WATERLOO REGION — The organization that represents Waterloo Region's growing tech sector doesn't expect Premier Doug Ford will cut programs that nurture startups.

Communitech, which represents more than 1,100 technology firms in the region, has an annual budget of about $20 million. The province provides about one-third of that amount.

Ford's decision not to appoint a minister of innovation, as the Liberals had, does not signal pending cuts to the provincewide network of innovation hubs, said Chris Plunkett, vice-president for external relations at Communitech.

Simcoe Grey MPP Jim Wilson was appointed minister of economic development, job creation and trade. He is a veteran member of the Ontario legislature, and was a cabinet minister in the late 1990s and early 2000s under former premier Mike Harris. Ford eliminated several cabinet posts, changed others and combined responsibilities in naming a 21-member cabinet last week.

"The focus of their campaign was creating jobs and creating economic opportunity, that's what Communitech does, that's what the University of Waterloo does, that's what this region does," Plunkett said Thursday.

"So, I really think the work that we have been doing, both as a region and Communitech, will resonate really strongly with this government, and minister Wilson in particular," he said.

Communitech was among the first technology associations in the province. Many others have followed in recent years.

"I think it's important to note they did not scrap the ministry," Plunkett said. "They decided to not to have a minister of research and innovation. And not have a minister of international trade. So all three ministries are now under one minister."

The Liberal government had a minister for research, innovation and science, and had recently appointed Dr. Molly Shoichet as Ontario's first chief scientist. She was fired Wednesday.

But Ontario's chief digital officer, Hillary Hartley, was promoted by Ford. She was an assistant deputy minister under the Liberals, and is now the deputy minister of consumer services, overseeing Service Ontario.

Hartley opened an innovation lab at the Communitech Hub; it works on making government information more easily available online.

Plunkett said Communitech is eager to meet with Wilson and take him on a tour of some of the region's fastest-growing tech companies.

"This minister was the minister of energy, science and technology back in the late '90s, early 2000s, so he will be very familiar with it all," said Plunkett.

The region's tech sector employs more than 30,000 people, generating an estimated $30 billion a year in goods and services. The region has the third largest startup economy in Canada, behind Toronto and Montreal.

The City of Kitchener has been a strong supporter of Communitech and the startups that have established offices in the downtown. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said he is ready to help make the business case for the innovation economy.

"And, quite frankly, how that is the route to achieving the new provincial government's fiscal goals as well," said Vrbanovic.

There are two ways for the government to achieve its goals — grow the economy or chop programs, he said.

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"For anyone in government, the growth side is always more positive than the cut side," said Vrbanovic. "I think it is going to be incumbent upon all of us in this region, in the municipal sector and the private sector, to make that case to minister Wilson and premier Ford and others."

tpender@therecord.com, Twitter: @PenderRecord