Released on: April 2, 2008, 8:08 am

Press Release Author: Iris Conseil

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: TORONTO RECEIVES $4 MILLION BOOST FOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY

Press Release Body: March 2008

INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND INNOVATION IN FINANCIAL SERVICES
TORONTO RECEIVES $4 MILLION BOOST FOR SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY

TORONTO - To help the Toronto Region attract and develop the best and brightest
financial sector talent to compete globally, the Ontario government will help
establish the Centre of Excellence for Education in Financial Services and provide
it with $4 million over three years.

The Centre will be the first of its kind in Canada. It will promote innovation and
technology, attract more international students to Toronto, and facilitate export of
Ontario financial educational services. It will work to maintain the breadth and
quality of the intellectual and entrepreneurial capacity that drive economic success
and competitiveness in this key sector.

\"Financial services and professional business services are major drivers of
Ontario\'s knowledge economy. Financial services underline the point that this
province is a great place to invest,\" said Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan
(http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/about/min.html). \"We believe the Centre of
Excellence will help secure our talent advantage and create a global hub for
financial services education and training.\"

\"Toronto is home to many innovative financial institutions that are world leaders in
their markets,\" said Janet Ecker, President of the Toronto Financial Services
Alliance (http://www.tfsa.ca/). \"The Centre of Excellence is an ideal way for us to
capitalize on Toronto\'s competitive advantage and attract even more talented people
to work in Canada\'s most important industry.\"

QUICK FACTS

. Roughly 350,000 people are employed in Ontario\'s financial sector, with 213,000 of
them in the Toronto area.

. Toronto ranks 15th internationally as a global financial hub, according to
international surveys.

. Toronto\'s financial sector is the third largest in North America, behind only New
York and Chicago, based on employment.

. Toronto region is home to 28 per cent of the Canadian financial services sector.

. Since 2003, employment in Ontario\'s financial services sector has increased by 12
per cent.

Learn more about the Toronto financial services sector www.tfsa.ca
See how Ontario is investing in skills to develop jobs for the future
http://ontariobudget.ca/english

For more information, contact:

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://www.iris-conseil.net



Web Site: http://iris-conseil.net

Contact Details: 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://www.iris-conseil.net