OTTAWA, October 18, 2007 — The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, today announced the appointment of 17 members to the new Science, Technology and Innovation Council.
"These highly regarded and talented Canadians come from a variety of sectors and have the range of expertise required to advise on science and technology issues of national importance," said Minister Prentice. "I am pleased that they have agreed to serve on the Council and to provide the government with objective advice on Canada's science and technology issues and challenges."
Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, committed the Government of Canada to consolidate external science and technology advisory bodies and launch the Science, Technology and Innovation Council. The Council will provide the government with policy advice on science and technology issues and will produce regular national reports that measure Canada's science and technology performance against international standards of excellence. It will play a vital role in providing science and technology advice on issues, identified by government, which are critical to Canada's economic development and social well-being.
The Chair of the Council, Dr. Howard Alper, said that the appointees are respected members of the S&T and broader communities and understand the scope and scale of the issues the Council will consider. "A wide range of science, technology, and innovation issues — from information and communications technologies, to health, to energy, and to sustainable growth — are central to Canada's future," said Dr. Alper. "As our future turns on innovation based on science, the new Science, Technology, and Innovation Council is well-positioned to provide excellent and unbiased science and technology advice on issues identified by the Government of Canada."
Dr Alper's appointment as Chair was announced on June 15, 2007. An esteemed member of the international and domestic science community, his first task as Chair was to work with representatives of the federal government to make recommendations on membership to the Minister. These new members will serve in a volunteer capacity.
"Along with our Chair, Dr. Alper, we now have a full complement of qualified individuals who will work together to ensure that science and technology in Canada continues to evolve to benefit Canadians," said Minister Prentice. "I look forward to working with these exceptional Canadians."
Background information on the Council and its membership is attached. For biographical notes on the Council members, visit http://www.stic-csti.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Deirdra McCracken
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Backgrounder
Canada's Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, committed to the establishment of a new Science, Technology and Innovation Council reporting to the Minister of Industry. The Council is an advisory body that will provide the Minister of Industry with evidence-based policy advice on science and technology issues and will produce regular national reports that measure Canada's Science and Technology performance against international standards of excellence.
The Council consists of a Chair and 17 members whose work will be supported administratively by a Secretariat housed within Industry Canada.
Science, Technology and Innovation Council Members
Dr. Howard Alper
Chair, Science, Technology and Innovation Council
Dr. Francesco Bellini
Chairman, Picchio Pharma Inc.
Mr. Eric Bergeron
President and CEO, Optosecurity Inc.
Mr. David B. Fissel
President and CEO, ASL Environmental Sciences Inc.
Mr. Peter MacKinnon
President and Vice Chancellor, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Terence Matthews
Chairman, Mitel Corporation
Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum
Principal and Vice Chancellor, McGill University
Mr. David O'Brien
Chairman, EnCana and Royal Bank of Canada
Mr. J. Robert S. Prichard
President and CEO, Torstar Corporation
Dr. Guy Rouleau
Canada Research Chair in Genetics of the Nervous System, and Professor, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal
Dr. W.A. (Sam) Shaw
President and CEO, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Dr. Molly Shoichet
Canada Research Chair in Tissue Engineering and Professor, University of Toronto
Dr. Mihaela Ulieru
Canada Research Chair in Adaptive Information Infrastructures for the eSociety and Professor, University of New Brunswick
Dr. Harvey Weingarten
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Calgary
Mr. Rob Wildeboer
Executive Chairman, Martinrea International Inc.
Government Membership
Mr. Richard Dicerni
Deputy Minister, Industry Canada
Mrs. Marie-Lucie Morin
Deputy Minister, International Trade, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Mr. Morris Rosenberg
Deputy Minister, Health Canada