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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM opens 2011 Canada Winter Games

February 11, 2011
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially opened the Canada Winter Games in Halifax today, highlighting the benefits of sport for all Canadians.

"I know how hard all of you have worked to get this far. You should be proud of what you've achieved," said Prime Minister Harper. "Coaches, sponsors, organizers and especially athletes, on behalf of our Government and all Canadians watching back home, I wish you good luck and a great games…and we will see you again in Sochi, Russia, 2014."

Since the Canada Winter Games were first held in Quebec City in 1967, more than 100,000 athletes and coaches have participated.

Thirty-four former Canada Winter Games competitors won 16 medals at the XXI Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, where Canada also won a record of 14 gold medals – the most ever by a Winter Olympics host country – including the first Canadian gold medal on home soil.

The Harper Government recognizes the importance of sport and physical activity for all Canadians and is committed to keeping Canada a leading sport country. In the past few years our Government has:

• Committed $500 million over two years through Canada's Economic Action Plan to build and renew thousands of community recreation facilities across Canada. Projects funded include several Canada Games sports facilities, such as those at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia, at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, and at the University of Prince Edward Island.

• Created the Children's Fitness Tax Credit beginning in 2007 for parents who register their children in sporting and physical activity programs, promoting health and physical well-being.

• Supported the hosting of national and international sporting events, including the Summer and Winter Canada Games, the 2012 Arctic Winter Games, the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon and the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton.

• Provided $62 million in Budget 2010 to support Canada's elite athletes and encourage participation in amateur sport.


The Canada Winter Games will take place from February 11-27, 2011.

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Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Canada Games

February 11, 2011
Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Canada Games are a national, multi-sport competition for young Canadian athletes, who represent their provinces and territories in 20 different sports, including sport events for athletes with a disability. The Games have become a stepping stone for many of Canada's celebrated athletes and Paralympic and Olympic champions, including: Hayley Wickenheiser, Steve Nash, and Sidney Crosby.

First held in Quebec City in the winter of 1967, the Games have taken place every two years in Canada, alternating between the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games. Since 1967, over 100,000 athletes and coaches have participated in the Games, which are now Canada's largest multi-sport competition for young athletes.

About 2,700 of Canada's best and brightest athletes will set their sights on Nova Scotia this year, as Halifax hosts the Canada Winter Games. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday, February 11 at the Halifax Metro Centre and the Closing Ceremony will occur on Sunday, February 27th.

The Games will generate significant economic benefits, including business opportunities, new jobs, increased tourism and enhanced infrastructure and tax revenue.

The Games will also leave behind an extensive legacy for the sport community in the region, including the new $40 million Canada Games Centre, supported by our Government and its provincial and municipal partners. Approximately $15 million in additional capital upgrades will be made to the region's existing sporting facilities, which will benefit generations to come.

Supporting the Games is one of many initiatives the Harper Government is undertaking to help Canadians participate and excel in sport, and keep Canada a fit and leading sport country. In the past few years, it has: committed $500 million through Canada's Economic Action Plan to build and renew thousands of community recreation facilities across Canada; created the Children's Fitness Tax Credit; supported the hosting of national and international sporting events; and provided $62 million through our Own the Podium program to support Canada's elite athletes and encourage participation in amateur sport.

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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Statement

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada following the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt

February 11, 2011
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced his resignation:

"Canada respects President Mubarak's decision to step down in order to promote peace and stability in the country. The future of Egypt is for Egyptians to decide.

"Canada wants to see free and fair elections; we want to see the rule of law and stability; we want to see respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities, including religious minorities; we want to see the transition to a democratic Egypt.

"Our Government encourages all parties to move forward with a peaceful, meaningful, credible and orderly democratic reform process towards new leadership, including free and fair elections in order to build a brighter future for the people of Egypt.

"Canada will continue to support Egypt in implementing meaningful democratic and economic reforms. We will also continue to encourage and support Egypt's efforts to promote regional stability and peace, including with Israel as well as continued respect for peace treaties in the Middle East."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM officially unveils the MV Blue Puttees ferry

February 11, 2011
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today officially unveiled the MV Blue Puttees ferry which will improve the flow of people and goods across the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our Government understands how important the ferry connection to the mainland is to the people and the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Prime Minister Harper. "The new ferry will carry more people, vehicles and freight…and will provide more comfort and amenities for travellers."

The MV Blue Puttees, which will be in service by the end of February, is the first of two vessels chartered by Marine Atlantic Inc. – the federal Crown corporation operating the ferries. The second vessel, the MV Highlanders, is expected to be in service this spring.

The vessel names are a tribute to the men and women who have served with the Newfoundland Regiment - nicknamed the "Blue Puttees" - and the Cape Breton Highlanders.

The new ferries will be equipped to carry up to 1,000 passengers and crew, more than 500 standard-sized automobiles, and approximately 50 per cent more freight than the vessels they are replacing, while providing more comfort and amenities for travellers.

In addition to meeting growing transportation demands, the new vessels will have less impact on the environment through reduced CO2 emissions, improved wastewater handling and increased overall fuel efficiency.

Both vessels will replace two older and smaller ferries, which will be retired from Marine Atlantic Inc.'s service – the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood.

The unveiling of the MV Blue Puttees vessel is part of the Harper Government's commitment to renew Marine Atlantic Inc.'s fleet and shore facilities.

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Backgrounder

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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National Research Council Institute for Ocean Technology

Canada's Economic Action Plan

February 11, 2011
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

The National Research Council Institute for Ocean Technology is Canada's national centre for ocean technology research and development. It is a place for ocean technology companies to develop their concepts and technologies in a supportive and cooperative environment. By modelling marine conditions, the National Research Council helps enterprises predict and improve the performance of prototypes and existing technologies.

Since its establishment in 1985, the Institute has gained an international reputation for the quality of its work and its solid scientific achievements. Thanks to leading-edge facilities, including a 200-metre towing tank, a 75- by 32-metre offshore engineering basin, and a 90-metre ice tank, the National Research Council has helped commercialize vessel prototypes, marine safety technologies, simulation software and more. Ongoing research projects mean that Canada is well-positioned to compete in the rapidly growing international market of ocean technologies.

St. John's is home to a vibrant and highly innovative cluster of more than 50 ocean technology companies, which are an important part of Newfoundland and Labrador's economy. Bringing together top researchers from industry, academia and government, technology clusters also draw critical masses of capital and entrepreneurial drive, providing the ideal environment for businesses to flourish.

With support from the National Research Council, companies such as Virtual Marine Technology, a global provider of small craft training simulators, and Mad Rock Marine Solutions Inc., an innovator in marine evacuation technology, will continue to generate positive economic spin-offs throughout the province and the country for years to come.

Year 2 of Canada's Economic Action Plan invests close to $1.4 billion in initiatives to promote science and technology, and innovation. This builds on an unprecedented federal investment of nearly $5 billion in Year 1 of Canada's Economic Action Plan. Our Jobs and Growth Budget provided $135 million over the next two years to build on the success to date of the cluster initiatives in developing networks of innovative business, National Research Council scientists and communities.

Since 2006, the Harper Government has invested $400.7 million in National Research Council clusters including $135 million through Budget 2010. Since 2006, the Harper Government has invested $76.2 million in the National Research Council Institute for Ocean Technology. This includes $75.863 million provided through various National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Coast Guard programs, as well as $343, 000 in funding under Canada's Economic Action Plan for deferred maintenance and $37,000 from the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

For more information on the Institute for Ocean Technology, please visit the National Research Council's website: http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/iot.html.

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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PM highlights Canadian achievements in ocean technology

Canada's Economic Action Plan

February 11, 2011
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today visited the National Research Council's Institute for Ocean Technology where he highlighted Canadian achievements and groundbreaking research which is helping create jobs and economic opportunity in the region and beyond.

"Our Government is proud to support the world-class research taking place at the National Research Council. Investing in science and technology generates jobs, strengthens the economy and contributes to Canada's global competitiveness," said the Prime Minister. "Leading-edge work like this is laying a foundation that will support jobs and economic growth for many years to come."

The global demand for ocean technologies is rising and Canada is well-positioned to play an important role in this rapidly growing international market. Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, our Government is making unprecedented investments in science and technology, and innovation.

The Institute for Ocean Technology is supporting local enterprises in Newfoundland – such as Virtual Marine Technology, a global provider of small-craft training simulators, and Mad Rock Marine Solutions Inc., an innovator in marine evacuation technology – which are generating positive economic spin-offs throughout the province.

St. John's is home to a cluster of more than 50 ocean technology companies, which are vital to Newfoundland and Labrador's economy.

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