OTTAWA, November 21, 2005 — The Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, announced today that Industry Canada has engaged the services of Arthur Kroeger to advise on the design of the new Transformative Technologies Program.

A Companion of the Order of Canada, Mr. Kroeger served as Deputy Minister of six federal departments. After leaving government in 1992, he became a Visiting Professor at the University of Toronto and a Visiting Fellow at Queen's University. He was Chairman of the Public Policy Forum from 1992 to 1994, and since 1999 has been Chair, Canadian Policy Research Networks. Mr. Kroeger also served as Chancellor of Carleton University for nine years and continues to serve as Chancellor Emeritus.

Mr. Kroeger will provide independent advice to Industry Canada's senior management on the overall transparency, governance and accountability of the new program, as well as its terms and conditions, due diligence and the criteria and selection process for projects.

"Mr. Kroeger's credentials are impeccable, and his experience leading a number of federal departments and programs will be invaluable in guiding the design of the new Transformative Technologies Program," said Minister Emerson. "The new program will be held to the highest standards of diligence and transparency, and Mr. Kroeger's advice in areas of governance and accountability will help ensure that our investments will advance Canada's competitiveness in a way that is responsible to the taxpayer."

The new Transformative Technologies Program, announced by Minister Emerson on September 20, 2005, will share with Canadian industry in the costs of innovation and technology adoption projects. Its goal will be to support leading-edge industrial research in Canada and to ensure that Canadian firms are competitive in the global economy. It is the successor program to Technology Partnerships Canada, which Minister Emerson announced will be wound down over the coming months.

For more information, please contact:

Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502

The news release and other documents are available on the Technology Partnerships Canada Web site at http://www.tpc-ptc.ic.gc.ca.

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Date Modified: 2005-11-21 Important Notices