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Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships |
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September 15, 2011 -- David Sweet, M.P. for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, today announced the three recipients of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships at McMaster University. This announcement is in line with the Government of Canada’s commitment to making our country a global centre of excellence in research, innovation and higher learning. These awards are given to top post-doctoral researchers from across the country and around the globe whose work contributes to Canada’s economic and social growth.
“Research powers Canada’s economy,” said MP David Sweet “Our government’s investment in research excellence and leadership through the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships is helping to develop, attract and retain the world’s top researchers, who will make substantial contributions to Canada’s long-term prosperity and quality of life.
“From a local perspective, this is yet another demonstration of the world-class research and researchers we have here at McMaster University,” added MP Sweet.
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships ensure that Canadian post-doctoral researchers can succeed at home and abroad. Announced by Prime Minister Harper in July 2010, the five-year, $45‑million program will award 70 new fellowships each year, each valued at $70,000 annually for two years. The program builds on the success of the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program, the Canada Research Chairs program and the Canada Excellence Research Chairs program.
The funding is delivered through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The fellowships are named in memory of Sir Frederick Banting, the Canadian physician, researcher, Nobel laureate and war hero who, together with his assistant Dr. Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin.
“This program is allowing Canadian research institutions to attract elite researchers from across the country and around the world,” said Dr. Alain Beaudet, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, on behalf of the three federal research granting agencies. “The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships help make Canada a destination of choice for the world’s top post-doctoral researchers.”
Two of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients at McMaster will receive grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. These include Morgan Fullerton’s research into the role of Macrophage AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in regulating obesity induced-inflammation, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis and the work Meredith Lilly is doing to address research gaps in the labour supply of family/friend caregivers, including the long-term impacts, the formal/informal care trade-off, care setting, and statistical endogeneity.
The third McMaster recipient is Amelia DeFalco whose work is being recognized for this Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship under the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. DeFalco’s research is in imaging care through responsibility, dependency and subjectivity in Canadian literature.
Highly qualified post-doctoral fellows are in increasing demand at Canadian universities. The internationally competitive level of funding offered through the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships will help ensure that Canadian institutions can attract the best talent from abroad. Canadian recipients will be eligible to travel to a foreign research institution for their post-doctoral placements, helping them establish global networks early in their career and raise awareness of Canadian research excellence. |
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January 2012 -- Balancing the Budget |
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First and foremost, I hope you had a relaxing and safe Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s season. It was a pleasure to see so many at our annual New Year’s Levee in Dundas on January 2nd. It’s become quite the annual tradition and we gathered a good collection of non-perishable food to deliver to the food bank!
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In December, I had the opportunity to speak with Larry Di Ianni on the set of Hamilton Talks on Cable 14. We covered a range of issues as well as a reflection on the year that was 2011. If you would like to watch the video, please click here.
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As 2011 came to a close, we were very mindful of the economic and fiscal challenges gripping the Eurozone and threatening the global recovery. While many financial institutions are projecting that Canada’s economic performance will continue to lead the G-7, Canada is a trading nation in a globally-integrated economy. We are not immune to the turbulence.
For this reason, the Federal Government remains focused on jobs and the economy. Balancing the budget and investing in innovation are high on the agenda.
That’s why I’m pleased that on December 12th, Science Minister Gary Goodyear announced that the Government of Canada is extending the Applied Research and Commercialization (ARC) pilot program for another year.
ARC is an excellent program that is making a difference in accelerating innovation in the private sector. How? With limited resources for research and development, Canada’s small and medium-sized businesses need new strategies to help them bring products to market. That’s where ARC comes in. The program matches post-secondary institutions with small and medium-sized businesses to meet R&D goals cost-effectively. To date, 15 local small businesses have seen their technologies supported an ARC partnership with Mohawk College.
From my vantage point as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology where we’ve been hearing from leaders in Canada’s digital economy, I can tell you this program is a winner.
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Budget 2012 is coming up and we’re looking for your input!
In the coming weeks, we want to hear from Canadians on how we can best advance the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan in Budget 2012.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty began cross-country consultations in December and they will continue into January. Watch for my next riding-wide newsletter to provide input through our annual ADFW constituent survey. Or you can go online at any time to provide submissions to the Finance Department at http://www.fin.gc.ca/prebudget-prebudgetaire/1-eng.asp. |
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December 2011 -- Fall Economic Update |
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The sovereign debt and banking crisis in the Eurozone and U.S. congressional committees still grappling with debt reduction targets were the backdrop to the Government of Canada's Fall Economic Update delivered by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty a few weeks ago.
While Canada's economy weathered the global recession better than most other industrialized countries and we’re the only G-7 country to have more than recovered all of the jobs lost during the recession, we're not immune to these international developments.
The lesson in all this is that nations must have their fiscal house in order to preserve the economic well-being of their citizens. That’s why a central point in the Finance Minister’s Update is that the Government is following through on the deficit reduction action plan to achieve at least $4 billion in ongoing annual savings by 2014–15. This is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to return to a balanced budget over the medium term. In fact, the Update provided fiscal projections, taking into account the revised economic outlook from private sector economists, which confirm we’re on track.
At the same time, the Government will continue to monitor closely the economic situation. If the economy weakens significantly, the Government is prepared to respond in a flexible and measured way to support Canadian jobs and growth. Two points I’d like to underscore here are that we continue to invest in innovation – making strategic investments that help us secure the jobs of the future. And, we are pursing stronger trade ties with China and Asia to ensure our export-based economy can continue to rely on new markets.
Retirement security is a key part of the economic well-being of Canadians. That’s why the Government announced last week that we are improving Canada’s pension landscape with legislation to implement Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs). PRPPs will make saving for retirement easier for the millions of Canadians who never had a pension plan before. Incredibly, over 60% of Canadians do not have a workplace pension plan. PRPPs help by offering a new, low-cost and accessible pension option to help you meet your retirement goals.
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On the international front, I’m pleased that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced additional sanctions against Iran on November 21st. Canada is deeply disturbed by the information contained in the most recent International Atomic Energy Agency report on the state of Iran’s nuclear program and the threat to global security that poses.
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As the season is upon us, best wishes from Almut and I to everyone in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Chanukah and a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year. |
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HMCS Haida Management Plan |
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November 29, 2011 - The Honourable Peter Kent, Canada's Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, recently tabled in Parliament the management plan for HMCS Haida National Historic Site of Canada, located in Hamilton, Ontario.
HMCS Haida is part of a system of over 900 national historic sites which speak to the full range of the Canadian experience. Within the National Historic Sites System Plan, Haida is used to foster a greater understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian history and to strengthen a sense of ownership of the world’s last Tribal class destroyer. HMCS Haida was designated a National Historic Site by virtue of its role in Canadian naval combat and as the world’s last Tribal class destroyer.
“HMCS Haida offers Canadians and the world opportunities to experience and understand Canada’s most famous warship and get a sense of life aboard during World War II, the Korean War and peacekeeping duties,” said Minister Kent.
The purpose of the management plan is to provide strategic direction for the management and operations of the site for 15 years, with a review every five years. This plan is Parks Canada’s key accountability document with Canadians. It provides long-term direction to ensure commemorative integrity including heritage resource protection; to facilitate meaningful visitor experiences so that visitors can discover, enjoy, and learn about the site’s heritage and stories; and to inspire a connection with Canadians by exciting an interest in visiting and by fostering collaboration with partners, stakeholders and the community.
“Haida is an important heritage attraction in our region”, said David Sweet, M.P. for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. “Our continuing goal is to work cooperatively with partners and stakeholders to ensure that the stories of Haida are told to future generations.”
Parks Canada works to ensure Canada’s historic and natural heritage is presented and protected for the enjoyment, education and appreciation of all Canadians, today and in the future. Through its network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and three national marine conservation areas, Parks Canada sets the stage and invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspired discovery of our treasured natural and historic places.
To view the full plan, visit http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/haida/plan.aspx. |
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