Amos, Quebec, June 21, 2006 - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, allocates a non-repayable contribution of $350,000 to the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), for its Amos campus laboratory on boreal forest silviculture and industrial plantation forestry. This funding complements a previous $1 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
Canada Economic Development's contribution will be used to acquire specialized equipment and instruments and build an experimental greenhouse. This infrastructure will support the work done by researchers. Lab activities, which already receive Agency funding, comprise three components: development of regional expertise in industrial plantation forestry and intensive silviculture as they relate to Quebec's boreal forest, evaluation of the impact of silvicultural activities on the region's wildlife and implementation of practices to improve forest yields.
"This project, unique in Canada, will help to bolster productivity in the boreal forest industry. The medium-term objective is to increase wood volumes by using fast-growing stock and enhanced forest management. This applied research is crucial considering the current status and sustainability of Quebec's forests," said Mr. Blackburn.
"The CFI is proud to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and to improve the quality of research in universities in all regions of Canada," said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. "We are especially pleased that these infrastructures are combined with concrete support for an industry of great importance to the economic development of Quebec."
This laboratory will create cutting-edge technological expertise while enabling Amos, a lumber town, to strengthen its industrial sector, particularly since the announcement that, beginning in 2007, the first two years of UQAT's forest engineering program will be delivered on its Amos campus.
It should be recalled that Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic development projects.
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.
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Sources:
François Bélisle
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 1 800 567-6451, ext. 235
E-mail: francois.belisle@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819 953-5646
Cell: 613 816-5094
E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Angus McKinnon
Coordinator, Media Relations
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: 613 996-3160
E-mail: angus.mckinnon@innovation.ca
Canada Economic Development is on line at www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
