Ontario: Wynne promises to help high-tech








(EMC news) -- Job creation in Ottawa was front and centre at a business roundtable hosted by Premier Kathleen Wynne on Feb. 22, in her first official trip outside Queen's Park since being sworn in.

Wynne chose to hold the roundtable at Ross Video, a video production company in the west end of Ottawa to emphasize the need to support research and innovation.

The premier met with several business leaders, calling for their support in creating more jobs in the Ottawa area.

She said her government will continue to support research and innovation, building an environment that will reinforce Ontario's position to attract companies seeking a smart and skilled workforce.

"It is our collective goal to be a government that creates the conditions for jobs to be created by private enterprises," Wynne said.

But the premier refused to commit her government to a boost in spending on science and technology in the coming provincial budget.

Research and development are crucial in unleashing creativity in the province, she said.

"Ontario is already a powerhouse in information communications technology (ICT), and we need the expertise and insight of this sector to help us to advance innovation and create new opportunities for the people of Ontario," she said.

There are more than 18,000 innovative ICT companies operating in Ontario, according to a release from the premier's office. The sector is said to be creating more than 270,000 jobs and contributing more than$28 billion to the province's gross domestic product.

David Ross, chief executive officer of Ross Video, said the province needs companies like his that are growing, stable, with high technology and creating manufacturing jobs for Ontarians.

"She has an interesting challenge trying to balance a budget deficit with trying to stimulate growth at the same time," Ross said.

Mayor Jim Watson said having the premier make her first visit to Ottawa sends a signal that she understands Ottawa is the second largest economy in the province.

"We wanted to make sure that we get her to spend as much time (as possible) understanding our issues and working with us on everything from light rail, environmental cleanups to economic development," said Watson.

He said the premier was briefed on the importance of the size of the technology economy in Ottawa.

"People think technology is bigger in Kitchener and Waterloo. We are in fact much larger than they are when it comes to technology and (the) number of companies," he said.

Recent and continuing federal job cuts are said to be hurting Ottawa's economy, and the mayor thinks something must be done to fill those voids.

"At the end of the day, we want to make sure that we have the jobs to keep people here especially young people who are graduating from colleges and universities," said Watson.

Hopeful to Pass Budget

Wynne said she was hopeful she can work with the opposition to pass the spring budget so as to avoid an election.

"My sincere hope is that we will be able to put together a budget that occupies the middle ground and will allow the opposition parties to support us," she said.

"I know we have challenges. I am not going to be naïve to the challenges that we face, but at the same time I believe that we do have an opportunity here as the minority government to capture the desires of the province and have the opposition work with us."

The premier added that she would continue to work with the opposition, to the degree that they are willing, to make sure they capture the best ideas for the province.

"If the opposition is not willing to work with us and if they want to trigger an election then we are fully prepared to go into an election," said Wynne.

"I don't think anybody wants an election. We'll do our best to bring in a budget that will pass and hope that Hudak and Horwath will work with us."


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