Governor Schwarzenegger was in Toronto, Ontario as part of a three-day trade mission to strengthen California's political and economic ties with Canada. The Governor Schwarzenegger and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty toured the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research and announced new collaborations between the state and province to further stem cell research, continuing California's leadership on this issue. The Governor and Premier also signed an agreement joining California and Ontario in fighting global warming and committing Ontario to a low carbon fuel standard and emissions targets.

University of California and leading Canadian researchers will fight cancer together.

• At today's event Governor Schwarzenegger announced that UC Berkeley's Stem Cell Center and Canada's International Regulome Consortium will coordinate research and take advantage of each institution's expertise.

A new Cancer Stem Cell Consortium will coordinate and fund these critical efforts.

• Premier McGuinty announced the formation of a new Cancer Stem Cell Consortium that will bring together the best minds and resources in California and Canada to fight cancer through stem cell research.
• This project was initiated by the stem cell and regenerative medicine working group of the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership, a unique collaboration between California and Canada stakeholders from academia, the private sector and government. 

Ontario institute donates first $30 million to this important collaboration.

• The Ontario Institute of Cancer Research will donate the first $30 million (Canadian) to fund the Consortium, benefiting both Canadian and Californian researchers.

These partnerships will advance potentially lifesaving medicine, continuing California's leadership on stem cell research.

• In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 71 to devote $3 billion to stem cell research and create the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM).  So far, CIRM has approved research grants totaling $158 million. 
• The California Supreme Court recently upheld a lower court's ruling which frees up the $3 billion in funding from legal challenges. While this court ruling was pending, Gov. Schwarzenegger authorized loans of up to $150 million to keep California on the forefront of stem cell research
• California's investment in embryonic stem cell research is three times higher than the National Institutes of Health's funding.  Compared internationally, China's Ministry of Science and Technology will put up to $132 million into research over the next five years, and the British government put $72.7 million into public funds for stem cell research between 2004 and 2006.

Ontario will adopt our Low Carbon Fuel Standard under the important agreement signed today.

• Governor Schwarzenegger and Premier McGuinty signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a partnership between Ontario and California to fight global warming, increase energy efficiency and strengthen the economy through information sharing and market-based systems.
• Under the agreement, Ontario commits to adopt our low carbon standard for transportation fuels. California's standard will reduce the carbon content of all transportation fuels sold in the state by 10 percent by 2020. Ontario is known as the "Detroit of Canada" for its large auto manufacturing industry-making its commitment to low-carbon fuel that much more powerful. 
• California and Ontario will also coordinate on energy efficiency, innovation technology and promoting trade in cleantech and biotech. 

Market-based solutions are a cornerstone of change for California and Ontario.  

• Governor Schwarzenegger and Premier McGuinty are committed to minimizing the cost, and maximizing the economic opportunities, of reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.  
• Under today's agreement, Ontario commits to adopting AB-32 like goals for greenhouse gas emissions.
• In addition, California and Ontario will explore the potential for linkages between market-based mechanisms, such as the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, that will help to bring about a low-carbon economy. We will also work together to promote efficient trading nationally and internationally, and will exchange delegations to achieve the agreement's goals.

 

This agreement supports Ontario's leadership on emissions reductions and energy efficiency.

• Premier McGuinty has already set a target of reducing Ontario's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. By 2008, the province will have increased its renewable power by 80 fold.