Priorities for KIP Funding by Province and Territory

KIP worked in partnership with each provincial and territorial government to support projects in every province and territory across Canada. These partnerships were instrumental in every aspect of the delivery of the program. The decisions regarding which project were to be funded in each region of the country, took into consideration the top post-secondary construction and renovation priorities of the respective provincial or territorial government. As a result, while there are overall national trends with respect to the longer term benefits being realized by KIP investments, there are also subtle differences from one province or territory to the next. Comparing the approved projects in each jurisdiction provides some insight into how priorities differed across the country. The section below examines the projects funded in each province/territory and charts the related project benefits.

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British Columbia

Across British Columbia there were 42 projects which received funding from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program to improve the campuses of 27 post secondary institutions. Out of the 42 projects, 20 were at colleges and the remaining 22 improved university facilities. The $237 million federal investment through KIP and the additional $297 million provided by the provincial government and other sources contributed to the development of BC’s post-secondary institutions by improving the advanced skills and education which employers and the labour market demand.

The majority of KIP projects in BC involved increasing energy efficiency and expanding training capacity and instructional space. In terms of funding, projects to expand training and instructional space topped all categories of benefits. This is not surprising, given the fact that Statistics Canada figures showed that enrolments in BC universities had grown by 60% in the period leading up to the launch of KIP (2003/04 to 2008/09) while Canada’s overall rate of growth was only 12%. Growth in BC was significantly outpacing that of other provinces even when one takes into account the impact of five BC colleges having been granted status as universities in 2008.

Capilano University indicates that its new $33 million digital media/film development centre provides 20 new classrooms with a capacity of 760 sudents, multiple offices and meeting rooms and a advanced sound stage/screening room with a capacity of more than 200. The facility allows Capilano U to provide students a combination of technical, creative and business skills that it feels are essential to entrepreneurial development in film production, animation and visual effects.

The improvements to training and instructional space at the Northwest Community College Smithers campus helps it to address trades shortages in the region by providing more efficient and functional facilities. The renovated and expanded facilities increase the capacity to train students in advanced areas of trades, health, science and technology (by 79 full-time equivalent students).

The College of New Caledonia improved its training and instructional space by constructing two new buildings, one in Quesnel and the other in Prince George. The new facility at the Quesnel campus expands and diversifies skilled trades programs such as welding, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, power engineer, agro-forestry, horticulture and animal science. In Prince George, the new $19.7million Technical Education Centre (TEC) accommodates 800 student spaces annually and houses Red Seal trades and other technical programs.

The significant investment in energy efficiency projects in BC is consistent with the overall importance of environmentally-responsible development in the province. While BC accounts for 13% of Canada’s population, figures from the Canada Green Building Council for the first quarter of 2011, show that BC accounts for double its share, 26%, of LEED certified buildings in Canada.

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Alberta

The Knowledge Infrastructure Program supported 47 projects in Alberta: 15 at universities and 32 at colleges. The projects incurred total costs of $629 million, with $202 million provided by KIP and an additional $427 million by the Province of Alberta and other funding sources.

Most Alberta projects involved upgrades and improvements to address health and safety concerns and improvements to energy efficiency. When examining project costs, energy efficiency improvements top all categories, with investments to expand training capacity ranked second.

Substantial environmental benefits are being realized from the University of Calgary’s project to upgrade its Central Heating and Cooling Plant by introducing co-generation technology, where a new jet engine has replaced the traditional boiler system. The institution estimates that approximately $3 million annually will be saved due to more efficient power generation and that the university’s carbon footprint will be reduced by an estimated 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) per year. Upgrades were also made to lighting, heating, and ventilation and air conditioning systems across the campus.

At Mount Royal University’s Lincoln Park Campus, the construction of a 4,700 square meter, 3-floor, expansion of the Science and Technology Wing expanded the labs space for training in new tissue culture, hard and soft rock geology, and cellular biology, chemistry, anthropology and archaeology labs, and faculty offices. The expansion to the facility is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, and help the institution meet a key commitment necessary to complete its transition from a college to a university.

