December 19, 2012 - Up to 86 recent graduates and graduate students in McMaster University's faculties of science and engineering will receive valuable internships with southern Ontario businesses thanks to a new Government of Canada investment of $1,133,000. The investment was announced today by David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

"Our government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for southern Ontario," said MP Sweet. "This investment will help McMaster's young scientists and engineers to get the professional experience, mentorship and business skills they need as they develop into the next generation of leaders in business and innovation."

The investment is being provided through FedDev Ontario's Graduate Enterprise Internship (GEI), which provides funding for not-for-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions to arrange internship and mentoring opportunities for recent graduates and graduate students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs with small- and medium-sized enterprises.

"The FedDev GEI program will create an important bridge for recent graduates from the Faculty of Science who wish to enter the workforce," said Dr. Peter Sutherland, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science, McMaster University. "The internship model will allow our students an opportunity to complement their academic training with relevant work experience and it will give employers access to new talent with cutting edge skills."

McMaster University's science and engineering faculties place approximately 700 students in co-operative education work terms each year. FedDev Ontario's investment will allow the university to place up to an additional 86 recent graduates and graduate students in the fields of science and engineering at small- and medium-sized businesses in the region, providing them with access to job opportunities in their fields.

"We are proud of what our McMaster graduates bring to the marketplace," said Art Heidebrecht, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. "We are very grateful to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The Graduate Enterprise Internship program will kick-start the professional careers of young McMaster graduates in science and engineering, and will help build the next generation of leaders in innovation."

For more information on the Graduate Enterprise Internship and McMaster University, please refer to the backgrounder.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. The Agency has launched a number of initiatives to create a Southern Ontario Advantage and place the region in a strong position to compete in the global economy. These initiatives are designed to encourage partnerships and support projects that help the region's businesses and communities become more competitive, innovative and diversified. To learn more, please visit www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505

October 5, 2012 – MP David Sweet announced today that Hamilton area residents and businesses are now benefitting from the completion of seven water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the region.

These upgrades were completed thanks to joint funding from the governments of Canada and Ontario, and the City of Hamilton.

"These improvements will ensure that Hamilton and neighbouring communities continue to receive safe, clean drinking water," said David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "Infrastructure investments are an important driver of job creation and economic growth in Canada, and I am pleased that these projects will support the health of local residents, while contributing to the economic future of the Hamilton region."

"Our government is making targeted infrastructure investments to create jobs, stimulate the economy and build stronger communities," said the Honourable Ted McMeekin, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "Water and wastewater infrastructure is key to the health and quality of life of our residents and the environment. As a result of these projects, the Hamilton region will have access to improved and important services for decades to come."

"Through this fruitful funding partnership, Hamilton has been able to rehabilitate seven major water and wastewater facilities that preserved the original buildings while bringing them up to modern standards," said Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina. "This investment allows the City to continue to provide reliable and sustainable water and wastewater services to our community now and well into the future."

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund supported more than 4,000 infrastructure projects across the country, including over 2,000 key infrastructure projects in Ontario.

The Government of Canada has engaged provinces, territories, municipalities and key stakeholders in a series of roundtables to guide the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan that will support job creation, economic growth and prosperity. We have heard that we are on the right track: there is a need for strong, sustained investment and we must continue to work together moving forward. To improve infrastructure across Canada and ensure affordability and sustainability over the long term, our new plan will encourage greater use of public-private partnerships. This will help leverage new investments in infrastructure, while respecting the capacity of Canadian taxpayers.

These projects also support Building Together, the Government of Ontario's long-term infrastructure plan to repair, rebuild and renew the province's roads and highways, bridges, public transit, schools and postsecondary institutions, hospitals and courthouses. Through Building Together, Ontario plans to invest more than $35 billion over the next three years to create or preserve over 100,000 jobs on average each year. Infrastructure investments create high-quality employment, support economic growth and helps make Ontario's economy more productive.

Horizon Utilities Corporation has partnered with Hamilton on a number of electricity retrofit initiatives. Since 2010, the City and Horizon Utilities have completed 38 projects, with a combined energy savings of more than 13.3 million kWh. Included in those projects is the Woodward Avenue Water Treatment Plant. Horizon Utilities facilitated a $2.3 million incentive cheque through the Ontario Power Authority's saveONenergy Electricity Retrofit Incentive Program to assist with the electricity retrofit at the plant. When fully operational, the new system will result in a 2600 kW demand reduction and a 20 per cent reduction in the station's annual electricity usage.