Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Invest to Expand Post Secondary Education Research Capacity

ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland and Labrador, May 25, 2009 — The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable Darin King, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Education, along with Senator Fabian Manning and the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Transportation and Works, today announced investments in four projects at post-secondary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada introduced the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions, including universities and community colleges. Today's announcement celebrates the projects that qualify under the program in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Our government's investment provides significant short-term economic stimulus in local communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, while at the same time strengthening Canada's long-term capacity for research and innovation," said Minister MacKay. "The renewal of college and university facilities will encourage more world-class researchers to work in Canada and give them the tools they need to make more discoveries that will benefit Canadians and people around the world."

The federal-provincial investment today totals more than $55 million over two years, including $24 million in federal funding and $31 million in provincial funding. Overall, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is investing $800 million in infrastructure this year as part of a $4-billion, multi-year infrastructure strategy, which is anticipated to create or sustain approximately 5400 person-years of employment this year.

"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes and supports the important role our post-secondary institutions play in furthering the economic growth and innovation of the province," said Minister King. "Today's funding announcement for these post-secondary infrastructure projects builds on the Williams Government's aggressive infrastructure plan to stimulate the economy and create jobs, while continuing to support the advancement of public post-secondary education."

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada's research and educational facilities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

Canada's Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve the country's long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program. This new support is the next substantive investment in the Government of Canada's multi-year Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage.

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

Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0048
709-689-2624 (cell)
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

---

Backgrounder
Knowledge Infrastructure Program

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a two-year, $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

The Program provides funding to support deferred maintenance, repair and expansion projects at universities and colleges, and responds directly to the need indicated by post-secondary institutions to improve existing campus infrastructure across the country. A major portion of this infrastructure is near the end of its projected life cycle and, in many cases, does not adequately meet the needs of today's research and teaching activities.

The Program has two components. The university component gives preference to projects that can improve the quality of research and development at the institution. The college component supports projects at other post-secondary institutions, such as colleges, publicly funded polytechnic schools and institutes of technology, which will strengthen their ability to deliver advanced knowledge and skills training.

Projects are assessed according to their ability to quickly and effectively generate economic activity and support job creation. Project readiness and economic impact are, therefore, key criteria used in project selection. Projects are also assessed on their ability to enhance research capacity, support the attraction of new students and provide a better educational experience for the highly skilled workers of tomorrow.

The Program will not only generate economic benefits and support job creation, but will also have an important positive net impact on the environment by reducing energy use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving waste management at universities and colleges across Canada.

Knowledge Infrastructure Program Investments in Newfoundland and Labrador Post-Secondary Institutions

Through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the federal government is investing more than $24 million to fund four projects at post-secondary institutions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing more than $31 million in funding for these projects.

For information about a specific project, please contact the relevant institution.

Institution	Project Description	Federal Contribution ($ 000)	Provincial Contribution ($ 000)
College of the North Atlantic	Construction of new campus — Labrador City	7650	10 350
College of the North Atlantic	Roof and ventilation upgrade — Prince Philip Drive Campus	2250	2250
College of the North Atlantic	Building envelope and ventilation upgrade — Seal Cove Campus	3000	3000
Memorial University of Newfoundland	Sir Wilfred Grenfell Academic Building, Corner Brook	11 475	15 525
TOTAL		24 375	31 125