Notes for an address by

The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of  State for Western Economic Diversification

Official Signing Ceremony 

Corresponding Document: News release (2009-01-19)

Check Against Delivery

Thank you John (Tak).

Good morning everyone.

It is an honour to be with you today, on behalf of the Government of Canada, on this exciting occasion.

To begin, I would like to acknowledge today’s participant(s):

• The Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative.

I am proud to join you today to mark a key milestone that will benefit communities across the Province of British Columbia. As a western Canadian myself, I am proud to be part of this announcement.

Encouraging economic success for all Canadians is a priority for Canada’s Government. And today’s announcement will help do just that. 

That is why I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is contributing $25 million to support renewal of the four-year Western Economic Partnership Agreement, or “WEPAs”. Through this agreement we will see a total of $50 million in shared federal and provincial funding invested in economic initiatives.

This Western Economic Partnership Agreement will succeed by addressing top economic priorities for British Columbia.

• We will foster an increasingly productive and competitive economic environment by working with not-for-profit organizations, industry and research organizations;
• We will grow British Columbia’s research and development and create business clusters to meet global and regional market demand; and
• We will promote the economic diversification in BC regions and communities, both large and small.

The Western Economic Partnership Agreement will focus on these priorities over the next four years, developing projects that stimulate the economy, which is essential to the competitiveness of the West.

Today’s Western Economic Partnership Agreement builds on its past successes, including:

• The Northern Lights College Oil and Gas Training Centre of Excellence;
• The BC Cancer Foundation Research Centre advanced medical equipment;
• The Cranbrook Airport runway extension;
• The Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences; and
• The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell sector.

The benefit of today’s Agreement is that it extends beyond government…it reaches out, for example, to not-for-profit organizations, and research institutions such as the one hosting us today.

• I was pleased to learn that this building houses the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. 

In 2000, as the second WEPA project ever funded, The Government of Canada invested $980,000 to help establish the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and enable it to build capacity in this vital B.C. industry. 

Today’s agreement also builds upon the principle of cooperation — between two levels of government to further our priorities as we work to deliver real results for families and communities who are affected by the global economic downturn.

I have great confidence in this agreement as it also allows for a tailored approach to building a diversified, sustainable and prosperous economy for Canadians.

Our Government recently outlined its plan to help protect Canada’s economic security and build on the work of our previous mandate, focusing on the priorities that make a difference in the lives of Canadians. We recognize that Canada’s prosperity depends on building a dynamic economy that will create opportunities and better jobs for Canadians in the future.

As the federal department responsible for economic diversification in the West, WD is working to ensure a competitive and expanded business sector in Western Canada and a strengthened western Canadian economy.

On behalf of our Government, and Western Economic Diversification Canada, I would like to congratulate everyone who has been working to make the Canada-British Columbia Western Economic Partnership Agreement a reality.

Together we are working to build a stronger West because we know that a stronger West will mean a stronger Canada.

I am proud to have been a part of this exciting day and I look forward to seeing what we, together, can achieve.

Thank you.