Canada's Minister of Industry to Speak at Yale University

John Manley, Minister of Industry for Canada, will lecture on “Canada’s Science and Technology Strategy: Constructing a Smart, Comparative Advantage” on Thursday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m. in Davies Auditorium, Becton Engineering and Applied Science Center, 15 Prospect St. The talk, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Yale Faculty of Engineering as part of the Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer series. A reception will follow in Becton Faculty Lounge.

First elected in 1988 and re-elected in 1993 and 1997 as Member of Parliament for Ottawa South, Manley was appointed Minister of Industry in November 1993. He was given additional responsibilities as Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Federal Office of Regional Development - Quebec, and the Western Economic Diversification in January 1996. Mr. Manley is assisted in these duties by three Secretaries of State.

The Minister also is responsible for a number of government agencies including the Standards Council, the Canadian Space Agency, the National Research Council, Statistics Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada, the Canadian Tourism Commission, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Supported by these organizations, which represent the government’s key tools for economic renewal and innovation, Manley and his colleagues have been given an important part to play in advancing the Jobs and Growth Agenda. Under his leadership, this team is acting to build a positive entrepreneurial climate and help small businesses grow; to expand markets for jobs and growth through trade; to create an efficient and modern infrastructure; to build stronger regional economies within an integrated national framework to meet the challenge of global competition; and to make technology work for Canada.

As Minister responsible for telecommunications policy, he has led the development of a strategy for Canada’s Information Highway. Before entering politics, Manley practiced business and income tax law in Ottawa.