Remarks by Mayor Cam Jackson - McMaster Agreement Signing
Today is a defining moment in our city’s history. A five (5) year journey that began with an engaged and involved citizen committee who had a vision to bring a meaningful post secondary educational presence to our City and our Region.
The former Council brought us to the edge of this dream … today’s Council confirms we can pay for that dream.
Today, that vision becomes a reality, due, in large measure, to the commitment and support of our City Councillors, many of whom are here today and our colleagues on Halton Regional Council. As we officially sign this important tripartite agreement, let me express my personal thanks to President Peter George and his McMaster Team and to my colleague Chair Gary Carr and his Team at Halton Region.
Our combined efforts on this remarkable project will ensure better access to health care for our citizens and help create a stronger economic future and jobs in our community. The new campus will be home to the DeGroote School of Business - noticeably increasing opportunities for local business retention and growth.
The new downtown family medicine intern program and the teaching affiliation with our hospital and McMaster's School of Medicine will bring new opportunities for local medical research, dramatically improving health outcomes in our community.
This innovative project and the future benefits it will provide to Burlington residents demonstrates our City’s commitment to deliver the services, programs and facilities our community needs and our citizens demand in maintaining Burlington’s preeminence as one of Canada’s great cities.
The McMaster campus is a powerful statement about Burlington’s innovative and progressive character, it is testament to our community’s capacity to work effectively with our private and public sector partners to deliver on the vision of our citizens and the strategic plan of our Council.
Our City is respected for its fiscal responsibility and it is recognized for its commitment to investing in our core infrastructure, we must equally invest in today’s announcement of additional institutional infrastructure to provide the necessary health care and academic opportunities our citizens deserve.
By delivering on these investments we will produce immediate economic benefits but, perhaps more importantly, lay the foundation for a stronger, healthier and more certain future for our great City.