Across Canada, KIP projects leveraged an additional $1.63 on average for each $1.00 of KIP funding. The leverage in Alberta, at $2.12 for each KIP dollar invested, was higher than any other province/territory in Canada. This is remarkable given that only 60% of KIP-related spending in Alberta involved new construction (compared to the national average of 70%).

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Saskatchewan

In the province of Saskatchewan, $57 million in KIP funding, along with an additional $64 million from provincial government and other sources, supported 22 projects with 14 at colleges and 8 at universities.

More projects and more funding were dedicated toward enhancements to training space compared to other benefit areas. Saskatchewan’s level of investment in research and development facilities was comparatively modest.

Projects in Saskatchewan placed a high priority on renovating existing facilities rather than building new ones. The proportion of spending on renovations, repair and maintenance was higher in Saskatchewan than all but one other province. Saskatchewan was one of only three provinces where spending on renovations, repair and maintenance exceeded spending on new construction. Renovation, repair and maintenance accounted for Recipients of KIP funding include the newly renovated Western College of Veterinary Medicine building at the University of Saskatchewan. The renovated facility improves the foreign animal disease laboratory and demonstration room along with a lecture theatre, a video conferencing room, clinical pathology and information technology (IT).

At Lakeland College, funding was invested in the construction of a teaching laboratory for the Early Learning and Child Care program, Practical Nurse program and University Studies program in Education, Psychology and Arts. Other examples of schools which received funding include Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), for projects at its Kelsey Campus to develop a learning centre for students in paramedic, nursing and continuing care programs, and expand classroom, lab and administrative space for nursing programs along with funding for the SIAST campuses at Wascana and Woodland.

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Manitoba

In the province of Manitoba a total of $71,673,885 from KIP and $116,793,258 from the province and other sources was invested in 20 projects at 9 post secondary institutions. From the five benefit areas, the majority of the projects in Manitoba improved or enhanced the training space and capacity, and energy efficiency. In addition to the upgraded training space, safety and sustainability, there were new incubators built to benefit research and development along with innovation and job creation.

In total Manitoba invested 15% of its funding into constructing three new business incubators across the province. The three facilities, two at the University of Manitoba and one at will be used for innovation in science, technology, and agriculture.

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Ontario

Across Ontario there are a total of 56 projects at 43 post-secondary institutions, collectively receiving $798 million in Federal funding, and provincial and private funding of more than $1.59 billion. More than any other province or territory, Ontario undertook construction and expansion projects to add new capacity to accommodate an increased number of students across the province.

While nationally only a minority of KIP projects involved new construction and expansion of facilities, 86% of KIP projects in Ontario involved new construction or expansion of facilities, accounting for 97% of federal funding directed to the province. The rationale for the focus on new construction rather than repair and maintenance projects was explained in the 2010 Ontario Budget. It set a goal of increasing Ontario’s post-secondary attainment rate from 62% to 70% and committed to adding 20,000 new post-secondary spaces in 2010-11. KIP projects helped to create new student spaces and the August 2011 announcement by the Council of Ontario Universities of a record high first-year undergraduate enrolment in Ontario suggests the province’s priority for new construction was well-founded.

The new facilities also increased energy efficiency, particularly the 30 facilities built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard/certification of Silver rating or above.

A new Centre for Health Sciences at Toronto’s Waterfront expands George Brown by roughly 40%, adding instructional and training spaces such as dental labs, radiology clinics and simulation centres to support an estimated 3,500 additional students. The $175-million facility that expanded its capacity also houses dedicated research and incubation spaces to assist the College in fostering industry partnerships and improving its applied research capacity. Designed to LEED Gold specifications, it reduces energy usage by 30% and water consumption by 40%.

