Press Release Summary: OSHAWA, Ontario - A new Automotive Centre of Excellence in Oshawa will help ensure the parts and vehicles of tomorrow are researched, designed and built in Ontario.
Press Release Body: BOLSTERING THE FUTURE OF ONTARIO'S AUTO INDUSTRY Ontario Government Part of Automotive Centre of Excellence Partnership
OSHAWA, Ontario - A new Automotive Centre of Excellence in Oshawa will help ensure the parts and vehicles of tomorrow are researched, designed and built in Ontario.
The centre - a partnership between the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), General Motors of Canada and the Government of Ontario - will include:
. A wind tunnel that can recreate weather and road conditions . Collaborations to bring new vehicle-related products to market . Opportunities for students and faculty to work alongside auto industry professionals.
Ontario is providing $58 million towards the centre, which is currently under construction and will open in late 2009.
"By investing in know-how, we are bolstering the long-term future of our auto industry," said Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. "Ontario's investment is part of our strategy to strengthen the province's research and development infrastructure and build the network that is essential to making this province the best place to create the products and jobs of the future."
"Any investment in the skills and education of our people is an investment in tomorrow," said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "The new Centre of Excellence, along with our Reaching Higher plan, is helping more Ontarians get more access to the skills they need so that our economy, and our province's automotive industry, will thrive."
Ontario's auto industry:
. Employs more than 130,000 people . Represents about 20 per cent of the province's total manufacturing output and . Makes up 90 per cent of Canada's total auto industry, including all Canadian-built cars and light trucks.
The announcement is part of the province's $235-million investment in the $2.5 billion GM Beacon Project, announced in March 2005 as part of the Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy.
"Our vision has been to create a new advanced automotive technology cluster centered at UOIT which also links together our best Canadian companies, universities, students and engineers with suppliers in the Canadian automotive supply chain. At GM we believe that building new innovation and commercialization linkages will be critical for our industry's success in Canada and our Canadian suppliers' ability to use innovation as a core advantage for the future," said Arturo Elias, President, General Motors of Canada.
"UOIT is honoured to have the opportunity to create the GM of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence here on campus. This partnership is very important strategically as it significantly builds upon the foundation we have developed at UOIT for educating Canada's next-generation automotive engineers, men and women who will blend technical knowledge and creative design skills to greatly advance automotive research and design," said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, President and Vice-Chancellor, UOIT.
Web Site: http://www.iris-conseil.net
Contact Details: Renseignements: Ray Lancashire, Media Relations, Invest Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade Tel: (416) 326-1608 E-mail: ray.lancashire@ontario.ca
Contact Presse : IRIS Conseil Christine Arnal 44, Rue de Varenne - 75007 - Paris Tel : 01 45 44 04 21 & Fax : 01 45 44 18 14 E-mail : c.arnal@iris-conseil.net & Site : http://
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