For Immediate Release
March 17th, 2016
Ontario Government Strengthens Mississauga Life Sciences Sector: Mayor Crombie
Mississauga – The Wynne government’s commitment to invest in leading companies, like Baylis Medical, will generate new and lasting economic development benefits for Mississauga, Mayor Bonnie Crombie said today.
Mayor Crombie made the comments following today’s announcement by Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure, that the Ontario government is partnering with Baylis Medical Company to support a research and development expansion project at the company’s Mississauga manufacturing plant that will increase exports, create 84 new jobs and retain 194 positions.
“On behalf of the City of Mississauga, I would like to acknowledge Minister Duguid for partnering with private-sector job creators and making this important investment toward supporting the long-term growth and competitiveness of Baylis Medical, here in Mississauga,” Mayor Bonnie Crombie said. “This investment will better position Mississauga as a thriving hub of global life science businesses,” Mayor Crombie added.
The Province will invest up to $4.22 million through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund to support Baylis’ expansion into a new state-of-the-art facility that will double the company’s environmentally controlled rooms and R&D spaces.
In Mississauga, we take our life sciences industry serious, Mayor Crombie said, citing how the Economic Development Office (EDO) recently created the new position of Life Sciences Business Consultant to expand Mississauga’s growing life sciences sector.
“Mississauga is the second largest life sciences cluster in Canada by employment,” Mayor Crombie said. “Our Pill Hill community is a thriving hub of global life science businesses. We are currently home to more than 380 life science companies that employ more than 25,000 people,” Mayor Crombie added.
“The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and its Academy of Medicine, undertakes cutting-edge research and graduates talented men and women into the fields of medicine, healthcare, and commerce.”
UTM’s Institute for Management & Innovation offers professional graduate programs in biotechnology, innovation and sustainability. “During Budget 2015, City Council reaffirmed its commitment to invest $10 million dollars toward developing this new and important piece of knowledge infrastructure,” Mayor Crombie said.
Ontario’s R&D life sciences companies in Mississauga have more than doubled over the past ten years, adding that, “This didn’t happen by accident. The City of Mississauga has a partner at Queen’s Park, committed to helping ignite new local economic development opportunities in cities across Ontario. Today’s announcement is further proof that this partnership is working.”
Mayor Crombie added “In June, I will join the team of professionals from the City of Mississauga’s Economic Development Office (EDO) for the 2016 BIO International Convention. More than 15,000 delegates are expected to attend the life-sciences conference, the largest in the world.
“We will meet and network with industry experts, investors, stakeholders and partners, with the goal to strengthen relationships and leverage Mississauga and Ontario’s competitive advantage in the life sciences sector.”
“We will share Mississauga’s success story as a leading place for businesses to invest, expand service offerings and remain ahead of the competition,” Mayor Crombie concluded.
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