EDMONTON, April 22, 2005 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced $7.2 million in funding for eight new Canada Research Chairs in Alberta. Funding for university researchers in Alberta from the Canada Research Chairs Program represents $5.8 million, while an additional $1.4 million has been invested by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support research infrastructure. This funding is part of a $99-million investment to support 106 new Canada Research Chairs at 34 universities across Canada, which was announced today by Minister Emerson in Winnipeg. "Today's funding will support research by Canada's leading scholarly and scientific minds on issues that affect the well-being and prosperity of all Canadians," said Minister Emerson. "From developing new technologies to safeguarding our health, cities and natural resources, this is an investment that will yield benefits, not just for us, but for our children and grandchildren." Of the 106 new Canada Research Chairs, 53 are either expatriates returning to Canada or researchers coming to Canada from abroad. So far, the Canada Research Chairs Program has attracted 442 researchers from other countries. The program was designed to attract and retain the best and brightest minds from around the world. "These awards will further strengthen Alberta's contribution to important scientific and medical advances by helping our institutions to recruit and retain leading-edge researchers," said Minister McLellan. "It's good news for Alberta researchers and affirms our universities' growing reputations as leaders in their fields of study." One of Alberta's newest Chairholders is Walter Glannon of the University of Calgary. Appointed Canada Research Chair in Medical Bioethics and Ethical Theory, Dr. Glannon is exploring emerging ethical issues in clinical neuroscience and organ and tissue transplantation. The goal of his research is to maximize benefit and minimize harm to patients and other people, such as living organ donors, participating in medical research. Today's investment also includes $12.4 million from the CFI to fund essential research infrastructure, ranging from computer equipment for information databases to housing for laboratory facilities. For a complete listing of CFI contributions, please visit the Foundation's Web site at http://www.innovation.ca. The Canada Research Chairs Program has created 1446 research positions at 73 Canadian universities since it was launched in 2000. The program helps universities attract and retain the best researchers and achieve research excellence in natural sciences and engineering, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities. For more information on this announcement, including the list of recipients, please visit our Web site at http://www.chairs.gc.ca. - 30 - Media contacts: Alastair Sinclair Canada Foundation for Innovation Tel.: (613) 996-3160 alastair.sinclair@innovation.ca Christiane Fox Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson Minister of Industry Tel.: (613) 995-9001 fox.christiane@ic.gc.ca Alex Swann Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Anne McLellan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Tel.: (613) 991-2924
