Deputy Prime Minister hosts tech sector roundtable in Kitchener
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is in Kitchener today to discuss the challenges and opportunities the Canadian technology sector is currently facing.
Freeland stopped in Waterloo region to tour Communitech and meet with local innovators and entrepreneurs.
“This area, the Waterloo-Toronto corridor is one of the top tech ecosystems in the world., There are more tech workers here in this corridor than in Chicago, L.A, Seattle and Washington D.C., said Freeland. “Something we should all as Canadian take pride in, Canada’s technology workforce is growing faster than that of any hub in the United States. We’re already the top there, the trend is our friend, and I want people who work in this sector to know our government takes great pride in that. We understand how important it is for Canada today and our future, and we are committed to continue to work with you for us to get to number one.”
The hope is to meet with top tech executives to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Canadian tech sector.
Freeland was joined by multiple local members of parliament, starting off with a tour.
“Seeing the work that you are doing here, talking to people, it has made me excited all over again about the present day reality and the future of Canadian technology,” said Freeland. “The Waterloo region is a renowned hub for technology and innovation, and it has, as Chris pointed out, the second highest density of start-ups in the world.”
The tour took the deputy prime minister around Communitech looking at different projects that startups have been working on, including a special type of flight simulator.
“It’s a little bit bumpy here, there’s always business cycles, but if you look at the big numbers, $3.6 billion invested in the Waterloo region in the last 16 months, more than the previous three years combined. We’ve got all these great companies that are just exploding, and it’s really great to have the deputy prime minister here today to kind of celebrate that success but work with us for what’s coming,” said Chris Albinson, CEO of Communitech.
Later this afternoon, Freeland will host a roundtable to discuss ways to help the industry get back on track.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.