CME welcomes federal government announcement to encourage SME growth through procurement

Ottawa, December 14, 2017

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters applauds the Innovative Solutions Canada initiative launched today by the federal government. The program dedicates $100 million to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation through government procurement.

“Canadian manufacturers face stiff global competition every day,” said Dennis Darby, President & CEO of CME. “This initiative will encourage small Canadian manufacturers to be more innovative, facilitate commercialization and create jobs across the country, so they can continue to be the heart of our economy.”

CME has long advocated for the government to leverage Canada’s domestic procurement system to foster new product development, innovation and local production in SMEs. Through its extensive research to find solutions to double Canada’s manufacturing output by 2030, Industrie2030, CME found that Canada was lacking behind other markets in terms of its policies to boost innovation and local economic development through it’s purchasing power.

“The initiative announced today is a step toward a national strategy to take advantage of our natural expertise and resources to support domestic and international market growth opportunities,” added Darby. “It gives the signal that Canada stands behind its manufacturers and endorses its innovative new goods.”

The Innovative Solutions Canada program, in alignment with CME’s Women in Manufacturing initiative, also encourage members of under-represented groups to become innovators.

More details on this program can be found on the government website.

ABOUT CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS & EXPORTERS

Since 1871, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters has been helping manufacturers grow at home and, compete around the world. Our focus is to ensure manufacturers are recognized as engines for growth in the economy, with Canada acknowledged as both a global leader and innovator in advanced manufacturing and a global leader in exporting. CME is a member-driven association that directly represents more than 2,500 leading companies who account for an estimated 82 per cent of manufacturing output and 90 per cent of Canada’s exports.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stefi Proulx

Director of Communications & Branding

Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters

(613) 292-6070

stefi.proulx@cme-mec.ca