Government of Canada Bolsters Canada's Knowledge Economy

Canada's Economic Action Plan supports world-leading research and creates skilled jobs across Canada

Montréal, Quebec, August 6, 2010 — Researchers in Quebec and across Canada will benefit from new facilities and equipment, and universities will have more opportunities to develop and attract top scientists, thanks to a major investment by the Government of Canada. The announcement was made by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, while touring a lab at McGill University.

"Science powers Canada's economy," said Minister of State Goodyear. "This investment will create jobs and improve the quality of life of Canadians. It will also help our universities develop, attract and retain some of the best scientific minds on earth."

The federal government will invest in the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI's) Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF). The fund is designed to help Canada's universities continue to attract and retain the world's best researchers at a time of intense international competition for leading faculty. This funding will enable institutions to strategically set priorities and acquire new infrastructure to support these exceptional researchers and improve labs and facilities.

"In the global economy, knowledge, research and innovation are at the heart of economic growth and success," said Minister Paradis. "Canada's Economic Action Plan demonstrates the government's commitment to creating jobs and strengthening our knowledge economy, here in Montréal and across Canada."

"We are delighted to see a renewed investment in the CFI's LOF," said Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University. "It is critical for Canada to remain at the forefront of scientific discovery, and the support of the CFI, through funds such as the LOF, helps transform research into innovative solutions to some of our century's great challenges in key disciplines such as environmental sciences, information and communications technologies, natural resources and energy, and health and related life sciences."

"The LOF has been instrumental in bolstering the intellectual infrastructure in Canadian universities," said Dr. Gilles G. Patry, President and CEO of the CFI. "The CFI is pleased to be supporting the Government of Canada's science and technology strategy by delivering such strategic programs."

The government will invest $182 million in the CFI's LOF. Funding for this program will be drawn from a $600-million investment announced by the Government of Canada as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. The funding will ensure that the CFI continues to carry out its mandate in 2012 and beyond, promoting research excellence while continuing to improve Canada's long-term competitiveness and the quality of life of Canadians.

Canada's Economic Action Plan remains timely and effective. The Plan is improving infrastructure at colleges, universities, federal laboratories and research facilities, and creating new jobs. The government is introducing additional support for graduate students and internships and supporting research and technology leadership in Canada. Canada's Economic Action Plan is strengthening our knowledge economy, bolstered by Canada's leading position in the G7 for government support of higher education research and development. For additional information, visit the Canada's Economic Action Plan website.

The CFI is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. Its mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has committed $5.3 billion in support of 6800 projects at 130 research institutions in 65 municipalities across Canada.

For more information on the foundation please visit the CFI website.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-943-7599

Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502

Yves Melanson
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
613-996-3160
613-447-1723 (cell)
yves.melanson@innovation.ca