Governments of Canada and Ontario Announce More Funding for Projects at Ontario's Colleges and Universities

May 29, 2009

 

BARRIE, Ontario, May 29, 2009 — The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable John Milloy, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, made a second announcement this week to invest an additional $450 million to improve Ontario's colleges and universities and stimulate the province's economy. Today's funding is in addition to more than $1 billion announced Monday and brings the total investment to almost $1.5 billion.

The ministers were joined by Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, and Aileen Carroll, Member of Provincial Parliament for Barrie.

These investments in infrastructure are funded by both levels of government and, in some cases, with contributions from the post-secondary institutions. The Ontario government's 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 second round of projects to qualify under the program in Ontario. The first round of projects was announced May 25, 2009.

“At a time of economic uncertainty, the Government of Canada is making a strong intervention to stimulate economic activity through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program,” said Minister of State Goodyear. “This initiative to renew Canada's college and university infrastructure will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus and strengthen Canada's position as a world leader in science and technology to the benefit of all Canadians.”

“Taken together, the announcements we have made this week will provide an immediate economic stimulus by putting almost $1.5 billion dollars into Ontario's economy,” said Minister Milloy. “These solid improvements to our post-secondary infrastructure will further support our knowledge-based economy, and enrich the education of many thousands of students for generations to come.”

The investment today and Monday leverages more than $2.1 billion over two years, including $780 million in federal funding, $980.9 million in provincial funding, and $356.1 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 more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria, application instructions and a list of the approved projects to date, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.

For information about how the Government of Ontario is helping to build and revitalize infrastructure across the province, please visit www.mei.gov.on.ca/english/infrastructure.

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