Governments of Canada and Ontario Announce Infrastructure Funding for Ontario Post-Secondary Institutions
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, May 25, 2009 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and the Honourable John Milloy, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, today launched a week of good news for Ontario's universities and colleges with the announcement of the first round of infrastructure investments delivering more than $1 billion in new funding for 28 projects at post-secondary institutions throughout Ontario.
These investments are funded by both levels of government and in some cases with contributions from the post-secondary institutions. The Ontario government in the 2009 Budget committed to invest $780 million in its colleges and universities to modernize facilities and boost long-term research and skills training capacity over the next two years. 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. The joint funding announcement today celebrates the first round of projects to qualify under the program in Ontario. The second round of projects is to be announced May 29th 2009.
"Our government's investment provides significant short-term economic stimulus in local communities throughout Ontario, while at the same time strengthening Canada's long‑term capacity for research and innovation," said Minister Clement. "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 further discoveries that will benefit Canadians and people around the world."
"Investing in the skills and knowledge of Ontarians is a cornerstone of our government's plan to strengthen the economy," said Minister Milloy. "With today's investments, we are supporting new construction and renovation projects which will create jobs in the short-term and provide more opportunities for our students to develop the skills they need to for the jobs of the future."
The investment today leverages more than $1.476 billion over two years, including $587 million in federal funding, $641.2 million in provincial funding, and $248.1 million from other funding sources, including the private sector, charitable contributions, and the universities and colleges themselves.
This infrastructure program will provide real economic stimulus and 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 our 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.
Through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future – the province is investing $32.5 billion in infrastructure for the province of Ontario over the next two years, including a $5 billion contribution from the federal government, that will support more than 300,000 jobs and strengthen Ontario's economy.
For information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit: http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/infrastructure.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
Government of Canada
613-995-9001
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
Annette Phillips
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable John Milloy
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
416-326-5748
Tanya Blazina
Communications Branch
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
416-325-2746
May 25, 2009
Backgrounder
Knowledge Infrastructure Program
Canada and Ontario are making infrastructure investments of more than $1 billion in capital projects at colleges and universities across Ontario.
Through the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program and the 2009 Ontario budget, both governments are moving quickly to help modernize facilities and boost long-term research and skills training capacity at provincial colleges and universities.
The Knowledge Infrastructure Program is a two-year, $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at post-secondary institutions across Canada. Ontario's 2009 provincial budget set aside $780 million for infrastructure investments at colleges and universities.
The program provide funding to support deferred maintenance, repair and expansion projects at universities and colleges, and responds directly to the need indicated by postsecondary institutions to improve existing campus infrastructure across the country.
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.
Through the 2009 Ontario Budget – Confronting the Challenge: Building Our Economic Future – the province is investing $32.5 billion in infrastructure for the province of Ontario over the next two years, including a $5 billion contribution from the federal government that will support more than 300,000 jobs and strengthen Ontario's economy. These investments build on the Ontario government's five-year, $30 billion ReNew Ontario infrastructure investment plan, which was completed in 2008-09, one year ahead of schedule.
Canada's Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment across Canada, 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 information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit: http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/infrastructure.
Knowledge Infrastructure Investments in Ontario Post-Secondary Institutions
The investment leverages more than $1.476 billion over two years, including $587 million in federal funding, $641.2 million in provincial funding, and $248.1 million from other funding sources, including the private sector, charitable contributions, and the universities and colleges themselves.
For information about a specific project, please contact the relevant institution.
Institution |
Project Description |
Federal Contribution |
Provincial Contribution |
Other Contribution |
Brock University, |
Niagara Health & Bioscience Research Complex |
38,000,390 |
*33,500,000 |
23,909,610 |
Carleton University, |
Interdisciplinary Academic Building (River Site) |
26,250,000 |
26,250,000 |
3,200,000 |
Laurentian University, |
Vale Inco Living with Lakes Centre |
5,152,676 |
*5,000,000 |
10,099,824 |
McMaster University, |
Centre for Spinal Cord Injury and Cancer Education and Rehab |
8,250,000 |
8,250,000 |
3,500,000 |
Queens University, |
School of Medicine, New Building |
28,818,000 |
28,818,000 |
19,210,000 |
Ryerson Polytechnic University, |
Image Arts & New Media Teaching and Research Building Renewal |
16,450,000 |
16,450,000 |
0 |
Trent University, |
Health Sciences Centre Symons Campus |
10,800,000 |
**20,200,000 |
10,400,000 |
University of Guelph |
Development of an Environmental |
16,817,500 |
16,817,500 |
0 |
University of Ontario Institute of Technology, (UOIT) |
Energy Systems and Nuclear Science Research Centre |
22,703,759 |
22,703,759 |
0 |
University of Ottawa |
Vanier Hall Renovation and Tower Addition, |
30,000,000 |
50,000,000 |
32,500,000 |
University of Toronto |
Mississauga Laboratory Centre |
35,000,000 |
35,000,000 |
0 |
University of Toronto |
Instructional Lab Project, UofT Scarborough |
35,000,000 |
35,000,000 |
0 |
University of Toronto |
Innovation Centre for Canadian Mining Industry (St. George Campus) |
5,500,000 |
5,500,000 |
9,000,000 |
University of Windsor |
Centre for Engineering Innovation |
40,000,000 |
*40,000,000 |
30,000,000 |
Wilfrid Laurier University, |
Research and Academic Centre (Brantford) |
13,000,000 |
13,000,000 |
0 |
York University, |
Life Sciences Centre |
35,000,000 |
35,000,000 |
0 |
Centre for International Governance Innovation, with |
Balsillie Centre of Excellence |
25,000,000 |
25,000,000 |
50,000,000 |
Algonquin College, |
Environmental Demonstration Centre for Construction Trades and Building Bridges |
35,000,000 |
*35,000,000 |
2,700,000 |
Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology, |
Parry Sound Campus |
3,100,000 |
3,100,000 |
0 |
Conestoga College, |
School of Engineering and Information Technology |
38,172,686 |
**34,276,608 |
30,962,206 |
Durham College of Applied Arts and Tech, Oshawa |
Oshawa Campus Renovation and Expansion |
10,000,000 |
10,000,000 |
0 |
Fanshawe College, |
Centre for Applied Transportation Technologies |
15,925,000 |
15,925,000 |
0 |
George Brown College, |
The Centre for Health Sciences on Toronto Waterfront |
30,000,000 |
*61,500,000 |
3,500,000 |
La Cité Collegiale, |
Emergency Services Training Centre 911 Institute |
13,000,000 |
13,000,000 |
645,200 |
Niagara College |
Applied Health Institute |
20,000,000 |
20,000,000 |
0 |
Northern College, |
Centre of Excellence for Trades and Technology |
6,168,000 |
*8,000,000 |
3,194,000 |
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, |
New Mississauga Campus |
15,615,742 |
15,615,742 |
15,258,056 |
Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Tech, |
Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre |
8,287,500 |
8,287,500 |
0 |
Total |
587,011,253 |
641,194,109 |
248,078,896 |
|
*Indicates province's contribution has already been made.
**Indicates part of province's contribution has already been made.
- Date modified:
