Honouring Canada's Top Scientific Minds: PM Addresses Gerhard Herzberg Gold Medal and E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship Winners

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Good evening ladies and gentlemen. 

Thank you Gary for that kind introduction. 

As the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Gary is charged with spearheading our Government’s efforts to expand Canada’s research, development and knowledge infrastructure. 

I know we all want to give Gary a hand for his work on this vitally important file. 

As Canadians, we are the inheritors of a proud scientific tradition.

From the discovery of insulin to the development of the Canadarm to the invention of the Blackberry, Canadian researchers have always been at the vanguard of scientific and technological achievement. 

Tonight we pay tribute to those whose work is defining the next era of excellence. 

Although attosecond movements, quantum computing and cognitive neuroscience aren’t typical topics of conversation around the kitchen table, all Canadians stand to benefit from the practical application of research in these fields.

In the world of today, scientific and technological innovation is fundamental to economic and social progress.  It creates good jobs, raises living standards, and underlies improvements in medicine, communications and family life.

No country can hope to remain prosperous and healthy without reinvesting a substantial portion of its wealth in science and technology.

That’s why, two years ago, we launched our Government’s flagship Science and Technology Strategy. 

It’s a practical, realistic plan to strengthen our economy by marrying Canada’s scientific expertise to its entrepreneurial energy.

Our strategy aims to expand and improve government and business partnerships so new inventions can move quickly out of the laboratory and into the marketplace.

The strategy focuses on further developing Canada’s inherent research strengths, specifically:

• Improving public health;
  
• Preserving the environment;
  
• Developing natural resources;
  
• And producing new information and communications technologies.

In line with this strategy, our recently released economic action plan makes an addition five billion dollars in new investments.

Our prosperity and quality of life in the future will depend on the advancements we make in our laboratories today. 

Or, as Frederick Banting eloquently put it, and I quote:  "The science of today is the research of yesterday, and the research of today is the science of tomorrow."

On behalf of the Government of Canada,
I’d like to congratulate tonight’s award winners:

• Herzberg gold medal finalists, Gilles Brassard, Paul Corkum and Brenda Milner;
  
• And Brendan Frey, Andrew Hendry, Ray Jayawardhana, Ingrid Johnsrude, Karim Nader, Peter Tieleman for the Steacie awards. 

I thank all of them for their pursuit of scientific excellence in the name of the public good. 

And I wish all of you every success as you continue to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge. 

Thank you.

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