The Hill Times, Monday Friday February 16, 2004
Policy Briefing: Innovation.
Page 26
'We will help ensure environmentally friendly, energy efficient, innovative and economically stimulating development':
By Andy Scott Minister of State for Infrastructure; Minister with five Crown Corporations including CMHC and Canada Lands Company in his portfolio; and Member of Parliament for Fredericton, New Brunswick
History has proven that a country's ability to innovate directly affects its economic success. Innovation makes businesses more competitive, provides consumers with choices, and provides individuals with new learning opportunities, higher incomes and better jobs. Another cornerstone to our success is our communities - their people, their public infrastructure, housing and land use. Communities are key to ensuring strong social values and a greater quality of life for all Canadians…Infrastructure has four key programs that contribute towards sustainable development:
Infrastructure Canada Program
Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund
The Municipal-Rural Infrastructure Fund:
and The Border Infrastructure Fund…Innovative thinking is also ensuring that our goals toward sustainable growth become a reality. One of the implications of a new approach to urban growth is that we will have to limit the expansion of urban areas and promote higher density housing located near transportation hubs. This will make more efficient use of public investment in infrastructure, reduce the impact of sprawl on energy consumption and the environment and help us to meet our objectives under the Kyoto protocol.