CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island, June 27, 2005 -- Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown, on behalf of David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, today announced $1.25 million in funding for two new Canada Research Chairs in Prince Edward Island. Funding for university researchers in Prince Edward Island from the Canada Research Chairs Program represents $1 million, while an additional $250 000 has been invested by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support research infrastructure.
This funding is part of a $62.9-million investment to support 79 new Canada Research Chairs at 31 universities across Canada, which was announced today at the University of Prince Edward Island.
"The Government of Canada is continuing to build a world-class research environment in Canada by investing in new ideas and innovation, and the people who produce them," said Minister Emerson. "Today's funding will support research that is crucial to improving our environment, advancing our health care, protecting our natural resources, and making Canadians more productive and competitive, now and in future generations."
Of the 79 new Canada Research Chairs, 33 are either expatriates returning to Canada or researchers coming to Canada from abroad. So far, the Canada Research Chairs Program has attracted
475 researchers from other countries. The program was designed to attract and retain the best and brightest minds from around the world.
"Recruiting and retaining top-notch faculty and researchers is essential to the continued growth and success of our university," said Mr. Murphy. "These awards will help our institutions in this area, and ensure they are well-positioned to contribute to important scientific and medical advances."
One of Prince Edward Island's newest Chairholders is Michael van den Heuvel of the University of Prince Edward Island. Appointed Canada Research Chair in Watershed Ecological Integrity, Dr. van den Heuvel is studying the effects of intensive agriculture and chemical use on the environment. He believes that organisms will tell us what ails them if we know the signs and symptoms to look for. By developing methods to best monitor and devise effective solutions to environmental problems, his research is helping to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Today's investment also includes $8.1 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 1509 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.
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Media contacts:
Héloïse Perron
Canada Research Chairs Program
Tel.: (613) 996-8373
Cell.: (613) 371-3783
Alastair Sinclair
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: (613) 996-3160
Christiane Fox
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001
