February 9, 2015 – Newmarket, Ontario – Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
To discuss the importance of supporting the manufacturing sector to drive Canada's economy forward, FedDev Ontario Minister of State Gary Goodyear and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) Vice President of National Policy Mathew Wilson today hosted a manufacturing roundtable in Newmarket.
Joined by Newmarket-Aurora Member of Parliament Lois Brown, Minister Goodyear and Mr. Wilson toured Palcam Technologies Ltd., one of North America's leading precision components manufacturers that works primarily in the automotive and aerospace sectors. In 2013, the company received a contribution of $75,000 from CME's SMART Prosperity Now program, supported by FedDev Ontario, to purchase new equipment. This project enabled them to improve the level of automation in the manufacturing of die cast tooling components. Since 2013, Palcam has invested more than $4 million in new advanced manufacturing technologies and nearly doubled its workforce.
Following the tour, Minister Goodyear and Mr. Wilson co-hosted a roundtable with representatives from local manufacturing firms to discuss challenges and opportunities for manufacturing in Ontario.
Earlier in the day, Minister Goodyear, along with MP Lois Brown, visited BionX Canada Inc., a manufacturer of electric drive systems for bicycles, and toured Gum Products International Inc., a manufacturer of food additives, where they announced a FedDev Ontario investment of nearly $1 million.
In November, FedDev Ontario announced renewed investments of almost $30 million in CME and the Yves Landry Foundation for two funding programs that opened to manufacturers in December.
The Government of Canada invests in manufacturing innovation through initiatives such as the Advanced Manufacturing Fund, Technology Demonstration Program, the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative, and the Automotive Innovation Fund.
Erica Furtado
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
613-943-7599
Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
416-954-6652
FedDevMedia@FedDevOntario.gc.ca
Brad Fougere
Director of Public Affairs
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
613-301-3437
www.cme-mec.ca
Toll Free: 1-866-593-5505
Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca
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