Sault College and Algoma U get $32.4 million

NEWS RELEASE DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP **************************** Orazietti announces $32.4 million to support post secondary infrastructure in Sault Ste.

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

**************************** Orazietti announces $32.4 million to support post secondary infrastructure in Sault Ste. Marie

McGuinty government stimulus funding will help create more than 400 new jobs and boost local economy

SAULT STE. MARIE - (May 29) - The McGuinty government and the federal government, are providing Sault College and Algoma University with over $32 million for new infrastructure projects.

"Our government is making an important infrastructure investment in local post secondary education and continuing deliver economic stimulus funding for local priorities,” said Orazietti. “By investing in Sault College and Algoma University, we’re strengthening our economy by creating jobs in Sault Ste. Marie and ensuring students can learn in modern, state-of-the-art facilities.”

Today’s announcement is part of a joint effort by the provincial and federal governments to support post secondary infrastructure in Sault Ste. Marie.

Both levels of government have provided matching funding through the Strategic Capital Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) and the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) toward the following projects:

- $16,000,000 to help Sault College update and modernize its facilities to create a modern, multi–functional space. The college has also committed $9 million towards the $25 million project that is expected to create 250 jobs.

- $16,015,144 for Algoma University to build a new Biosciences and Technology Convergence Centre to help the university enlarge its science offerings and host the work of Research Chairs. The Centre will provide a proper venue for the exciting collaborative research, development and commercialization projects under way with university partners and will make a significant contribution to the diversification and development of the regional economy. The project is expected to create 160 jobs.

"Our government's investment provides significant short-term economic stimulus in local communities throughout Ontario, while at the same time strengthening Canada's long term capacity for research and innovation,” said Tony Clement, federal minister of industry. “The renewal of college and university facilities will encourage more world-class researchers to work in Canada and give them the tools they need to make further discoveries that will benefit Canadians and people around the world."

Today’s investment is part of the nearly $800 million in capital funding that Ontario is providing to colleges and universities this year – a boost to the $780 million the province originally committed in its 2009 budget.

Ontario is increasing its investment in post secondary infrastructure to ensure that all colleges and universities across the province can offer students a high-quality education in new, modern facilities.

Today’s investment is also part of the federal government’s Economic Action Plan that 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, across Canada 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.

Also today, the provincial government is providing an additional $417,300 to post secondary institutions in Sault Ste. Marie to help renew and upgrade classrooms, labs and facilities as part of a separate $40 million Ontario-wide initiative.

The local funding includes:

- $283,800 for Sault College - $133,500 for Algoma University

Other McGuinty government investments to support post secondary education in Sault Ste. Marie include:

Sault College

- $7.1 million for facility renewal, improvements and modernization.

- $1.9 million for apprenticeship programs.

- $1.6 million to hire more instructors and increase student resources.

- $1 million for IT infrastructure.

- $974,873 in new, base program funding.

- $750,000 multi-media centre.

- $495,040 for nursing program to purchase clinical simulation equipment.

- $327,332 for endowment fund - Ontario Trust Program.