Minister's Speech

Remarks prepared for:

The Honourable John Gerretsen
Minister of the Environment

Queen’s University
Innovation Centre
Friday, June 27, 2008

(Check against delivery)

Thank you, Principal Williams for that warm introduction.

I’m pleased to be here today with my good friend and cabinet colleague, John Wilkinson, the Minister of Research and Innovation, along with Dr. Kerry Rowe V.P. of research here at Queen’s, Martha Finn Brooks, President and Chief Operating Officer, Novelis Inc. and of course, Janice Mady, the Director of Innovation Park.

I'm looking forward to touring the park later today and I want to congratulate you all on being at the forefront of change. 

Your efforts and your innovations will make life in Ontario better for us all.

As many of you know, Kingston is my hometown.  It’s virtually impossible for me to think of Kingston without thinking of Queen's — our city and the university are inseparable.

Queen's University has been shaping and changing Canada's social and political culture since before Confederation and that tradition is by no means a matter of history — it continues to this very day.

Our government recognizes that investing in research and innovation is key to Ontario's future. 

Ours was the first government in Ontario to create a ministry for that purpose alone.  In addition, our commitment to the environment and sustainable living is second to none.

To date, we've invested $1.4 billion in bio-based innovation, next generation energy and alternative technologies. 

Part of that investment was a $21 million grant to Queen's to do what we are here to celebrate today — create a convergence centre where business and technology could meet.

Providing facilities and funds for the next generation of scientists and visionaries will allow us to lead and expand our green economy.  

Climate change is a challenge that will occupy our society and affect our economy for years to come.  

Scientists and environmentalists will need places like Innovation Park if their ideas are to succeed and become practical, long-term solutions. 

With major partners like Novelis making a significant contribution to Innovation Park, we can be assured our products and ideas will have a global profile. 

Ontario's green industry is now employing about 80,000 people and exports almost $1 billion a year in products and technologies.

The green economy is here to stay and it's only sensible to expand on that potential.  

By placing research and innovation at the foundation level of our environmental plan, the long term benefits will be a sustainable environment and a sustainable economy.   

Finding the ways and means to do that will be a major aspect of future research here at Queen's.   

Dealing with climate change and environmental sustainability sets us challenges that require fresh thinking, new technologies and progressive policies from every aspect of society.

There's an old saying that goes … “Change before you have to.” 

And change is what we will need if we’re to ensure the future of Ontario as a clean, safe environment where families can enjoy life and prepare the next generation for what’s to come.

It’s a privilege of my generation that we've been able to see the changes taking place as environmental issues increase in their importance.

Today, going green and being environmentally conscious are replacing the old ways of doing things.  At the same time this movement is providing opportunities for investment that might have been ignored by previous governments.

I am by no means overstating the case when I say that the environment is a key priority for our government and it has been so since the beginning of our mandate.   

A green economy is certainly the future of business and Ontario is not about to be left behind.

Reducing our carbon footprint is critical and we have to take into account the basic ways by which we live and work if we're to going to create green alternatives to the present model of growth.

With the opening of Innovation Park, we now have the momentum in Ontario. 

We need to keep up that momentum and add to it where and when we can.

The future of Ontario's environment industry is not only in good hands — it’s in good minds as well.

Thank you.

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