McGuinty Government Support Cutting-Edge Research
World-Class Innovation Means More Prosperity For Ontarians

KINGSTON – The McGuinty government is attracting the best and brightest minds to Ontario by supporting two research initiatives at Queen’s University, announced MPP John Gerretsen on behalf Premier Dalton McGuinty.

“To have a high quality of life in our community in the future, we need to take steps now to advance the skills, knowledge and creativity of our residents,” said Gerretsen. “By supporting new research, Ontarians will benefit from better health care services, new technologies, a cleaner environment and more opportunities
for success.”

The government will provide more than $7 million to help develop new tools for brain function evaluation and assessment, and to create the Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture. The investment is part of the Ontario Research Fund's Research Infrastructure program, which helps researchers obtain the tools they need to stay on the forefront of innovation, such as lab space, equipment and computer software.

The Ontario Research Fund promotes scientific excellence by supporting research that can be developed into innovative goods and services that will boost Ontario's economy.

Other initiatives include:

• Attracting over $7 billion in new investment announcements in the auto sector, creating as many as 7,000 new jobs
• Introducing the $160-million Ideas to Market strategy to grow new start-ups and drive innovative discoveries rapidly from the lab to the marketplace
• Investing $6.2 billion in postsecondary education and student financial assistance and training by 2009-10 – the most significant multi-year investment in Ontario’s higher education system in 40 years.

“To succeed in the changing economy, we need to develop new ideas and turn those ideas into exciting products and services that we can market to the world,” said Premier McGuinty. “By investing in research and innovation and the skills and knowledge of our people, we can ensure Ontario remains the place to be for years to come.”

For more information about the Ontario Research Fund, please visit www.ontario.ca/innovation.

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For more information contact:
John Gerretsen, MPP
(613) 547-2385