OTTAWA, May 29, 2007 — The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, today affirmed his unqualified support for manufacturing following yesterday's tabling of the government's comprehensive response to the recommendations made by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) in its report entitled Manufacturing: Moving Forward — Rising to the Challenge.
"The government response details the significant actions this government has taken in addressing the INDU recommendations, and in creating a positive climate for Canadian manufacturers," said Minister Bernier. "The key role for the Government of Canada is to set the overall conditions for a strong and successful manufacturing sector. Our goal is to create a supportive environment that promotes innovation, investment and success — securing manufacturing jobs for Canadians. Our comprehensive response to the INDU report shows that we are doing exactly that."
The government responded to all 22 recommendations in the INDU report, covering taxation, energy, labour, trade, intellectual property rights protection, and regulatory, infrastructure, research, development and commercialization policies. The response highlighted measures in Advantage Canada and Budget 2007, including an accelerated capital cost allowance for investments in new machinery and equipment, initiatives to cut red tape, investments in critical infrastructure, and efforts to create the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible labour force in the world.
Canadian manufacturers reacted positively to the government's response to the INDU report. "The government's response to the recommendations, and its measures in Budget 2007, show that it is listening to Canadian manufacturers, and delivering for them at a time when manufacturers need it most," said Perrin Beatty, President of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. "The response reinforces the good news for Canada's manufacturers and exporters, as well as for the economy as a whole," said Perrin Beatty.
"The manufacturing sector is changing," said Jayson Myers, Chair of the Canadian Manufacturing Coalition. "The government is showing leadership by addressing the short-term priorities and longer-term competitive requirements of the sector," said Mr. Myers.
INDU Chair James Rajotte was also pleased with the government's response to his committee's recommendations. "I was very pleased to see that Minister Bernier and the government provided such a thorough response to our report," said Mr. Rajotte. "Our recommendations
were the result of the input of manufacturers, associations and other organizations from across the country. And it's great to see that the government is listening to them, and to the committee members."
For a copy of the government's response to the INDU report, visit http://www.ic.gc.ca/specialreports. For a copy of INDU's report Manufacturing: Moving Forward — Rising to the Challenge, visit http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?COM=0&SourceId=202171&SwitchLanguage=1
For more information, please contact:
Isabelle Fontaine
Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
