Minister of Industry and Minister of State for Science and Technology Welcome Stephen Hawking to Canada

OTTAWA, June 20, 2010 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today issued the following statement:

“We are honoured to welcome to Canada one of the world's greatest scientists, Dr. Stephen Hawking, as he begins his six-week residency at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario.

“Dr. Hawking has made extraordinary contributions to theoretical physics during his long and remarkable career, and his presence here in Canada is a testament to the formidable science community that Perimeter Institute has built in the past ten years. During that time, the Government of Canada has been a proud partner of the Institute.

“We wish Dr. Hawking and his colleagues well as they begin a summer of collaboration.”

Through Industry Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the federal government has been a strong supporter of Perimeter Institute. This support includes $50 million announced in Budget 2007 that supports the Institute's leading research, education and public outreach activities.

The attraction and retention of the world's top research talent is a major thrust of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy.

Minister Clement and Minister of State Goodyear met privately with Dr. Hawking before his presentation at Perimeter Institute. Minister of State Goodyear will also attend a dinner with the professor tonight.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Lynn Meahan
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502