Minister Clement celebrates fusion of music and technology

Takes in jazz masterclass delivered via Government-supported broadband network

Ottawa, February 8, 2011 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, today attended a broadband jazz masterclass, delivered via the high-speed CANARIE network, that linked students at Ottawa's National Arts Centre with renowned trombonist Wycliffe Gordon in New York City. Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE) is Canada's only national public research network infrastructure backbone, an ultra high-speed network, hundreds of times faster than the Internet, which facilitates leading-edge research and big science projects across Canada.

"Seeing this innovative fusion of distance education and culture take place over the Government of Canada-supported CANARIE network is incredibly exciting – it's a prime example of what ICT adoption and the digital economy are all about," said Minister Clement.

In 2007, the Harper Government allocated $120 million over five years to maintain, extend and upgrade the CANARIE research network infrastructure, and to develop innovative research tools and next generation platforms to maximize its use in support of collaborative research.

The effective adoption of ICT dramatically increases the economy's ability to innovate, which is why Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, launched by Prime Minister Harper, identified the ICT sector as a priority of that strategy. Since then, the Government has followed through with significant investment in ICT- and technology-related initiatives.

"One of the goals of our Science and Technology Strategy is to create opportunities for governments, business and researchers to band together to drive economic activity through science. Building the research infrastructure of tomorrow – such as supporting Canada's CANARIE network – is an important step towards reaching this goal," said the Minister.

CANARIE connects more than 39,000 researchers at 87 universities, 103 colleges, 49 Cegeps, 84 provincial and federal government labs and research parks, 58 hospitals and health networks, 31 cultural institutions, and thousands of K-12 schools across the country. It is also connected to 10 regional and 2 territorial research networks in Canada and to 100 international peer networks in 80 countries.

For more information on CANARIE, please visit http://www.canarie.ca.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Heather Hume
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502