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Federal budget 2015

Principal and Vice-chancellor of ±«ÓćÖ±²„ welcomes new federal investment in research infrastructure
Published: 22 April 2015

±«ÓćÖ±²„ Principal, Prof. Suzanne Fortier, welcomes the federal investment in research infrastructure announced by Minister Oliver in yesterday`s budget. Ā 

ā€œThe budget includes a significant investment of $1.33 billion over six years in research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This investment is the second significant measure announced by the federal government in two years, after the creation of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund in Budget 2014 ā€” a $1.5 billion investment in support of research and innovationā€ says Fortier. The first round of CFREF funding, a disbursement of $350 million, will be announced in July 2015.

Principal Fortier also noted other important funding initiatives which include $105 million over five years to CANARIE, Canadaā€™s high-speed research and education network, beginning in 2015ā€“16; $100 million to support digital research infrastructure; and the confirmation of funding of $243.5 million over 10 years towards the new Thirty-Metre Telescope, an international observatory to be located in Hawaii.

±«ÓćÖ±²„, along with Canadian universities and colleges, will continue to work closely with the federal government towards the development of a Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy, indicates Fortier. ā€œThis announced strategy is much needed. Cutting-edge research infrastructure is critical to training, attracting and retaining talented students and researchers, and to pursuing promising new areas of research.ā€

Moreover, ±«ÓćÖ±²„ is also pleased with the addition of $56.4 million over four years, beginning in 2016ā€“17, for the Mitacs Accelerate program in support of graduate-level industrial research and development internships, as well as the elimination of the penalty for in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Programā€™s needs assessment process. Across the country, an estimated 87,000 students would receive an increased loan amount as a result of this initiative.Ā 

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