Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage: Progress Report 2009

Message from the Minister of Finance

Science and technology have been fundamental priorities of this government since we took office in 2006. We have long recognized that support for research, innovation and highly qualified people are key to our country's future economic prosperity and to improving the quality of life of Canadians.

Our long-term economic plan, Advantage Canada, has science and technology at its core. Ever since its 2006 release, Advantage Canada has driven our investments in creating the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. Our successive investments in people, research, infrastructure and commercialization have also been guided by our 2007 Science and Technology (S&T) Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage. It helps explain why Canada invests more in higher-education research and development, as a percentage of gross domestic product, than any other country in the G-7.

Each budget we have tabled since taking office has demonstrated our government's commitment to implementing our S&T strategy, and our ongoing determination to invest significant amounts in research and development while encouraging the partnerships with the private sector that can turn promising concepts into groundbreaking applications.

Canadians can rest assured that our significant investments in science, technology and basic discovery-oriented research will continue. Throughout our mandate, the government has strongly supported S&T, and we've backed that support with more than $7 billion in new funding. We will provide the investments necessary to ensure Canada's scientific community will contribute to greater prosperity for individuals and families across Canada.

In today's uncertain economic climate, our government considers innovation to be essential in helping our economy recover quickly from a global economic downturn and create jobs and prosperity for the future.

The Honourable James M. Flaherty
Minister of Finance