KITCHENER/GUELPH, Ontario, May 25, 2009 — The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), Liz Sandals Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph and Leeanna Pendergast Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of over $137 million for the University of Guelph and Conestoga College. Earlier today, the Governments of Canada and Ontario announced $1.476 billion for infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions throughout 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.

“This Government of Canada investment at these institutions will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge and will create jobs in this region,” said Minister Goodyear. “Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”

Projects like the development of an Environmental Cluster at the University of Guelph and the School of Engineering and Information Technology at Conestoga College will yield new ideas, knowledge and innovation to keep Canada’s colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.

"Today's investment by the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario is wonderful news for Conestoga College and the Region of Waterloo", said Leeanna Pendergast MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga. "This major investment by both levels of government working together will create jobs right now and assist in securing our future through training and education."

"This is wonderful news for the University of Guelph and it will stimulate our local economy by creating jobs", said Liz Sandals, MPP Guelph. "This investment by the provincial and federal governments will provide the leaders of tomorrow in the environmental sciences with up to date teaching and research facilities at the newly renovated Axelrod Building".

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.