Strengthening Canada’s world-class science and technology advantage helps create high-value jobs for hard-working Canadians
February 17, 2012 - Vancouver South Member of Parliament Wai Young, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today highlighted Canada’s world-class innovation in scientific research and development when she opened the Canada Pavilion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference.
“By connecting Canadian researchers with their international peers, we are helping to produce a more skilled workforce, fostering closer ties between Canadian and international education institutions, and helping to expand the delivery of Canadian knowledge and expertise around the world—all key drivers of the economy of tomorrow,” said Minister Fast. “Our government’s job-creating science and technology strategy is aimed at attracting and retaining the world’s brightest researchers, increasing investments in research and development, and bringing promising new scientific discoveries to market.”
This year’s AAAS conference marks the first time Canada has hosted the event in 30 years. The event is attracting researchers, executives, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from more than 50 countries, including officials from the world’s top 200 universities, colleges and research institutes. Canada’s engagement is bigger than ever, with more than 140 Canadians participating as speakers and lecturers.
“Through our government’s science and technology strategy, we are keeping our economy strong, creating high-quality jobs and ensuring Canada is a premier destination for the world’s top researchers,” said Ms. Young. “By supporting innovation, we are encouraging cutting-edge research and bringing promising ideas to the marketplace.”
The AAAS conference is one of the largest and most widely recognized global science events. The five-day annual event draws the world’s top scientific minds and policy-makers. Featuring nearly 170 symposiums, the conference is the premier forum for addressing the world’s biggest scientific initiatives and challenges.
“By selecting Vancouver as the setting for the world’s largest general scientific conference, the AAAS sought to celebrate multinational collaboration as a critical ingredient for innovation, and to recognize that knowledge flows across borders,” said AAAS Chief Executive Officer Alan I. Leshner. “We are honoured to be working closely with many Canadian advisers, and we are impressed by both the quantity and quality of Canadian science and technology to be showcased at the AAAS annual conference.”
At this year’s AAAS conference, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and over 30 partners, including federal departments and agencies, academia, non-profit organizations and industry, are showing how Canada is contributing to solutions to complex global issues. Canada has science and technology agreements with Brazil, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Israel and Japan.
To learn more about the Government of Canada’s science and technology initiatives, visit the Science and Technology for Canadians website. For more information on the AAAS conference, visit Annual Meeting.
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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
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