Minister's Speech

Remarks prepared for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Sci-Tech Ontario Reception
Queen's Park
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

(Check against delivery)

Good afternoon, everyone.

I’m pleased to join my friend and colleague, the Minister of Research and Innovation, John Wilkinson, as well as Reni Barlow of Youth Science Foundation, Sheelagh Lawrance representing Hydro One Networks along with our student scientists.

We’re here to honour remarkable scientific accomplishments by students from across Ontario.

I’ve had a chance to see some of your projects on display.  As impressed as I am by your work, I’m even more inspired by your knowledge, your passion and your creativity.

I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone with Team Sci-Tech Ontario. 

Your participation in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa demonstrates Ontario has some serious scientific talent – students who are ready, willing and able to make their mark in a wide range of scientific disciplines.

You make us all very proud!

Our students brought home 249 awards – including one platinum award, 17 gold medals, 26 silver and 28 bronze.

What’s most impressive is your obvious passion for science and technology and for using it to make our world a better place.

Today, Ontario’s economic and social prosperity is the result of that kind of dedication to excellence in science and technology.

Right now, researchers and scientists across Ontario are inventing our future. 

They are discovering:

• new ways to treat disease
• cleaner ways to generate the power we need
•  and fantastic new technologies for sharing information and creating virtual communities.

As top students in Ontario, I have no doubt that in not too many years from now you will be among the ranks of those scientists and researchers in our leading-edge corporations, research industries and government agencies including the Ministry of the Environment.

Good science is the foundation for all our work at the Ministry of the Environment.  It’s the basis for all of our policies, programs and initiatives.  We’re proud to employ hundreds of the province’s finest environmental researchers and scientists.

Research is also a major component of the work being done by our partners at the province’s universities and non-profit organizations.

Today, our world faces significant environmental challenges, including climate change.  The stakes are high — no less than our ability to ensure the health and prosperity of future generations.

Looking around this room, I am confident that the next generation is up to the task.  You give us all a good reason to feel optimistic about our future.

I’d also like to mention the Environmental Innovator Awards, which were handed out again this year at Regional Science Fairs across Ontario. 

These awards are sponsored by the Ministry of the Environment ... and they’ll be available again for next year’s Science Fairs.

This $100 award is presented for projects that demonstrate a creative approach to protecting our environment. 

Once again, I would like to congratulate all of the young scientists of Team Sci-tech Ontario … and all of the students who participated in Ontario’s Regional Science Fairs.

I urge you to keep up the great work.  You can all feel very satisfied and proud about the contribution you are making – and will continue to make – to our world.

Thank you.

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