For Immediate Release
April 24, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH

World-Class Innovation Means More Prosperity For Ontarians

Deputy Premier George Smitherman speaks during tour of the Cancer Stem Cell Centre at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, as University Health Network president and CEO Dr. Bob Bell looks on.

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TORONTO — The McGuinty government is attracting the best and brightest minds to Ontario by supporting new research across the province, announced Deputy Premier George Smitherman, on behalf of Premier and Minister of Research and Innovation Dalton McGuinty.

"For Ontario to be prosperous tomorrow, we need to invest in the skills, knowledge and creativity of our people today," said Smitherman. "By supporting new research, Ontarians will benefit from better health-care services, new technologies, a cleaner environment and more opportunities for success."

The government is investing more than $103 million to support 35 projects through the Ontario Research Fund's Research Infrastructure program. The program helps researchers obtain the tools they need to stay on the forefront of innovation, including lab space, equipment and computer software.  

"The province's investment will go a long way to support research and attract international talent," said John Dick, Princess Margaret Hospital and Toronto General Research Institutes senior scientist and research award recipient. "Top level scientists are in great demand and can work anywhere in the world so it often comes down to finding an environment that substantially supports and encourages their work. Most importantly, they want a strong community of other scientists thereby creating a hotbed of activity where the latest advances, some that have not even been envisioned, can happen."

"Ontario needs to be nimble in the fast-paced global economy," said Premier McGuinty. "Today, more than ever, our economic and social prosperity depends on our ability to compete and win in the marketplace."

The funding will leverage matching investments from 188 partners from industry and other fields.

Investing in research and innovation is the latest example of how the McGuinty government is working on the side of businesses and families to strengthen 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, Ontario will remain the place to be for years to come."

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