Harper Government Kick-Starts Entrepreneurial Business in White Rock, British Columbia

Government of Canada/Public Works — November 17, 2012

WHITE ROCK, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 17, 2012) - MP Russ Hiebert (South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale), on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has awarded a $238,417 contract to FSR Fluvial Systems Research Inc. for their pre-qualified innovation through the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program (CICP).

"Our Government's top priority is the economy and we understand that helping Canadian businesses expand and succeed directly benefits Canadian workers and families by creating jobs and prosperity," said Minister Ambrose. "We are proud to encourage Canada's entrepreneurial spirit by kick starting Canadian businesses to get their innovative products and services from the lab to the marketplace."

"Strengthening Canada's economy is our number one priority, and this contract is great news for the workers of Fluvial Research Systems Inc. and our region," said MP Russ Hiebert. "We're putting our support behind their innovation, designed right here in White Rock, and helping to kick-start their product into domestic and international markets. I am proud that our Government promotes local innovation and reinforces our region's tremendous entrepreneurial spirit through this successful program."

FSR Fluvial Systems Research Inc.'s innovation, which extracts the features of riverine infrastructure for analysis, produces a semi-automated inventory of river-related infrastructure using optical remote sensing.

"This is great news for us. We are very pleased that the Government of Canada is giving a boost to our local economy and the innovation sector. We are thankful for this program," said Stephen Bird, President, FSR Fluvial Systems Research Inc.

Launched in 2010, the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program has already shown encouraging results, connecting Canadian companies with federal departments and agencies that have a need for innovative products and services. By selling to the federal government, businesses can demonstrate the value of their products and services, and potentially generate future sales to non-federal customers.

To build on the early success of this program, Economic Action Plan 2012 allocated an additional $95 million over three years, starting in 2013-14, and $40 million per year thereafter to make the Canadian Innovation Commercialization Program permanent. The program will include an added military procurement component.

For the complete list of the successful innovations, please refer to the backgrounder.

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Contact Information

Amber Irwin
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421

Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315