiatives, such as:
• Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
• Net-Zero Accelerator Initiative
• Global Innovation Clusters (formerly the Innovation Superclusters Initiative)
• Innovation Solutions Canada
• Accelerated Growth Service
• Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy
• Clean Growth Hub
• Digital Skills for Youth and the Digital Literacy Exchange
• Intellectual Property Strategy
• Black Entrepreneurship Program
• Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy Canada
• Canada Digital Adoption Program
• Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy
• Tourism Relief Fund
• Women Entrepreneurship Strategy

Specific examples of ISED accomplishments in 2022–23 include:

• Introducing amendments, through the Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP), to:
o introduce a new line of credit of up to $150,000;
o expand eligible loan classes to include intangible assets; and
o increase maximum loan amounts for non-real property loans to $500,000 and associated terms to 15 years.
• Strengthening the biomedical sector by investing in new biomanufacturing projects and facilities for research and development of vaccines, drugs and biopharmaceuticals.
• Conducting a review of the Competition Act to ensure stronger pro-competitive policies and innovation in the marketplace.
• Fostering a culture of inclusivity and growth by:
o providing $17 million in loans to Black entrepreneurs through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund to support 5,083 Black-owned businesses; and
o providing $4.6 million in loans to women entrepreneurs to supported 26,462 women-owned businesses.
• A $300 million Strategic Innovation Fund investment in Air Products Canada Ltd. to build a hydrogen production and liquefaction facility that will promote clean fuels and clean energy in Canada.
• Partnering with the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA-ACSEI) – Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven (OUSH) to launch the Canadian Industry for Ukraine donation portal. The portal helped the national network of more than five hundred settlement organizations provide direct and critical support to those in need.

• The Strategic Innovation Fund enhances strategic areas of economic strength, builds up areas of economic weakness, expands the roles of Canadian firms in regional and global supply chains, and attracts investments that create new market opportunities and well-paying jobs.

• To accelerate the transition to clean growth, the government is investing in cleantech research and development, commercialization and scale-up, and introducing measures to encourage the adoption of cleantech across other sectors.

• The recent government investments in the electric vehicle battery value chain are generational opportunities that are critical for promoting growth, anchoring supply chains and supporting the shift to a net-zero economy.

• In Budget 2023, the Government of Canada reiterated its committed to enhance efficiency in the development and production of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tools. Budget 2023 committed to consult Canadians and international experts to determine the optimal approach for organizing readiness efforts for the years ahead. The government invested over $2.1 billion in 365 vaccine, therapeutics, and biomanufacturing projects since 2020.

• Through the Tourism Relief Fund, ISED helped tourism businesses and communities recover from the pandemic and ensure sustainable growth.

• Through the Canadian Digital Adoption Program, ISED helped Canadian businesses modernize, expand their digital presence and adopt new technologies.

• As of March 2023, ISED has provided high-speed internet access to 93.5% of Canadians.

• ISED invested $168 million to advance the commercialization of quantum computing and develop innovative artificial intelligence and wireless technologies to strengthen Canada’s digital infrastructure.