Good morning, ladies and gentleman, Ms. Blain, Mr. Patry, the Canada Research Chairs who are among us today and other distinguished guests.
I would like to begin by thanking my colleague the Honourable Peter Van Loan, for his kind introduction. I would also like to thank the University of Toronto for hosting this event as we kick off National Science and Technology Week.
As you all know, the University of Toronto is a research leader and a magnet for talent on a global level. With more than 200 research chairs working in myriad fields—from health to technology and from business to public policy—you are in the vanguard of scientific investigation and discovery.
Today, we are celebrating the Canada Research Chairs program and the talented individuals who hold these distinguished positions across the country. Each and every one is conducting world-leading research in vital areas of inquiry—areas that often directly bear on vital sectors of the Canadian economy. We are here to recognize their relentless and determined efforts to expand human knowledge and the opportunities their new discoveries hold for advancing business innovation.
As many of you know, two weeks ago, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) released a report on its assessment of the state of Canadian science and technology between 2006 and 2011. It concluded that Canada's science and technology enterprise is healthy, growing, internationally competitive and very well respected among the world's leading scientists.
In fact, in absolute terms Canada ranked fourth in the world for its scientific research enterprise. I am proud of this ranking, as everyone here today should be. Important investments in programs like the Canada Research Chairs have helped us achieve this ranking, but it is also thanks to the dedication to excellence of Canadian universities and their researchers.
There is a great deal in this report that should be celebrated. Canada received high marks in research excellence in fields such as historical studies, information and communications technology, psychology and the visual and performing arts.
And while the report does not make recommendations, it does provide solid and important input as we continue to strengthen Canadian science and technology—work that began in 2007 with the launch of our government's science and technology strategy.
Now ladies and gentlemen, in addition to this report, there are other signs that Canada is punching above its weight. Another recent report, this one from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), places Canada at the top of the list with the highest proportion of citizens with a post-secondary degree.
Education matters more today than at any other time in our history. Disruptive discoveries and game-changing technologies are appearing at an accelerating rate. And as the world moves faster, it becomes more and more interconnected.
Today, 51 percent of Canadians have a post-secondary degree. That is 20 percent over the OECD average and 5 percent above the next-highest country in the report. This sends a message to the world: we have an increasingly well-educated and skilled workforce and the determination to be a world leader in scientific research.
Our success is a story that needs to be told well, and told often, especially here at home. As the CCA report shows, the world's 5,000 top-cited researchers rated Canada better than our own experts did.
Our government is strongly committed to supporting training at post-secondaryinstitutions across the country, and one way we demonstrate that is through programs like the Canada Research Chairs.
That is why today I take great pleasure in announcing an investment of $121.6 million to support 155 new or renewed Canada Research Chairs, working at 42 universities across the country.
These researchers will be working at the frontier of their fields—across the natural sciences, health, and the social sciences—leading important research projects that will benefit Canadians.
Furthermore, the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Leaders Opportunity Fund will provide $7.1 million toward several of these projects to help provide the necessary research infrastructure for the Chairs.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is just the latest investment in what is one of our country's most successful research support programs. At this time, there are more than 1,800 chairholders working in universities across Canada. Many are exploring ideas, practices and technologies that reach well beyond academia.
Indeed, many of you here today are working to improve our hospitals, our schools, our business practices and manufacturing industries, our high-techcompanies, and our communities.
Your discoveries drive innovation, which helps create economic opportunities for Canadians while strengthening our international competitiveness.
And you are nurturing the next generation of talent by mentoring graduate students working in emerging fields.
I am proud to announce that, here at the University of Toronto, $22.1 million will go to create or renew 28 chairholder positions. These chairholders are all conducting important research that has the potential to have a tremendous impact in their respective fields.
Take for example Dr. Olivera Kesler, Canada Research Chair in fuel cell materials and manufacturing from the University of Toronto, who is working to create a new fuel cell technology. Dr. Kesler's focus is on solid oxide fuel cells, perhaps the most promising type of cell because it can run on both traditional fuels and renewable fuels like hydrogen, biogas and ethanol. Her work aims to create a fuel cell that could help Canada reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Also receiving funding today is Dr. Ayelet Shachar, Canada Research Chair in citizenship and multiculturalism from the University of Toronto. Dr. Shachar—both a legal scholar and a political theorist, is exploring the ways Canada, as one of the world's model democracies, can work to uphold values of diversity, tolerance and the protection of the rights of minority groups.
And finally, Dr. Jason Moffat, who will be speaking shortly, is the Canada Research Chair in the functional genomics of cancer. Dr. Moffat is investigating how cancer starts at the genetic level and how to intercept genetic mutations and develop treatment solutions. I'm looking forward to hearing more about his important work and touring his laboratory later this morning.
Ladies and gentlemen, through investments such as these, I am confident that Canada will continue to play a major role in the transformative discoveries of tomorrow.
And I firmly believe that Canada's institutions of higher learning will be the leaders in fostering the innovation, talent and ideas that will unleash new economic growth and job creation in sectors throughout our economy and across our country.
I want to thank you, the chairholders, for the exceptional contributions you have made and continue to make towards Canada's research excellence. You represent Canada's people advantage. This advantage, our growing knowledge base and our private sector commitment to innovation are the ingredients for future prosperity in Canada.
Thank you.
