Edmonton, Alberta, November 30, 2012—The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) and the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, today celebrated and officially brought to a close the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) in a ceremony held at the University of Alberta.
The Knowledge Infrastructure Program, an important element of Canada's Economic Action Plan, invested $2 billion in more than 500 infrastructure improvement projects at post-secondary research and training facilities across Canada. It provided economic stimulus, created jobs, and helped generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canadian institutions at the forefront of scientific advancement.
"Today, as we celebrate the completion of this successful program, we see the results of our Government's investments in facilities being used every day, at campuses like this one, in every province across this country," said Minister of State Goodyear. "The Knowledge Infrastructure Program achieved its goal of delivering economic stimulus when it was needed most. It also fulfilled this mandate in a tight time frame, while leaving a lasting legacy of modernized infrastructure at colleges and universities."
During the visit, the ministers toured some of the renovated campus facilities which were supported with $62.1 million through the program—an investment that will yield a far greater return by allowing Canada to achieve its full potential as an innovation world leader.
"In Canada, and certainly here in Alberta, the knowledge economy is growing," said Minister Ambrose. "It complements our traditional industries like energy, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and forestry—in fact, it enhances them. Through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, we helped give our scientists and researchers the support they needed to get their ideas off the drawing board and into the market."
For more information on the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, visit the Knowledge Infrastructure Program website. For information on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit the Canada's Economic Action Plan website.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Michèle-Jamali Paquette
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology)
613-947-2956
Media Relations
Industry Canada
613-943-2502
