Speaking Points
The Honourable Christian Paradis, PC, MP
Minister of Industry
Bromont, Quebec
July 31, 2012
Check Against Delivery
Thanks to Mr. Bourbonnais, for the warm introduction. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for joining us here today.
First off, I would like to thank everyone at C2MI and the Université de Sherbrooke for hosting this event. It's great to be here with Premier Charest and all of you. It's especially gratifying to be marking the completion of such an impressive project—and in such a short time.
When our government launched the Knowledge Infrastructure Program—or KIP— in 2009, we had two clear goals: delivering much-needed upgrades to schools and facilities across the country and creating high-quality jobs when Canadians needed them most.
On both points, KIP was an overwhelming success. The program delivered much-needed economic stimulus, and it did so quickly and without waste or mismanagement. And with more than 500 projects completed, KIP has helped modernize and improve facilities across the country.
Now, some three years later, we are really starting to see the results of those investments. We have a recovering economy with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the G8. And top-of-the-line facilities are being used every day to train students from coast to coast to coast.
The construction of this building is the largest and most ambitious project we supported through KIP. More than $218 million was committed by our government, the Charest Government, the Université de Sherbrooke, and private partners like IBM Canada and Dalsa Semiconductor. And I think we can all agree that it was money well spent.
In partnership with the Charest Government, we were able to bring a bold vision to life. It is precisely because of such partnerships that we're standing in what will be an international centre of excellence, a state-of-the-art facility for electronic assembly research and a prime venue for academic-industrial collaboration.
The construction of this centre made a difference to the many hard-working families in the Eastern Townships. And this centre will continue to make a difference by facilitating academic collaboration and promoting skills training—two key factors in creating high-quality jobs and developing a diverse, knowledge-based economy.
Thanks to innovation-focused facilities like this one, we are better able to respond to global economic challenges. This facility will play a major role in helping drive new innovation and in building a leading digital economy—right here in Bromont.
It is centres of excellence like C2MI that help increase the adoption of digital technologies—the technologies that will help Canadian businesses increase their productivity and lower their costs.
To excel, we must drive product and service innovations and propel them into every corner of our economy. That is where our future lies. And to get there, we must invest, adapt and innovate.
These centres are crucial for building a globally competitive technology sector.
I have often said that the government's role is to give our best and brightest the tools they need to succeed—and then get out of their way. This project is a shining example of that philosophy.
Our government is looking to build a better tomorrow. And we have a plan that is focused on the things that matter to Quebecers: high-quality jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity.
We have a plan that will allow Canada to meet today's global challenges and emerge from them stronger than ever—one that will unleash our truly unlimited potential and one that will make it easier for our researchers, businesses and entrepreneurs to innovate and thrive.
We all know that the world is still struggling with the impact of the global recession. And Canada is not immune to this uncertainty.
Since we introduced the Economic Action Plan, Canada has recovered more than it lost during the recession, both in terms of production and jobs.
This is thanks, in no small part, to the drive of our young entrepreneurs and innovators.
And we are solidifying these gains. Our government is working hard to provide our job creators with the tools they need. But, as a nation, we need to take more risks, think more creatively and act more boldly to claim our place in tomorrow's digital economy.
I believe those goals are embodied in this facility.
Ladies and gentlemen, today is a great day for Bromont and a great day for Quebec. I want to congratulate everyone involved on the successful completion of this centre.
I look forward to visiting again. I'm excited to see what the future holds for you and the entire province.
Thank you.
