Government funding to industry associations will help Canada compete globally and create new, well-paying jobs for Canadian workers
(No. 237 - August 18, 2011 - 10:30 a.m. ET) The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and Claude Carignan, Senator and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate, today announced that four Canadian aerospace and defence associations will receive nearly $300,000 to help their sectors compete globally.
The funding announcement, hosted at the Bombardier Aerospace headquarters in Dorval, is part of the Harper Government’s Global Opportunities for Associations (GOA) program, which this year will provide significant funding to 38 national associations to help them undertake international business activities that will help grow these sectors globally.
“Canada’s world-class aerospace and defence sectors are key drivers of our economy, contributing billions to our GDP and employing more than 100,000 Canadians,” said Minister Fast. “Our government is firmly committed to helping these crucial sectors continue to grow, attract investment and compete globally. The assistance we are providing will help them do just that. Their success will grow our economy and create new, well-paying jobs for Canadian workers.”
This year’s funding recipients within the aerospace and defence sectors are the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, the Air Transport Association of Canada, the Canadian Business Aviation Association and the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries.
“The aerospace industry is predominately export-driven, with more than 80 percent of all Canadian aerospace revenues derived from international markets, supporting over 80,000 jobs across Canada” said Jim Quick, President and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada. “This funding will help our association respond to international challenges associated with an increasingly competitive global marketplace and help to ensure the continued success of Canada’s aerospace sector—the fifth-largest in the world—by contributing to maintaining and enhancing its market share.”
“The Canadian Business Aviation Association is pleased with Minister Fast’s GOA announcement of funding within the aerospace sector,” said Sam Barone, President and CEO of the Canadian Business Aviation Association. “These targeted government partnerships and commitments ensure that strategic industries and economic enablers, such as the Canadian aerospace sector, help increase innovation and skilled job creation.”
“When Canadian businesses succeed abroad, jobs and prosperity are created here at home,” concluded Minister Fast. “Promoting Canada’s strengths and expertise to international business audiences is a key part of our job-creating free trade plan, and our government will continue to tell the world about Canada’s world-leading aerospace and defence sectors in order to benefit Canadian businesses, workers and their families.”
For more information please consult: Global Opportunities for Associations (formerly PEMD-A).
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A backgrounder follows.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Rudy Husny
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-7332
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
Follow us on Twitter: @Canada_Trade
Backgrounder - Global Opportunities for Associations Program 2011-2012: Contributions by Sector
The Government of Canada’s Global Opportunities for Associations program allows national associations to undertake new or expanded activities in order to help their members compete globally.
This year, 38 associations from the following sectors will receive $2.7 million:
Aerospace and Defence: Aerospace Industries Association of Canada ($46,121), Air Transport Association of Canada ($57,243), Canadian Business Aviation Association ($43,669), Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries ($149,441)
Arts and Cultural Industries: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music and the Arts ($112,337), Canadian Independent Music Association ($123,636)
Automotive: Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association ($76,771)
Bio-industries: BIOTECanada ($62,653), Canadian Bioenergy Association ($114,109)
Building Products and Construction: Canada Green Building Council ($115,200), Interior Designers of Canada ($101,777)
Consumer Products: Canadian Apparel Federation ($120,538), CTT Group ($113,457), Fur Council of Canada ($115,000)
Education: Association of Canadian Community Colleges ($21,818), Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada ($60,711), Canadian Association of Public Schools - International ($17,113), Canadian Bureau for International Education ($16,559), Languages Canada ($68,889)
Electric Power Equipment and Services: Canadian Geothermal Energy Association ($63,137), Canadian Hydropower Association ($21,080)
Environmental Industries: Canadian GeoExchange Coalition ($101,615), Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association ($115,750), Canadian Water and Wastewater Association ($28,387), Export Environnement ($52,575)
Health Industries: MEDEC - Canada’s Medical Technology Companies ($69,416)
Information and Communication Technologies: Canadian Photonics Consortium ($75,348), Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance ($107,613), Mobile Experience Innovation Centre ($56,547), Wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of British Columbia ($80,898)
Manufacturing Technologies: Canadian Tooling & Machining Association ($79,429)
Ocean Technologies: Ocean Renewable Energy Group ($37,865)
Plastics: Canadian Association of Mouldmakers ($31,028)
Rail and Urban Transit: Specialty Vehicles and Transportation Equipment Manufacturers’ Association ($126,035)
Service Industries and Capital Projects: Intellectual Property Institute of Canada ($20,000), Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada ($97,414), National Angel Capital Organization ($40,150), Royal Architectural Institute of Canada ($13,998)
