Lévis, Quebec, April 30, 2007 Acting on behalf of the Honourable
Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of
Canada Economic Development, Steven Blaney, Member of Parliament for
Lévis - Bellechasse, today announced the awarding of $420,000 in
non-repayable funding to the Boîte à science to set up a
"project bureau".
This announcement constitutes a major step in the plan to establish a science
exploration centre in the region. Indeed, the Boîte à science project bureau will devote the next
17 months to determining the precise thematic content and costs of the project
and exploring avenues to secure funding for the centre's start-up and ensure
the long-term financing of its activities.
While Canada Economic Development is happy to support the
project's promoters in their data- and information-gathering efforts, its
current priorities preclude the Agency from financially participating in the
subsequent steps leading to the creation of a science centre of this kind.
"With its 400 laboratories, groups, consortia, institutes and research
and development centres, the greater Québec region occupies a very solid
position in today's knowledge-based economy. But to reinforce this standing, the
region must strive to make young people more aware of the importance of science
and technology and encourage them to take up a career in this field of the
future. Establishing the Boîte à science project bureau will help
determine the conditions by which the future science exploration centre can best
promote scientific careers over the long term and enhance the tourism offering
in the Greater Québec region," noted Steven Blaney.
This support from Canada Economic Development is entirely in line
with the commitment of Canada's new government to help the country build a
knowledge advantage. In today's global economy, the countries that fare the best
are those that succeed in finding the right combination of individuals, skills,
new ideas and leading-edge technologies to create a competitive advantage. It is
precisely with this goal in mind that the recent federal budget has set aside
$350 million this year and for the next two years to help our centres of
excellence in marketing and research function better.
The Boîte à science, with its more than 260 partners, is
particularly well placed to house the project bureau and pilot the establishment
of the future science exploration centre. Indeed, for the past 25 years the
organization has been dedicated to turning tomorrow's workers on to science and
technology, offering some 90,000 person-hours of activities each year
through schools, camps, parks, libraries and daycare centres to young people
between the ages of 3 and 20 years.
-30-
Sources:
Guylaine BeaudoinCommunicationsCanada Economic
DevelopmentCell.: 418-580-8215Tel.: 514-283-0368E-mail: guylaine.beaudoin@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane MarchandPress SecretaryOffice of the
Honourable Jean-Pierre BlackburnCanada Economic Development Tel.:
819-953-5646Cell.: 613-816-5094E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
