Investing In Innovation To Create The Jobs Of The Future
Right now, in labs and companies across our province from Windsor to Wawa -- and the many places in between – bright Ontarians are inventing our future.
They are discovering solutions to climate change, cleaner ways to generate the power we need, and better ways to treat and prevent disease.
They are breaking new ground, developing next generation technologies that will change the way people do business, share information and communicate online.
MPP London Fanshawe Khalil Ramal
And with support from the Ontario government, these people are turning great ideas into our next generation of jobs and a better quality of life for Ontario families.
From Insulin, to IMAX, to the Blackberry -- to the science and technology that helped put a man on the moon and robots on Mars – Ontario ideas and inventions are revolutionizing the world.
IWe’re investing in companies like Stemergy, an Ontario bio- fibre processing company. Stemergy is working on turning locally-grown hemp and flax stems into an alternative to the energy-intensive glass and synthetic materials used to make plastic or fibreglass. And with the help of a $3.3 million investment by the provincial government through our Ministry of Research and Innovation, the Delaware-based company will build a $10 million pilot fibre processing bio refinery plant. This plant would effectively use each part of the stem plants, be it flax, hemp or other fibre crops, to achieve maximum value in the production of next generation composite materials. It will also provide a new and potentially lucrative market for farmers.
Today, more than ever, Ontario’s economic and social prosperity has come to depend on innovation -- our persistent desire to make things better, and our ability to turn our best ideas into products and services that are in demand around the world. It is true that right now, around the world and here in Ontario, economies are facing a number of challenges that we cannot control, such as the rising Canadian dollar and a faltering U.S. economy.
But our economy remains resilient, and here in Ontario our government is focused on what we can control. We have a plan. It’s a five point plan, and in addition to cutting business taxes, it is centred on investing in people to create the kind of future we want for ourselves, and the kind of future we want for our children.
That means more support for education and skills retraining. And we are making record investments in infrastructure such as roads and transit, partnering with leading businesses in key sectors - and supporting innovation.
Part of our plan is to build on the strength of our diverse culture, creativity, highly skilled workforce, world-class education system and internationally recognized research community, to ensure we are one of the winning economies in the 21st century.
It’s called the Ontario Innovation Agenda, and with $3 billion dollars committed over eight years, our goal is to help bright people turn innovative ideas into better jobs, and a better quality of life for Ontario families.
Ontario’s Innovation Agenda is aimed at igniting growth in the industries that will shape our future. Specifically, we are focused on areas where we punch above our weight in research and industry – where we already are, or can be, a global leader. This includes:
Tackling climate change through bio-based, environmental, alternative energy and clean technologies
Conquering disease through life sciences, biotechnology, advanced health technologies and pharmaceutical research and advanced manufacturing
Advancing the digital universe through new digital media and information & communications technologies.
When we invest in innovation we are investing in our people, and our ability to consistently turn our best research and ideas into new products and services that we can sell to the world. This means better lives and better, more sustainable jobs for Ontarians.-30-
