Announcement of Strategic Project Grants Program

Speaking Points

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, PC, MP
Minister of State (Science and Technology)

London, Ontario
February 8, 2010

Check Against Delivery

Good morning and thank you all for being here today. It truly is a pleasure to be back at the University of Western Ontario.

It is particularly nice to be here as the bearer of good news. As you are aware, the past year has been a difficult one for Canada's economy, but we are seeing positive signs of resurgence.

Our ongoing recovery from these tough economic times is a testament to the hard work, perseverance and cooperation of all Canadians. It's also a validation of the goals we set out to achieve with the announcement of Canada's Economic Action Plan.

We know research and development contributes to the creation of a stronger, more innovative economy and a more prosperous Canada. Our government is supporting research in new ways to diversify and strengthen our economy and create more jobs for Canadians.

We're working to bring researchers together with businesses to come up with solutions that address the real-world problems Canadians face every day.

And, in fact, research here at the University of Western Ontario exemplifies the type of research, and the type of solutions, that will make a difference in communities across the country.

That is why I am very pleased to announce that our government will invest over $310 000 in two leading-edge research projects here at Western that will provide important economic benefits to Canadians.

These projects are part of a larger announcement that I am also happy to make today: our government is investing a total of $53.5 million to support 122 research projects at universities across Canada through the Strategic Project Grants program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Let me share with you some information on the two projects we are funding at Western.

I don't need to remind you of the powerful, deadly tornadoes that swept across southern Ontario last summer. They brought damage, expense and heartache to communities throughout the region, as they have before and will again in other communities across Canada.

But one of your researchers here — Gregory Kopp of the Faculty of Engineering — is conducting full-scale testing and assessment of wood-frame roof failures in severe wind storms. The kind of knowledge gained through research projects like Dr. Kopp's will help us build safer, more durable structures. And that will provide benefits for people across Canada.

And a team led by Paul Ragogna of the Faculty of Chemistry is working on new techniques to prevent materials from corrosion. This could have a wide range of benefits, including reduced costs and improved safety, for those who work with heavy equipment and others in the construction trades.

Research projects like these will bring meaningful, tangible benefits to the lives of Canadians.

You know, it's been almost three years now since Prime Minister Stephen Harper launched Canada's Science and Technology Strategy. Our goal was to improve the quality of life of Canadians, create jobs and strengthen the economy for future generations. We also made a commitment to help Canadian universities develop, attract and retain the world's best researchers.

To reinforce our strategy, we have invested over $7 billion in science and technology and increased funding for the research granting councils by over 20 percent. This year, it is estimated that our government will invest a record total of $10.7 billion in science, technology and innovation — more than any government in Canadian history.

I cannot stress this enough: research and development are critical for Canada's economic recovery. However, I am pleased to say Canada ranks first in the G7 for research and development performed in the higher-education sector as a percentage of gross domestic product.

And while the economic downturn has exposed fragile areas in the business sector, it has also inspired ventures into new and emerging industries that will play a significant role in tomorrow's economy. Providing support to these new industries will increase job opportunities for Canadians and make us a country of leading-edge innovators.

Thanks to the Strategic Project Grants program, research is funded in important areas such as biomedical technologies, information and communications technology, energy, the environment, food and bioproducts, manufacturing, and safety and security.

Each of the grants announced today brings academic researchers together with private and not-for-profit sector partners to address real-world challenges that face Canadians.

By funding these projects, we will support talented researchers — like Dr. Kopp and Dr. Ragogna — who will help strengthen our industrial base, create jobs and enhance public policy.

Our government's priority will continue to be rapid and effective implementation of Canada's Economic Action Plan to benefit communities, workers and businesses. At the same time, we are already looking ahead to future challenges, which include restoring a balanced budget once our economy has fully recovered and building a strong foundation for our economic future.

Over the last few weeks, Prime Minister Harper, the Cabinet and I have been meeting with and hearing from Canadian families, homeowners, workers, business owners and researchers from across the country about how best to meet our goals for Phase Two of Canada's Economic Action Plan.

In fact, earlier today, I met with a number of community and economic leaders right here in London.

Already, close to 200 round tables, town hall meetings, online consultations and other events have been held throughout the country, concluding with a new Speech from the Throne on March 3.

Through our government's investment in innovation, science and technology, Canadians can expect to see improvements in screening for cancer, progress toward the development of a quantum computer, advances in renewable energy and much more. These are achievable goals for the near future that will bring great benefit to Canadians, while providing footholds to drive us on to further discoveries and help us build a strong economy for the future.

Thank you.