Speaking Notes

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

Presentation of an NRC-IRAP Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate to Atlantic Industries

Cambridge, Ontario
July 20, 2009

Check Against Delivery

Thank you for the warm introduction.

And my thanks to the people of Atlantic Industries Inc. for hosting us here today so we can make this presentation.

It is especially gratifying to be in Cambridge, Ontario to bring good news about the Government of Canada's support for innovation in our community.

Since my appointment as Minister of State (Science and Technology) in October 2008, I have had the opportunity to travel across our great country. I have seen first-hand the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial drive — a spirit that is alive and well, and flourishing not only in Cambridge but across Ontario and throughout Canada, despite these difficult economic times.

Atlantic Industries is an exceptional company, to say the least. Founded in 1965, it has become a world leader in developing efficient, engineered solutions in corrugated metal structures, modular steel bridges, mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls and other products used in infrastructure construction and renewal in the transportation, public works, mining, forestry and environmental sectors.

Their new design tools led to a 25-percent reduction in the total costs of the steel, assembly and engineering design time for the first bridge designed using these new tools. These cost savings will be replayed for each and every “large span” bridge project taken on by Atlantic Industries.

Canada and the world need strong leaders and innovators, such as Atlantic Industries, to help develop novel products for the engineering and construction industries.

The company's dedicated management team has not only been driving excellence in research and development but has also gone above and beyond to provide services and products of exceptional quality and usability.

The Government of Canada, through National Research Council Canada's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC–IRAP), has supported Atlantic Industries with $95 870 in financial contributions since 2005. The company's success certainly demonstrates the potential of collaboration between the federal government and Canadian industries.

So it is with great pleasure today that I am presenting Atlantic Industries with a Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate. This certificate recognizes small and medium-sized enterprises that have successfully developed and applied innovative technologies linking scientific research to commercialization, jobs, and economic growth. It highlights Atlantic Industries' position as a role model for the whole country, and for entrepreneurs in communities in all regions. Congratulations!

Allow me take this opportunity to tell you in broad terms why the federal government supports innovation through science and technology. It is really quite simple. We support it because it creates jobs. It improves the quality of life of Canadians. And it strengthens our economy for future generations.

Two years ago, the Prime Minister launched Canada's Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy. Our government will have invested more than $7 billion in new investments by 2011 to help stimulate economic activity through large-scale S&T investments.

Budget 2009 sets out our plan to spend another $5.1 billion on S&T-related stimulus efforts — a historic level of new funding commitments in a federal budget. Included in this plan are new resources totalling $200 million over two years for NRC–IRAP. It is through NRC–IRAP that we are able to support the achievements of innovative firms such as Atlantic Industries.

We need to build a competitive advantage for Canada. We need to invest in S&T to ensure that we gain — and maintain — a competitive edge. We need to encourage the growth of highly skilled jobs.

Again, my sincere congratulations to Mr. Gaston and his team. I look forward to more good news from your company in the not-too-distant future.

I would now like to invite Mr. Gaston to come up here for the official certificate presentation.