Brock University’s new Cairns Family Health and Biosciences Research Complex – a state-of-the-art structure built to LEED Silver requirements, houses research and teaching laboratories, classrooms and support facilities for more than 400 students and researchers. The $111.4-million complex replaces outdated facilities, with modern spaces that supports advanced interdisciplinary research in a variety of areas related to human health and bioscience.

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Québec

Across Québec there were a total of 280 projects, 201 at colleges and cégeps, and 79 at universities. While Québec accounted for the most number of projects of any province, its projects were generally smaller in scale with an average project cost of $1.6 million compared to an average of $3.8 million for each project in the rest of the country. In total Québec received $458.4 million from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and an additional $597 million from the province and other sources.

Québec’s biggest projects were in the business incubation category. 26% ($118.9 million) of KIP funding for the province was spent on projects involving business incubation, whereas the rest of the country spent only 12% ($234.8 million) on business incubation projects.

Concordia University’s PERFORM (Prevention, Evaluation, Rehabilitation and FORMation/training) is a unique model in Canada that merges behavioural research, nutrition, athletic therapy, exercise science, psychology and physiology. Its scientists collaborate with doctors from hospitals and university health centres from around the world. The centre features a bone-density scanner, magnetic resonance imaging machine, metabolic kitchen, cell culture equipment and a hydrotherapy pool. The centre will specialize in teaching and training athletic therapy and cardio-respiratory physiology. It also has therapeutic facilities for people with sports injuries or health problems such as cancer, cardiac or respiratory diseases.

One of the more innovative projects under KIP was the contribution to the “Reseau” KIP project. This project involved refurbishing the chemistry, physics and biology laboratories at the 48 cégeps listed below. Most of these laboratories are more than 40 years old.

At the Centre for Industry Innovation and Incubation at École de technologie Supérieure, 11 floors of vacant space were renovated to create an industry innovation and incubation centre. The location requires major construction work, and all the existing mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems must be replaced with new systems in compliance with today’s standards. The floors have to be refitted and closed off in several places. Finally, the stairs, elevators, windows and insulation in the building envelope need to be replaced. The project is designed to meet the requirements of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification.

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New Brunswick

There were 17 projects in New Brunswick across 6 post-secondary institutions, 4 located at the various campuses of New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), and 13 at the campuses of 5 universities throughout the province. The total project value for the 17 projects is $151 million, of which $49 million was funded by KIP, with the remaining amount leveraged from the province and other sources. 8 of the projects included new construction or expansion of facilities, slightly less than the majority of the projects within the province, but they accounted for 82% of KIP funding and nearly 87% of total funding. These new or expanded facilities increased the capacity of New Brunswick’s post-secondary institutions in academic training and research and development by more than 4,000 students through additional classrooms, training and laboratory spaces.

A number of new construction and expansion projects also included improved energy efficiency features, in additional several renewal projects that realized efficiency savings through installation of upgraded mechanical and electrical systems. Additionally, all 4 projects at NBCC are LEED Silver certified, featuring green-energy systems such as solar and geo-thermal sources for electricity generation and heating purposes.

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Nova Scotia

Overall, 23 projects at 11 post-secondary institutions were supported by KIP, receiving $56 million from the program, leveraging nearly $50 million from the provincial government, as well as additional private contributions and institutions’ own resources. Similar to the national breakdown, KIP funding in Nova Scotia allowed a large number of essential maintenance work to be performed to address the need to repair and renew existing infrastructure. The improvements made to existing facilities included replacements of aging HVAC systems, asbestos abatement and maintenance and renewal of deteriorated building exteriors caused by mould damage and general exposure to the elements. As a result, the level of health and safety and energy efficiency were greatly improved for institutions across the province.

In addition, other projects in the province also placed an emphasis in the area of environmental sustainability. The Combined Technologies Project at Université Sainte-Anne installed renewable energy generating capacity to the campus, through the combined use of solar, wind and biomass systems to supply a significant portion of the institution’s heating and electricity needs. During the system’s first year of operation, it achieved a 71.6% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions when compared against 2008 levels.

