The Word on the Street in the World of Innovation — Ontario Budget
Thought leaders weigh in on the implications of the new Ontario Budget for innovation and technology.
Ontario’s balanced budget seen as an opportunity to support province’s innovators
“Tech CEOs welcome the signals in this year’s budget to grow Ontario’s innovation outputs. The government should double-down on this path so that we can see jobs and wealth grow in our high-tech sector.
“Ontario is primed to be home to many billion-dollar domestic technology firms, but only if Ontario works hand-in-glove with its domestic innovators to help them grow and scale-up their companies.”
- Benjamin Bergen, Executive Director of the Council of Canadian Innovators.
Source: Canadian Council of Innovators
Health care focus in Ontario’s 2017 budget welcomed by doctors, researchers
“Financially stable hospitals create thriving health research environments, which build and sustain Ontario’s innovation-driven economy.
“We look forward to continuing to work with government to improve health care today, and transform health care for the future. This Budget’s acknowledgement of the importance of health innovation and health system research will help drive a healthier, wealthier, and smarter Ontario.”
- Karen Michell, Executive Director of the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO)
Source: Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO)
“Innovative Medicines Canada congratulates the Government of Ontario on this bold step forward as it represents an important milestone for access to drugs in the province. Innovative medicines play an important role in patients’ health and we are pleased to see that all of Ontario’s youth will benefit from this plan.”
- Pamela Fralick, President, Innovative Medicines Canada
Source: Liberal Caucus Service Bureau
“We’re very pleased that the Wynne government is continuing the transformative work of the province’s Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist which is making Ontario a leading jurisdiction for medical technology innovators. We also commend this government’s increased investments in Ontario’s hospitals, as well as the targeted funding to reduce wait times for vitally important procedures such as hip and knees replacements which will greatly improve the lives of patients, while contributing to health system sustainability.”
- Brian Lewis, President and CEO, MEDEC (Canada’s Medical Technology Companies)
Source: Canadian Insider
2017 Ontario Budget incentivizes innovation for a low-carbon future
“These commitments and recent climate leadership policies by the Ontario government show strong intent toward incentivizing innovation and bolstering a low-carbon economy. The urgency of climate change demands ambitious and accelerated deployment of solutions that can make a tangible impact now, and in the future. We will continue to work with the Ontario government and provincial stakeholders to leverage the potential of commercial, high-rise residential and institutional buildings to contribute to the goal of immediate GHG reductions.”
- Thomas Mueller, President and CEO, Canada Green Building Council
Source: ReNew Canada
“These investments are exciting because they have a whole range of co-benefits. When you build bike lanes, for example, you improve air quality and also increase people’s fitness. When you install solar arrays on schools, you produce both electricity and opportunities for educating students about power generation.”
- Gideon Forman, Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst
Source: David Suzuki Foundation
Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network an exciting outcome of the 2017 Ontario Budget
“To be recognized as the demonstration hub for the province is key to demonstrating that the city has done a good job at embracing technology and asserting ourselves as an automotive and digital city. I’m pretty excited about the opportunities it presents for us.
“The where, the when, and the how will be sorted out with the government, and the Ontario Centres of Excellence in the coming weeks and months.
“It’s an opportunity to embrace technology and to position Stratford further in the technology and transportation space.”
- Dan Mathieson, Mayor of Stratford
Source: Stratford Beacon Herald
Ontario embraces and invests in next-generation technologies
“Global competition is fierce, and we cannot let up. We will embrace and invest in new technologies. Instead of playing catch-up in a changing world, Ontario will lead that change and reap the benefits. We’re investing in artificial intelligence, fifth generation wireless technology, advanced computing, and quantum technologies.”
- Charles Sousa, Ontario Finance Minister
Source: Global News
The Word in the Street in the World of Innovation is a weekly and topic-focused round-up of quotes from thought leaders in innovation, entrepreneurship, research, and technology.
