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Backgrounder:
News Release:
Speaking Points
The Honourable Gary Goodyear, PC, MP
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
March 20, 2012
Windsor, Ontario
Check Against Delivery
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning, and welcome.
How do we use science and technology to create jobs, economic growth and prosperity? Through innovation. I don't need to remind any of you of the importance of innovation to our daily lives and what is possible if we work together to get it right.
Microsoft, Research In Motion (RIM), Apple, OpenText, Google and Facebook have changed our world. Through innovation, these companies have revolutionized the way we interact and connect to one another and have had a wide-scale economic impact.
We continue to ask: How do you create the next RIM or Apple? Where will the next Bill Gates, Mike Lazaridis, Steve Jobs or Jim Balsillie come from? Our government is particularly focused on making sure this happens here in Canada.
Canada is not unique in the problems it faces. We can sell our solutions to these problems to countries around the world while creating jobs, growth and prosperity here at home. Innovation is about taking ideas to market and solving problems. The ideas are out there, and we are working to connect them with the market.
Our government understands that investing in science and technology translates into economic growth and leads to the jobs of tomorrow—today.
Some 610,000 more Canadians are working today than when the recession ended. Canada is one of only two countries in the G7 to have recouped all jobs—as well as all the economic output—lost during the recession. This is something we can be proud of, but we cannot be content or complacent.
The research and innovation taking place here are a vital component of Canada's continued economic and scientific leadership. And a healthy and sustainable automotive industry is a critical part of Canada's economic recovery.
While the downturn exposed fragile areas in our economy, it also inspired new ventures with emerging technologies that will diversify our economy and create additional jobs and expertise. The future of Canada's auto sector will depend on our investment in research and development and on our ability to innovate.
In 2011, the auto industry directly employed more than 109,000 Canadians, plus another 332,000 indirectly. It is Canada's largest manufacturing sector, representing 12 percent of our manufacturing output and 20 percent of manufactured exports.
Assembly plants and parts companies have driven growth and prosperity and contributed to the development of related manufacturing across Canada.
For every assembly plant opened in North America, 19 direct suppliers start up within a 60-mile radius. Each auto assembly job creates 6.1 indirect jobs in the Canadian economy.
So I am happy to be here today at the University of Windsor to announce more good news to help maintain Canada's leadership in the automotive industry.
In April 2009, the government launched Automotive Partnership Canada, an initiative that provides $145 million in funding over five years to support significant collaborative research and development activities that will benefit the entire Canadian automotive industry.
Our industrial partners play a key role, as all projects must be driven by industrial needs. They also provide both financial support and essential in-kind contributions to ensure the success of these research projects.
By demonstrating that Canada has the ideas and innovators, we attract investment from international automakers, which in turn creates high-value sustainable jobs here in Canada, for Canadians. The projects supported through this program will train, attract and retain the highly qualified workers we need for a strong, resilient economy.
I am very pleased to be here today to announce funding for six new projects, totalling almost $34 million over five years, with contributions from the Automotive Partnership Canada initiative and investments from industrial partners. Of the total amount, our government is contributing just under $19 million, with the remaining support provided by valuable partner contributions.
Here at the University of Windsor, Dr. Daniel Green received over $1 million in funding to advance a technology that manufactures lightweight automotive parts. When used in automotive chassis, high-strength steels—like aluminum or magnesium—help reduce vehicle weight. However, high-strength steel parts cost more to fabricate. Dr. Green, in collaboration with his industrial partners, will focus on developing a technology that produces strong, lightweight automotive parts that are less expensive.
I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the industrial partners joining in this project. They are Amino North America Corporation, ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, and Novelis Global Technology Centre. Also contributing to this project are Natural Resources Canada's CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory and the University of Windsor.
As I mentioned earlier, Automotive Partnership Canada is an industry-driven initiative. The technology developed through this program addresses real challenges facing automotive companies today. It will produce innovations that appeal to consumer demands and create cars that have a lower impact on the environment and improved technology to meet the needs of drivers.
In closing, I want to commend all the partners for the excellent work they are doing. Connecting academia and industry is extremely important. It increases opportunities to bring minds to markets.
I would also like to congratulate the University of Windsor, the other recipients of this funding and their partners in industry. I look forward to seeing the positive impact your technology will have on Canada's automotive sector.
Thank you.
