Speaking Points

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

Announcement of EAP Funding Initiatives for Southern Ontario and Presentation of Canadian Innovation Leader Certificate to Activation Laboratories Ltd.

Hamilton, Ontario
September 4, 2009

Check Against Delivery

Thank you for the warm introduction.

Dr. Hoffman, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

It is a great pleasure to be back in Hamilton and to bring good news about the Government of Canada’s support for research and innovation in Southern Ontario.

It is no secret that the economic downturn has hit Southern Ontario particularly hard. The Government of Canada has recognized it, and we are committed to ensuring that this region is an important part of the economic recovery. I am here today to let you know how we’re doing just that. I am here to give you details of the progress we are making and to bring good news to a fine and innovative Hamilton-based firm: Activation Laboratories Ltd.

In late January, Canada’s Economic Action Plan committed $1 billion over two years to a new Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) — an economic stimulus initiative to create employment opportunities and support adjustment measures in communities affected by the economic downturn. This fund supports science and technology initiatives, community transition plans for economic development and other measures that promote economic diversification.

Also, on August 13, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the creation of the new Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, or FedDev Ontario for short, and named me the Minister of State responsible.

Businesses and the people of Southern Ontario have always been part of the economic engine of Canada. Research and innovation by our local companies have provided jobs and provided Canadians with a high quality of life. As our country begins to recover from the global recession, science and new technologies will help spur economic growth and offer a better quality of life. These are goals that our government supports.

That is why I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is investing $45 million to support research and innovation at new and growing small and medium-sized businesses throughout Southern Ontario. Funds are going to companies that can create jobs and get the economy back on track.

This money has been made available through National Research Council Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) — $17.5 million has been provided from CAF and $27.5 million from FedDev Ontario.

What kind of firm receives this new federal assistance, you might ask? It is a broad range of companies — from innovators in high tech and health care to wine producers. They have several things in common, however. They are all small and medium-sized enterprises, founded by people with an entrepreneurial spirit and dedicated to transforming new ideas into new solutions, products and services for Canadian and global consumers. They are job creators. They are community builders. They are people like Dr. Eric Hoffman of Activation Laboratories Ltd.

In the past four years, this analytical services company has grown from 85 people to 150 and counting. It has provided contract analytical services covering all aspects of analysis from academic research applications, exploration and environmental baseline studies through mine development and production to analysis of refined metals. It has also provided analytical services in many other fields, including petroleum exploration and refining, industrial minerals, forensic analysis, pharmaceutical and clinical testing, environmental and occupational health analysis and agriculture and materials testing. Its clients are located around the world. They are serviced by facilities in Canada, in Australia, in Chile, in Peru, in Mongolia and, yes, even in Greenland. It is a remarkable Canadian enterprise.

I believe Dr. Hoffman will tell you, however, that Activation Laboratories did not entirely do it on its own. For almost two decades, the firm has received the assistance of NRC-IRAP with more than $1 million in financial contributions to develop new technologies — technologies of isotope analysis or a new technique for biomarker quantitation, for example.

Today, I have more good news for this burgeoning enterprise. It is with great pleasure today that I announce a Government of Canada contribution of up to $749 760 to Activation Laboratories through NRC-IRAP for the development of a mineral liberation analyzer. This project will develop facilities and technologies providing quantitative and statistically robust mineralogical data to the mining industry by using automated e-beam technology. This nanotechnology will keep the firm as a commercial leader of geo-analysis and related services.

My sincere congratulations!

And there is more.

I am also here today to present this fine company with a Canadian Innovation Leader certificate. This certificate recognizes small and medium-sized enterprises that have successfully developed innovative technologies and crossed the bridge that links research to commercialization, jobs and economic growth. It acknowledges that Activation Laboratories is a Canadian role model — a role model for entrepreneurs in communities throughout our country.

Once again, congratulations! Your company is an example of the best Canada has to offer!

We need to keep building a competitive advantage for Southern Ontario and for Canada as a whole. We need to invest in science and technology to ensure that we gain — and maintain — a competitive edge. We need to encourage the growth of highly skilled jobs.

Our government is doing just that through measures announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. And you are doing it right here in the Hamilton area.

My sincere congratulations to the entire Activation Laboratories team. Dr. Hoffman, I look forward to more good news from your company in the not-too-distant future.

Thank you.