MINISTERS FLETCHER, MCGIFFORD ANNOUNCE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT FOR CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

May 22, 2009

 

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (22 May 2009) - Today, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia, along with the Honourable Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, announced a $302,000-investment in the Canadian Mennonite University from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.

This investment is part of the federal government’s two-year, $2-billion plan to expand and repair research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. The program will provide economic stimulus and create jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It will also help generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s post secondary institutions at the forefront of scientific advancement.

“Our government’s investment in the Canadian Mennonite University will provide a significant economic boost to Winnipeg and will create jobs right here in our community,” said Fletcher. “We’re investing in innovation to promote research and development, create jobs and to help our economy recover quickly.”

“Today’s investment reinforces our commitment to invest in the province’s centres of learning and research so that students can continue to collaborate, innovate, and create using leading-edge equipment,” McGifford said.

The cost-shared, federal-provincial investment of $603,500 at the Canadian Mennonite University will see the development of a new chemistry teaching and research laboratory, with storage, preparation and office spaces that will accommodate 24 students. Upgrades to existing laboratory space will support upper level biology courses. These facilities will permit substantial expansion of chemistry and biology programs and support faculty research in which undergraduate students will participate. CMU has fundraised $150,000 toward the cost of the project.

“This is an exciting day for CMU, our faculty and students, as well as for the larger community” said Mr. Gerald Gerbrandt, Canadian Mennonite University President.  “In a new chemistry lab, future doctors, nurses and teachers will be inspired and trained so they can serve the communities they enter.  The proposed facility will enable faculty to do research, and partner with colleagues in other institutions.  We are grateful to the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba for their support as we strive to make a meaningful contribution, locally, nationally and internationally.”

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.

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria and application instructions, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.