A day after announcing the federal government’s participation in a $189.8 million investment in the University of Toronto, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains took to Twitter to invite opinions and questions on Canada’s innovation strategy.

The Minister answered questions both through written Tweets and video answers.

On the ways that education is a key part of the innovation strategy

.@pcartwrong As a father of two young girls, I understand the importance of #STEM + I believe coding as imp. as reading & writing #AskBains — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

On the government’s choice to focus on innovation

Minister: a high % of your statements re: innovation focus on tech. What about rest of economy? What abt productivity in services? #askbains — Alex Usher (@AlexUsherHESA) July 29, 2016

Innovation prevails in all industries – example: I announced support for agri innovation this morning. #AskBains https://t.co/K0pKQWt4J4 — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

#AskBains @MinisterISED: Congrats on the initiative. Do you see the innovation agenda influencing other govt depts? Finance, ESDC? — Dan Kelly (@CFIB) July 29, 2016

#AskBains @MinisterISED: Congrats on the initiative. Do you see the innovation agenda influencing other govt depts? Finance, ESDC? — Dan Kelly (@CFIB) July 29, 2016

Innovation is a whole of government initiative #AskBains https://t.co/ajaNW1Nhvf — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

In fourth industrial revolution. Critical 4 small biz to digitize = global supply chain success #digital #AskBains https://t.co/727zfucnb8 — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

Specific ways that the government is working on its innovation strategy

What is the government doing to attract talent that will drive the innovation change required in the short and medium term? #AskBains — Justin Scanlon (@justinjscanlon) July 29, 2016

Working with Minister McCallum to look at immigration, launched a pilot project in Atlantic Canada #AskBains https://t.co/aStJ9Wnw8d — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

How the government formed the innovation strategy

Their ideas matter. @srlake was really important in helping us with our position on stock options #AskBains https://t.co/Ij79hWVtaP — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

@NavdeepSBains Why did you choose those 6 specific areas of action? #AskBains #CdnInnovation — Jaskarn Grewal (@GrewalJaskarn) July 29, 2016

Months of feedback and convos with business, academia, civil society and int'l partners #AskBains #CdnInnovation https://t.co/Yu1FfpsicH — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016

The Minister invited questions and feedback from Canadians over the course of an hour — meaning that many well-thought out questions did not get included in the discussion. Some questions that the minister might want to think about:

How do you see the arts, culture and creative economy sector playing into the 'innovation' strategy? @MinisterISED #AskBains #innovation — Youth Art Connection (@YouthArtConnect) April 29, 2016

How do we make startup and innovation culture more accessible in Canada? What resources is the agenda prioritizing? #AskBains — The DMZ (@RyersonDMZ) July 29, 2016

#AskBains: Canadian innovators are creating cutting-edge technologies, but how will the #CdnInnovation agenda help with adoption? — MaRS (@MaRSDD) July 29, 2016

#AskBains how will #CdnInnovation support inclusivity and ensure our community of girls and women across ???????? can participate equally in ICT? — Ladies Learning Code (@learningcode) July 29, 2016

For everyone else, the minister invited further input on the government’s innovation strategy:

1/2 Our time is up but thanks to everyone for the great discussion on #CdnInnovation #AskBains — Hon. Navdeep Bains (@MinisterISED) July 29, 2016