May 08, 2009

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced today that the Government of Canada will modernize 28 National Research Council (NRC) facilities in seven provinces.

"This program is addressing important maintenance issues in our laboratories and will quickly bring economic stimulus to Canada," said Minister Goodyear. "Our government's investment provides significant short-term economic stimulus in local communities throughout the provinces, while at the same time strengthening Canada's long-term capacity for research and innovation. With this funding, our scientists and researchers will have more modern work environments that will ultimately provide enhanced research and development."

The government will invest more than $19 million to upgrade NRC laboratories over the next two years. The funding comes from Budget 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan, through which the federal government has committed $250 million, over the next two years, to upgrade federal laboratories. This investment, one of the many job-creating investments in the Economic Action Plan, will improve these facilities while providing economic stimulus in regions across the country.

The following NRC facilities will receive upgrades:

• National Capital Region: NRC Institute for National Measurement Standards — $4 million; NRC Institute for Aerospace Research — $3.7 million; and 16 other NRC buildings in the National Capital Region will receive a total of $5.540 million.
• Newfoundland: NRC Institute for Ocean Technologies — $379,000
• Nova Scotia: NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences — $36,000
• Quebec: NRC Biotechnology Research Institute — $1.315 million; and NRC Industrial Materials Institute — $1.73 million
• Ontario: NRC Institute for Research in Construction — $351,000
• Manitoba: NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics — $362,000
• Saskatchewan: NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute — $1.189 million
• British Columbia: NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (Penticton) — $177,000; and NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (Victoria) — $281,000

"Skilled scientists develop research and innovation capacity at the local level that help strengthen the Canadian economy by creating knowledge and commercializing technology," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "This investment will provide NRC researchers with better work environments, making it easier to develop innovative solutions for all Canadians in priority areas such as health and wellness, sustainable energy and the environment."

Recognized globally for research and innovation, the National Research Council is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.