Released on March 27, 2001
A new project is receiving federal and provincial funding to helpSaskatchewan companies supply goods and services to the Canadian Light
Source synchrotron.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and Saskatchewan Economic and
Co-operative Development will each provide $90,000 to the Saskatchewan
Advanced Technology Association (SATA) for the development and
implementation of a synchrotron supplier database and a technical library.
The $213,450 project will compile a database of Saskatchewan suppliers
whose capabilities and expertise roughly match the requirements of the CLS
synchrotron. SATA, which is contributing the balance of $33,500 to the
project, will also provide information on the various technical
requirements of the synchrotron to Saskatchewan suppliers.
"The Canadian Light Source is a now a sustaining force in the provincial
economy providing growth opportunities for Saskatchewan advanced technology
companies," Natural Resources Canada Minister Ralph Goodale said on behalf
of Minister of Veteran Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic
Diversification) (Francophonie) Ron J. Duhamel. "The Government of Canada
is fulfilling its commitment to innovation by helping those companies
connect with opportunities through the SATA project."
"This project will strengthen our ability to give local Saskatchewan
companies an opportunity to benefit from Canada's biggest scientific
project in 30 years," Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Eldon
Lautermilch said. "Having access to the many technical requirements of the
synchrotron will give Saskatchewan companies an edge. That will further be
enhanced through the supplier database, which will ensure CLS is aware of
local supplier capabilities."
"This project will not only give Saskatchewan companies opportunities
during the construction of the synchrotron, it also will help to ensure CLS
has a local pool of expertise to service its needs over the next couple of
decades," SATA President Larry Cooper said. "Beyond CLS, we see this
project as helping SATA market the capabilities of Saskatchewan industry
and form strategic alliances worldwide."
The supplier database will categorize potential vendors by industrial
sector and will contain a brief profile of each company listed. It will
assist in matching Saskatchewan expertise with specific needs of the
synchrotron and will provide international suppliers with information about
the capabilities of Saskatchewan suppliers. The technical library will
provide Saskatchewan companies access to policies, procedures, expertise,
contractors and technologies related to supplying products to the
synchrotron project.
SATA assists small and medium sized Saskatchewan-based technology companies
and organizations to develop, enhance and stimulate the growth of the
advanced technology sector in the province.
The WD funding for this initiative was provided for in the 2000 federal
budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This
initiative is an example of how the federal government is prioritizing its
spending so it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their
tax dollars.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak Bob Ellis
Manager, Consultations Marketing and Director, Public Affairs
Communications Economic and
Western Economic Diversification Canada Co-operative Development
Saskatoon Regina
Phone: (306) 975-5942 Phone: (306) 787-1691
WD Toll-Free No: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
WD World Wide Web site:
English - http://www.wd.gc.ca
French - http://www.deo.gc.ca
Anne Ballantyne
First Vice-President
Saskatchewan Advanced
Technology Association
Saskatoon
Phone: (306) 931-1129