Khalil Ramal, MPP; Chris Bentley, MPP; Carol Stephenson, Ivey Dean; Joe Preston, MP; Deb Matthews, MP; Ed Holder, MP; Fred Longstaffe, Provast & Vice-President (Academic)

London, Ontario, May 29, 2009 — On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry Canada, Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex London and Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West, along with Deborah Matthews, Member of Provincial Parliament for London North Centre, today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of $50,000,000 in The University of Western Ontario.

This investment is part of the federal government’s two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. The program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

“This Government of Canada investment in UWO will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to London and will create jobs in this region,” said Preston.  “Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.” 

“This critical funding will support the continued growth of the University’s Ivey School.  Today’s investment will attract new students to London and provide them with a better educational experience,” said Holder.

 “Investing in the skills and knowledge of Ontarians is a cornerstone of our government’s plan to strengthen the economy,” said Matthews. “By investing at Western today, the Ontario government is supporting new construction and renovation projects that will create construction jobs in the short-term and provide more opportunities for our students to develop the skills they need for the jobs of the future.”
       
"This generous infrastructure funding has allowed Western to move ahead with an important project that will position both Ivey and Western well for the future," said Western President Paul Davenport. "Ivey is identified in our strategic plan as a signature area, and this is an incredible opportunity to take advantage of government investment that helps us build a strong university for the future.  Ivey's impact is felt throughout the university, through its interdisciplinary programs and work across campus, and that means this project is important to all of us."

Canada’s Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program. This new support is the next substantive investment in the Government of Canada’s multi-year Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage.

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria and application instructions, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.