Ontario’s cash-strapped government will spend $100 million over five years on leading-edge brain research, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Building on an initiative launched by former premier Dalton McGuinty during his May 2010 official visit to Israel, Wynne said Tuesday the investment comes despite the province’s $11.9 billion budget deficit.

“We can’t afford not to do that,” the premier said at the Hospital for Sick Children, noting that neurological research would benefit all Ontarians.

“In order to be sustainable as a province, as an economy, as a health-care system, we have to make these investments to be able to continue to improve our treatment,” she said.

“So ultimately it’s in the best interest of Ontario’s economy if we help more people and we make sure that they’re well-cared for, healthy, and happy, and productive.”

The new money will fund the Ontario Brain Institute’s study of neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

It will also enable the institute to expand its work on autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.

Health Minister Deb Matthews noted brain injuries “affect hundreds of thousands of Ontarians,” so the work is crucial.

Institute chair Joseph Rotman said the funding will help position Ontario as one of the “world leaders” in the field.

Almost three years ago, during a meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli President Shimon Peres, McGuinty broached the joint Ontario-Israel project.

Wynne, who has distanced herself politically from her predecessor since taking office last month, made a point of praising him for his brainchild.

“I want to just acknowledge the work of Dalton McGuinty in this. This was, if I may say, one of his brainchildren. He was so committed to this happening. He was in Israel and he met with folks there and came back with this idea.”

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