WATERLOO, Ontario, January 8, 2009 - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today welcomed the significant investments of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
"The Government of Canada is investing in science and technology to create jobs, improve Canadians' quality of life and strengthen the economy for future generations," said Minister of State Goodyear. "This investment supports Ontario researchers and innovators in developing new ideas by investing in infrastructure to conduct world-class research."
Minister Goodyear spoke at the University of Waterloo to formally celebrate more than $867 000 in funding allocated to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. The investment in state-of-the-art labs and equipment will jump-start eight projects in key areas of research, such as the environment and health.
The investments are being made as part of CFI's Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF), a program designed to help attract and retain the world's best researchers at a time of intense international competition for leading faculty. The LOF puts into action the vision and priorities of the Government of Canada's Science and Technology Strategy announced by Prime Minister Harper in May 2007.
The CFI is an independent corporation created by the federal government to fund research infrastructure and is funded by the Government of Canada.
For a complete list of the projects funded, please visit www.innovation.ca.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Gary Toft
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-943-7599
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
