Minister Goodyear celebrates progress at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus

October 15, 2009

BRANTFORD, Ontario — The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and Phil McColeman, Member of Parliament for Brant, were at the Brantford Campus of Wilfrid Laurier University today to tour the school and visit the site of a new building that received investments totalling $26 million in federal and provincial government funding through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.

“This investment in Wilfrid Laurier University is creating jobs now and will provide the university with the research facilities it needs for years to come,” said Minister Goodyear. “Our government is investing in innovation and infrastructure to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”

The new 90,000 square-foot building will house a library, as well as space for research, teaching and offices, and will help ensure the university can continue to meet increasing enrolment at the Brantford campus.

As part of this year’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada introduced the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a two-year, $2-billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions. The program is providing key economic stimulus, creating jobs, and generating the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s research and educational facilities at the forefront of scientific advancement.   

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, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.
For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.