Murray joins the cabinet
Toronto Centre-Rosedale MPP appointed Minister of Research and Innovation
Glen Murray has an innovative new role at Queen’s Park.
The rookie Toronto Centre–Rosedale MPP was appointed Minister of Research and Innovation during a cabinet shuffle last week.
The former Winnipeg mayor moved up the ranks of Dalton McGuinty’s government six months after succeeding mayoral candidate George Smitherman in a byelection.
“It was surprising,” Murray said days after his appointment. “I am very lucky to work with a great leader and great colleagues.
I am very pumped when I get up in the morning.”
Ontario must be a leader in innovation, Murray stressed.
“The importance of innovation is to solve healthcare problems, and to overcome critical disease challenges.”
Murray said he is tasked with looking at policy initiatives the government has already undertaken in the last several years and improving upon them, accelerating the development of new technologies and getting those products and services on the world market.
Murray is also focused on what he said will be the challenge of the century: drinking water for everyone.
“Three people will not have enough water to drink by 2050,” he said. “We are in a more accelerated level of climate change that scientists have projected. These are all major challenges to the people on our planet, including Canadians and Ontarians.”
Murray said he realizes that Ontarians come from all over the world, which is why it is important to solve water shortages in countries beyond Canada.
Murray said he is excited and ready for the road ahead.
“I can’t imagine there’s anything else I’d rather be doing than get up tomorrow morning and work on these issues,” he said.
“I feel guilty getting a pay cheque for this.”
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