Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

January 10, 2005

Toronto: Economic Development and Trade Minister Joseph Cordiano today announced $8 million in funding, over four years, to create a new Centre of Excellence for Energy.

“The Centre of Excellence for Energy will further the government’s innovation agenda by encouraging research and development into leading edge and emerging energy sources and technology,” Cordiano said. “This funding is part of the Ontario government’s $1.8 billion commitment to support research and commercialization to ensure our continued prosperity and maintain Ontario’s position as a leading innovation economy.”

The new Centre of Excellence for Energy will help to:

• Explore options for viable, affordable long-term and environmentally friendly energy supplies in Ontario; 
• Increase the number of high-value jobs in Ontario and strengthen our industrial base; 
• Aid in research and development, and bring to market made-in-Ontario energy efficient solutions; 
• Foster linkages and networks among research institutions, business and energy industry experts.The Centre of Excellence for Energy will operate as a division of the Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc. (OCE Inc.), a non-profit corporation established by the Ontario government in 1987 to support research excellence.

  The four other centres promote research in photonics, information technology, earth and space technology and materials and manufacturing.

  The Ontario Centres of Excellence linked approximately 800 companies to nearly 4,000 academic researchers at more than 200 post-secondary institutions, and attracted $24 million in investments from the private sector in the year ending March 31, 2004.

  “The McGuinty government is committed to protecting the interests of Ontarians by ensuring a reliable, sustainable and diverse supply of competitively priced power for the province, while promoting energy conservation,” said Dwight Duncan, Minister of Energy. “This new Centre of Excellence for Energy is the latest pillar in the province’s long-term energy strategy.”

  The Centre of Excellence for Energy is expected to be in operation this spring and build even more value into the successful Ontario Centres of Excellence program. It will explore options for leveraging funding from the private sector, and work to increase the development of new energy technologies and bring them into the marketplace.

  Ontario is an active partner in the development of emerging energy technologies such as fuel cell and hydrogen systems, bio-fuels production, wind power and alternative energy vehicle development.

  “This new Centre of Excellence, an integral part of our government’s research and commercialization agenda, will be instrumental in the development of clean and safe energy sources for years to come,” Cordiano said.

  Contacts:
  Declan Doyle or Margie Lockhart

  Declan Doyle
  Minister’s Office
  Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
  (416) 325-8779

  Margie Lockhart
  Communications Branch
  Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
  (416) 325-4749

  Disponible en français
  www.ontariocanada.com

  Backgrounder ————————————————————————-

  Energy Centre Planning Committee

  Members of the Task Force of Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc.: These members oversee the development of the strategic and annual operating plans for the Centre.

  Sean Conway
  Policy Advisor
  Gowlings Lafleur Henderson LLP

  Dr. Paul Guild
  Vice President, University Research
  University of Waterloo

  Rebecca MacDonald
  Chair & CEO
  Ontario Energy Savings Corporation

  Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri
  Vice President, Research and International Affairs
  McMaster University

  Members of the Planning Committee: These representatives from Ontario’s energy community are responsible for the preparation of the strategic and operating plans for the Centre.

  Tom Adams
  Executive Director
  Energy Probe

  Bruce Ander
  President
  Markham District Energy Inc.

  John Brace
  President and CEO
  Northland Power

  Dave Butters
  President
  Association of Power Producers of Ontario

  Donna Cansfield
  Parliamentary Assistant
  Ministry of Energy

  John Lemay
  Vice President
  INCO

  David J. McFadden, Q.C.
  Partner
  Gowlings Lafleur Henderson LLP

  Rob McLeese
  President
  Access Capital Corporation

  Ronald D. Munkley
  Vice Chairman and Head of Power & Utilities Group
  CIBC World Markets Inc.

  Mary Ellen Richardson
  Executive Director
  Association of Major Power Consumers

  Mark Romoff
  President and CEO
  OCE Inc.

  Will Stewart
  Director, Policy Development & Communications
  Electricity Distributors Association

  Alexander (Sandy) Stuart
  Stuart Energy

  Ken Talbot
  Bruce Power L.P.

  Rob Watters
  Borealis Capital Corporation

  Contacts:

  Declan Doyle
  Minister’s Office
  Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
  (416) 325-8779

  Margie Lockhart
  Communications Branch
  Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
  (416) 325-4749

  Sheri Somerville
  Communications
  OCE Inc.
  (416) 861-1092, ext.1017

  For more information visit www.ontariocanada or www.oce-ontario.org

  For further information: Declan Doyle, Minister’s Office, (416) 325-8779; Margie Lockhart, Communications Branch, (416) 325-4749