GENERAL STATEMENT

• This is not the first time that the Federal Government has conducted a national survey to better define S&T policy and strategy. Chapter 5 of the Resource Book does in fact give an interesting list of Federal S&T Policy Reports from 1963 to 1993. Before 1990, the accent was very much on science policy and since then the emphasis has, understandably, shifted to technology and industrial strategy, and now to international competitiveness.

• In the sea of problems alluded to and the gusts of variable opinions expressed, engineers have often experienced difficulties in expressing their views adequately. This is the first time that a group of engineering organizations present a common view on the main issues relating to S&T and our national well-being and future.

• Presently, there are over 155,000 engineers in Canada. These professionals are distributed throughout the country in all economic sectors, from natural resources through manufacturing to a wide series of services of all kind. They practice their discipline in a very wide array of fields ranging from underground exploitation of minerals to satellite communications, embracing all areas of science and reaching into economics, management, and social science.

• Importantly, engineers are the bridge between science and technology. Without engineers, technology has little meaning. Therefore, to talk about S&T is also to talk about engineering, and a Federal S&T strategy cannot be envisaged without giving sufficient consideration to the health of engineering itself.

• It is also important to note that engineering is not only a science but also a profession, and a very demanding one. It requires the best of training and calls for permanent education in the face of the relentless evolution of technology, growing complexity of systems, and ever-increasing international competition affecting our manufacturing and service industries.