NEWS RELEASE

MP LEE RICHARDSON ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FOR CALGARY COLLEGES

CALGARY, May 8, 2009 – On behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Lee Richardson, Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre, along with Manmeet Bhullar, MLA for Calgary Montrose and Parliamentary Assistant to Advanced Education and Technology and Minister Alison Redford, Minister of Justice and MLA for Calgary-Elbow today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of more than $53 million in federal and provincial funds to three colleges, including Mount Royal College, Bow Valley College and SAIT Polytechnic.

This investment is part of the federal government’s two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. The 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 colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

“This Government of Canada investment in for Mount Royal College, Bow Valley College and SAIT Polytechnic will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to Calgary and will create jobs in this region,” said MP Richardson. “Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”

“Alberta was pleased to match the federal funding under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, which builds on work already underway through the substantial investments in the Government of Alberta’s overall capital plan,” said Minister of Justice and the Attorney General, and MLA for Calgary-Elbow, Alison Redford. “This funding recognizes the value and importance that we place on Alberta’s post-secondary education system and the development of the next generation economy.”

“Our government’s partnership with the federal government, post-secondary institutions, students and Albertans helps identify strategic priorities for Campus Alberta,” said Manmeet Bhullar, Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology. "The program represents our commitment to maintaining and expanding opportunities for current and future students in our province.”

Mount Royal College was awarded $17.25 million for various projects such as the Nursing Simulation Lab and the Science & Technology Wing Expansion; Bow Valley College was awarded $5.122 million for their Main Campus Renovation Project Completion; and SAIT Polytechnic was awarded $4.5 million for their Campus Infrastructure Renewal Program. These Knowledge Infrastructure Program funds were equally matched by the Government of Alberta’s Campus Alberta infrastructure and maintenance Program announced in the Alberta’s 2009 Budget.

"The contributions by the federal and provincial governments to Mount Royal and our peer institutions, demonstrate their valued commitment to renew Canada's college and university infrastructure,” said Dave Marshall, President of Mount Royal College. “Continued investments in Mount Royal's infrastructure will ensure that we are able to provide our students with the best available resources and a high quality undergraduate education to prepare them for success in the classroom and beyond."

“This investment will enable Bow Valley College to complete our redevelopment and expansion project and generate 88 person years of employment in the construction industry,” said Sharon Carry, President and CEO. “The funding allows us to complete Floors 6 and 7 of our North Campus on Sixth Avenue, providing us the opportunity to catch up with student demand in much-needed areas such as health care, human services, and justice studies.”

"We sincerely thank the federal and provincial governments for this important infrastructure investment," said SAIT Polytechnic President and CEO Irene Lewis. "This investment will help SAIT complete deferred maintenance to roofing and upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, while generating substantial economic benefits in the community."

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.

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