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Prince Edward Island

Two post-secondary institutions received funding from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program totalling $10.5 million, with matching funding from the province and other sources. Both projects improve the energy efficiency of the respective campuses, as well as overall student experience. The project at Holland College involved the construction of a new facility to improve research and development opportunities and to provide more training space, while funding to the University of Prince Edward Island supported renovations and upgrades to an older facility to improve the level of health and safety for faculty and students.

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Newfoundland and Labrador

Across the province of Newfoundland and Labrador there are two projects at Memorial University of Newfoundland and three in different campuses of the College of the North Atlantic, receiving more than $24 million from KIP, along with nearly $34 million from the province and other sources. Three of the projects involved extensive renovations, upgrades and maintenance work to existing facilities to improve energy efficiency and health safety conditions, incurring more than $17 million in total costs.

KIP funding to the province also provided assistance in expanding training, instructional and research and development capacity in both post-secondary institutions. The construction of a new campus of the College of the North Atlantic in Labrador City provides academic and research spaces for more than 250 students in skilled trades and other technical fields at the $17-million facility. The new Sir Wilfred Grenfell Academic Building in Corner Brook greatly expands instructional and research capacity of the science department. The $23-million facility increases research and computer laboratory spaces by 50% and 30% respectively, along with additional classrooms to support increased enrolment to the university.

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Nunavut

The territory of Nunavut had one project at Nunavut Arctic College which involved the installation of new information technology systems and networking hardware. The new IT systems link the three college campuses along with 25 community learning centres to improve training and instructional opportunities in the North. The project amounted to more than $4.9 million, with $2.2 million coming from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, and more than $2.7 million from the territory and other sources.

The project included replacing the existing cables both externally and inside the Community Learning Centres. The new fibre optic cables enable internet connectivity for all 25 remote northern communities, connecting them to the main satellite and at a much broader bandwidth. The project also involved the purchase of six high-end video conferencing terminals to connect remote communities. These terminals enable distance learning in areas where it is not practical for students to relocate. The new infrastructure will benefit local communities by making the Community Learning Centres open to all community members to that everyone can benefit from the improved connectivity.

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Northwest Territories

There are a total of three KIP projects in the Northwest Territories at Aurora College campus locations in Hay River Dene Reserve, Lutsel K’e, and Tsiigehtchic. All three projects involve constructing new buildings to expand the training and instructional space. The new facilities also offer improved health and safety and are more energy efficient than alternate facilities. In total KIP invested nearly $2.2 million, while leveraging nearly $2.4 million from the territory and other sources.

The investments at Aurora College are to support the 10-year Strategic Plan established by NWT’s Education, Culture and Employment department. The plan identifies priorities for post-secondary education, including working closely with Aurora College, Aboriginal organizations, the federal government and private sector employers, to promote adult and post-secondary education. The investments by the federal and territorial governments through KIP at Aurora College are excellent examples of the territorial government putting that plan into action.

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Yukon

Yukon Territory received a total of $2 million from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, along with an additional $2.9 million from the territorial government for projects at Yukon College campuses in Pelly Crossing and Dawson City. The two projects involved constructing new facilities to improve training and instructional capacity, health and safety, as well as the energy efficiency of the campuses.

Yukon College received $700 thousand in KIP funding and $1.25 million from the territorial government to construct a permanent Pelly Crossing campus to replace the outdated mobile trailer. The new, one-storey, 2,500-square foot building boasts classrooms, a computer lab, a mobile science lab and video conference equipment for delivering distance education. This new facility enables the College to offer courses and training opportunities that address the needs identified by the local Selkirk First Nation, such as resource management and trades trading.

At the Dawson City campus, the combined federal-territorial KIP funding of $2.6 million enabled Yukon College to construct a new two-storey wing onto the Yukon School of Visual Arts (SOVA). The move to the modern facility improves the educational experience with new classrooms, computer labs and a video conference room, allowing Dawson City residents and the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation to continue upgrading their skills and receive technical training in a more modern facility.