Notes for an address by

The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Funding Announcement

Corresponding Document: News Release (2009-04-07)

Check Against Delivery

Thank you Susan (Haddon).

Good afternoon everyone.

I’m delighted to be here at Camosun College to mark this important announcement with you.

To begin, I would like to acknowledge our distinguished guests:

• Dr. Liz Ashton, President of Camosun College; and
• Dr. Tom Roemer, Dean, School of Trades and Technology at Camosun College

Camosun College is taking an important leadership role in the Greater Victoria Region, working with industry to strengthen education, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Our Government is pleased to support activities such as advanced manufacturing and prototyping, industrial research and development, and technology commercialization.

Investments in these areas create high-quality, knowledge-intensive jobs that make our economy more competitive and productive.

That is why I am very pleased to announce that our Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is investing $886,500 in Camosun College to establish the Vancouver Island Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping, also known as VICAMP.

This Centre will provide a vendor neutral facility to help Vancouver Island companies increase productivity and remain competitive in national and international markets. They will provide access to advanced manufacturing and prototyping equipment, adding essential and related industrial research and training capacity.

WD supports Camosun College because we are committed to ensuring it remains one of the most comprehensive colleges in B.C. with the most up-to-date knowledge infrastructure. Just last September, WD provided $486,000 for Camosun College to acquire the important equipment for the VICAMP facility.

Today’s announcement will build on that investment and allow the College to renovate existing facilities, install this equipment, and begin operations. With the new facility, VICAMP will help Vancouver Island companies rapidly develop prototypes, evaluate and adopt new manufacturing technologies, undertake industrial research, refine their manufacturing processes and train their workforce.

We believe that investing in science and technology innovation gives us the means to achieve an even higher standard of living and better quality of life for all Canadians. To be competitive in today’s economy, we must transform great ideas into marketable goods and services, and that is the aim of this project.  We are determined to continue to do our part by creating a business environment that stimulates innovation and encourages discovery.

Projects such as this are also at the heart of Western Economic Diversification Canada’s strategic priorities, which are designed to help the region compete in the knowledge-based economy, diversify the economy and create new skilled jobs  for western Canadians.

In the recent Budget 2009, our Government  outlined our  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. Specifically this includes:

• $1B to support clean energy technologies including: $150M for research, and $850M for the development and demonstration of promising technologies, including large-scale carbon capture and storage projects. These investments will support BC’s emerging green energy sector;
• $2B to improve University and College Knowledge Infrastructure;
• $750M for research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation; and
• $250M to modernize federal laboratories, including the Salmonid Enhancement program facilities.

Our Government recognizes that Canada’s prosperity depends not just on meeting the challenges of today, but on building a dynamic economy that will create opportunities and better jobs for Canadians in the future.

Together we are working towards creating a stronger west for a stronger Canada.

Thank you for being here for this important announcement and I wish you every success as you move forward.