Grand Opening of the David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute

Speaking Points

The Honourable Tony Clement, PC, MP
Minister of Industry

Hamilton, Ontario
March 11, 2010

Check Against Delivery

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure to be here at the Hamilton General Hospital site of Hamilton Health Sciences.

It was only a year and a half ago that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and my colleague, the Honourable Jim Prentice, were here in Hamilton to celebrate a major investment in health research. And today, I am honoured to speak to you at the grand opening of the David Braley Cardiac, Vascular and Stroke Research Institute.

This new state-of-the-art research institute, in which the Government of Canada — through the Canada Foundation for Innovation — has invested nearly $44 million, will bring together over 500 research and support staff and create over 200 new positions and countless opportunities for health service companies in the Hamilton region.

This facility will not only promote collaboration but will also attract world-class researchers to Canada and enable them to be at the forefront of breakthroughs in cardiac, vascular and stroke research.

Now home to two top-notch research groups, the Population Health Research Institute, currently led by Dr. Salim Yusuf, and the Henderson Research Centre, led by Dr. Jeffrey Weitz, the Institute brings scientists and clinical researchers together in a single facility — creating a collaborative environment that would otherwise not exist.

The expertise of their teams has become recognized internationally. The initial results delivered by their research are just the tip of the iceberg. They represent excellent partnerships with industry, are creating knowledge-intensive jobs, and are providing an excellent training ground for young and up-and-coming clinician researchers.

Heart disease is Canada's number-one killer. It touches the lives of virtually every Canadian family. The critical research that will take place here will save and improve the lives of Canadians today and in generations to come.

As you know, the Government of Canada is committed to improving the lives of all Canadians and to making this country's population among the healthiest in the world.

To achieve this goal, we are investing in high-quality scientific research of the kind that takes place here at the David Braley Institute.

World-class research facilities such as this one provide researchers with the tools they need to succeed.

Investing in applied medical research is essential. It saves lives. It creates opportunities and jobs for Canadians. And it helps attract the world's best scientific minds to our research centres.

We believe that prevention and health promotion will keep health care costs down and improve our quality of life in the long term. To this end, we are committed to meeting the challenges of tomorrow by supporting research and fostering partnerships with researchers across the country and around the world.

Guided by the government's Science and Technology Strategy, announced in 2007, our investments in science and technology will help to position Canada in the global, knowledge-based economy.

I am pleased to say that in spite of challenging economic circumstances, the government is sustaining its commitment to science and technology through investments aimed at building knowledge and the economy Canada needs for the future.

In fact, our government is now investing more in science and technology than ever before — the total is expected to reach $10.7 billion in 2009–10.

Through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and its various programs, our government is creating leading-edge facilities such as the David Braley Institute.

They are attracting world-class researchers and enabling them to be at the forefront of breakthroughs in their fields, generating social and economic benefits for Canadians and people around the world.

I would like to acknowledge David Braley's generous contribution to the Institute. His investment will provide health and economic benefits to the Hamilton community and to all Canadians.

This project is a testament to what can be accomplished when the local community, health industry professionals, private charitable foundations and governments work together in common purpose.

Ladies and gentlemen, all Canadians truly stand to gain from the work done at top medical research facilities such as this. The life-saving research conducted here will make significant contributions to Canada and to the global research community.

Thank you.