University of Alberta Canada Excellence Research Chairs Celebration

Speaking Points

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

University of Alberta — Canada Excellence Research Chairs Celebration

Fairmont Château Laurier
Ottawa, Ontario

February 8, 2011

Check Against Delivery

Thank you, President Samarasekera, for the kind introduction, and congratulations on your recent appointment to Canada's Science, Technology and Innovation Council.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming here tonight to help celebrate Canada's promising future in scientific discovery and achievement.

I would also like to congratulate tonight's panel on their thoughtful insights into their own research and what lies ahead for our country. Tonight they have given us a chance to look for a few moments into the future—Canada's future. I thank them for that.

Like many of you, as I listened to these five world-leading researchers talk about their work, I was excited to hear about their unquenchable curiosity and wondered where their explorations will take them—and our nation.

Many of us in this room, whether now or in generations past, chose to come to Canada to pursue new opportunities and to follow dreams. These five scientists, who are at the top of their careers and the best in the world in their fields, have chosen to come to Canada—in some cases, to come home to Canada—to seek out new knowledge and new discoveries.

I want to welcome Ian Gardner, who will be working to help keep our food supply safe and keep the aquaculture industry strong.

Canada also welcomes Frederick Roth, who is developing new technology to understand how genes function and how they relate to human disease.

I would like to recognize Thomas Thundat, who will work to improve the processing of Canada's oil sands by developing extraction processes that are more energy efficient, use less water and reduce emissions.

We gladly receive Adrian Owen, who will investigate ways to improve health care for brain-injured patients.

And we salute Marcel Babin, whose work will help position Canada as a leader in northern climate research and will revolutionize the way the world sees the Arctic.

I also want to recognize all the other Canada Excellence Research Chairs who have joined us this evening:

• Ali Emadi from McMaster University
• Douglas Wallace from Dalhousie University
• Howard Wheater from the University of Saskatchewan
• D. Graham Pearson from the University of Alberta
• Oliver Ernst from the University of Toronto
• Robert W. Boyd from the University of Ottawa
• David Cory from the University of Waterloo
• Younès Messaddeq from Université Laval
• Bertrand Reulet from the Université de Sherbrooke

To all of these scientific leaders, on behalf of the government, I want to say, thank you for choosing Canada. We are proud that you have decided to bring your families and your research teams here.

Our country has a proud tradition—and a rich legacy—of scientific achievement. From Sir Sandford Fleming, the "Father of Standard Time," to Abraham Gesner, who discovered kerosene, from John Hopps, who invented the pacemaker, to Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who discovered insulin, from Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, to Mike Lazaridis, who invented the BlackBerry, Canadians have made discoveries and introduced products that have changed the lives of people around the world.

Our government recognizes the critical importance that science plays in improving the quality of life of Canadians and in building a stronger economy.

As Prime Minister Stephen Harper said recently, "to remain at the forefront of the global economy, we must invest in the people and ideas that will produce tomorrow's breakthroughs."

It's why the Prime Minister launched our federal science and technology (S&T) strategy almost four years ago.

Our government recognizes that the jobs of the future will be created by talented, skilled and creative people. Those whose research skills and ability to transform their discoveries into practical applications will be most critical to ensuring Canada's enhanced competitiveness and our economic and social well-being over the long term.

Our S&T strategy envisions a Canada that provides individuals, families and communities with a cleaner and safer environment, effective use of our natural resources and energy, better medicine and health care, improved communications, and stronger research and educational opportunities.

We know that to achieve these outcomes, we need to develop, attract and retain more talent here in Canada. Simply put, Canada has to become—more than ever—a magnet for the world's best research talent.

That is why our government created the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Program.

As the former Clerk of the Privy Council wrote in a column this morning, "there must be a test of excellence, not entitlement, when investing in S&T and innovation. Indeed, the pursuit of excellence must be relentless; being average is simply not good enough."

I couldn't agree more. The 19 Canada Excellence Research Chairs must become the standard by which research in Canada is judged.

To all the Canada Excellence Research Chairs, I am confident that you will discover that our campuses are already vibrant centres of excellence. And, with the full support of this government, you will find the drive for innovation growing even stronger thanks to your presence.

In closing, I want to thank the University of Alberta for hosting today's event and for bringing together in one place our newly arrived Canada Excellence Research Chairs. I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen Canada's place in the global economy.

Thank you.