Québec, Quebec, September 15, 2010 - Researchers from Université Laval will examine how innovations in the workplace can help strengthen the country's economic performance and improve the quality of life of Canadians at work. Speaking at the university, the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister for La Francophonie and Minister responsible for the region of Québec announced funding for the new study, as well as for two training programs that will help graduates increase their skills so they will be prepared to enter the workforce.
"These investments will help maintain Quebec's position as a world-leading centre for research and help develop the next generation of top scientists," said Minister Verner. "Our government is investing in science and technology to strengthen the economy and create jobs."
The study is a research project that will receive funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) program. The Innovation, Training and Social Protection in Employment and Work project will be conducted over a six-year period and will receive $1 million. Led by Paul-André Lapointe from the Industrial Relations Department at Université Laval, it will seek to better understand modern working environments in the province of Quebec and develop best practices for creating a modern, flexible, healthy work environment. Announced on February 4, 2010, by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), CURA provides funding of up to $1 million each over six years for 20 large-scale research projects that bring communities and universities together in partnerships to build knowledge in areas affecting Canadians.
The two training programs will receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program. The Training Program in Biophotonics will be led by Paul De Koninck from the Institut de recherche en santé mentale de Québec (Quebec institute of mental health research) and Université Laval and will receive $1.65 million. His colleague, Yves Pouliot of the Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods at Université Laval, will be leading the Training Program in the Health Foods and Related Technologies Sector, which will also be receiving $1.65 million. These programs are expected to train a new generation of highly qualified personnel to develop tools and approaches to study biological and environmental problems. The CREATE Program will fund 20 projects at universities across Canada for a total of $32 million over five years. This program will help recent science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace. It will help attract highly qualified students, increase their mobility nationally and internationally, and establish links that will further their chosen careers.
During her announcement, Minister Verner also took the opportunity to recognize another funding partnership between Université Laval and the Government of Canada, originally announced by Minister of State Goodyear on August 30 in Iqaluit.
This project, led by Université Laval's Interuniversity Centre for Aboriginal Studies and Research and in partnership with researchers from universities and colleges across Canada, will also be receiving $1 million over six years through the CURA program to study the unique nature of Inuit leadership and culture. This project will be led by Université Laval professor Frédéric Laugrand, who was in attendance for today's announcement.
These announcements help strengthen the Université's partnership and student recruitment efforts, according to Denis Brière, Rector of Université Laval. "All university researchers work to advance knowledge in their field," said Mr. Brière. "Support like that announced today encourages researchers to develop strong relationships with local and regional populations that are facing increasingly complex social, cultural and economic issues. At the same time, such support creates a research environment that is conducive to the recruitment and training of the next generation of leading researchers. It is in this way that Laval contributes to our society's progress."
For a full list of announcements through the CURA and CREATE programs, please visit both the SSHRC and the NSERC websites.
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
Martin Guay
Media Relations
Director of Communications
Université Laval
418-656-3952
Trevor Lynn
Manager, Communications
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
613-992-7302
613-302-9879 (cell)
Trevor.Lynn@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Shannon Cobb
Media Relations and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
613-996-3861
shannon.cobb@nserc-crsng.gc.ca
The Government of Canada's participation in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program brings significant benefits to Canada. As a global program, it positions Canadian industry at the start of a multi-year, multi-billion dollar program with an international market. Further, the government's long-term investment in this aircraft development program provides Canada's aerospace and defence industries with an unprecedented opportunity to be a part of the JSF global supply chain, advancing their technologies, while bringing jobs and sustained economic benefits to regions across Canada.
Canada joined the JSF program in 1997, in anticipation of the need for the Canadian Forces to replace its current fleet of CF-18s, which is expected to reach the end of its operational life in the 2017–20 time frame.
The development of the F-35 is the largest cooperative program of its kind since World War II. This United States–led partnership includes Canada, Australia, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey and the United Kingdom. As a partner nation, Canada is in a position to secure high-value work on the JSF program.
Since 1997, Canada has been involved in the development, design and initial production phases of the JSF program. In 2006, the Government of Canada signed the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development Phase Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). In this MOU, the partners agreed to implement a best-value approach to maximize industrial benefits and the affordability of the JSF program for partner countries.
Because Canada is a member country, Canadian companies are among those eligible to bid on the work packages that flow from this project. Canadian companies must offer competitive technologies at competitive prices to be successful on the JSF program.
Industry Canada has signed industrial participation plans with each of the JSF prime contractors (Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and the General Electric Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team). These industrial participation plans meet the Government of Canada's objective of encouraging foreign industry to establish long-term relationships with Canadian industry. Industry Canada continues to work cooperatively with National Defence to identify and pursue opportunities with JSF prime contractors.
In addition to providing access to competitive opportunities, the industrial participation plans identify strategic industrial opportunities for Canada that build on Canadian strengths in the areas of landing gear maintenance, composite manufacturing, hard metals machining and complex structure assembly.
Canada has made payments of approximately $168 million to the JSF program; and, since 2002, this investment has led to more than $350 million in contracts with more than 60 Canadian companies, research laboratories and universities. Canada has already seen a two-to-one return on its investment.
This program provides Canada with an unprecedented opportunity for long-term and high-quality work in the aerospace and defence sectors. Partner nation acquisitions of the aircraft are expected to exceed 3000 units, and overall production could exceed 5000 aircraft worldwide as other non-partner countries replace their aging fighter fleets. Canadian industrial participation in the JSF program is not limited to the work associated with the 65 Canadian aircraft; Canadian companies will contribute to the manufacture and service of thousands of aircraft.
The work packages available for Canadian companies will include not only the manufacturing and assembly of parts but also servicing, repair, simulation and training, in addition to numerous other sustainment activities over a 40-year period. Early estimates show that the opportunities available to Canada on production could total $12 billion through these industrial participation plans. Further opportunities from training, simulation and maintenance will add to this figure as the industrial benefits from the JSF program continue to flow to Canadian companies throughout the operational lifespan of the worldwide fleet.
For more information on the Next Generation Fighter Capability, please contact the Department of National Defence at:
1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
http://www.forces.gc.ca
