Canada and Ontario invest in post-secondary infrastructure at Sir Sandford Fleming College of Applied Arts and Technology

$9.9-million investment will create jobs, expand research and foster innovation

PETERBOROUGH, ON, Nov. 7, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada values the role of post-secondary institutions as they help equip young Canadians with the education and training they need for future careers that will help them join a strong, healthy middle class. Today's $9.9-million investment in Fleming College will do just that by fostering the training needed for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow.

The funding was announced today by the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and by the Honourable Jeff Leal, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Canada's Innovation Agenda aims to make this country a global centre for innovation—one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. This investment exemplifies that vision in action.

Fleming College will receive a total federal-provincial investment of $9.9 million for two projects, one at the Sutherland Campus in Peterborough and one at the Frost Campus in Lindsay.

The project at the Sutherland Campus will update the nursing, biotechnology, physiotherapy and paramedic training facilities. Funding for this project includes:

• $6.2 million from the Government of Canada; and
• $1.4 million from the Province of Ontario.

Fleming College will provide an additional $4.9 million for the project at the Sutherland Campus, for a total investment of $12.5 million from all parties.

At the Frost Campus, the college will receive an investment of $2.3 million from the Government of Canada to modernize the existing earth resources science and environmental science facilities and to create a new geocentre. This new centre will provide a state-of-the-art learning space for programs such as earth resources, environmental technologies, aquaculture, and advanced water systems operation and management. Fleming College will provide an additional $2.3 million for the project, for a total project value of $4.6 million.

Both projects will improve environmental sustainability at Fleming College.

In total, universities and colleges throughout Ontario will receive more than $1.9 billion from the Government of Canada, the provincial government, the institutions themselves and private donors. Federal funding will be allocated through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

As a result of these investments, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities that advance the country's best research. They will collaborate in specially designed spaces that support lifelong learning and skills training. They will work in close proximity with partners to turn discoveries into products or services. In the process, they will train for—and invent—the high-value jobs of the future. And their discoveries will plant the seeds for the next generation of innovators.

That is how the Strategic Investment Fund will jump-start a virtuous circle of innovation, creating the right conditions for long-term growth that will yield benefits for generations to come.

Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history—about $160 billion over 12 years—which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province with projects such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit. Since 2015, the Province has announced support for more than 475 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.

Quotes

"This once-in-a-generation investment by the Government of Canada is a historic down payment on the government's vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into middle-class jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will in turn keep the Canadian economy globally competitive."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"Fleming College is an important institution in the Peterborough area. This investment is exciting news for the college and for our region. It will enable the college to modernize these two campuses so that students are able to thrive, learn and grow in state-of-the-art facilities. Through the Strategic Investment Fund, we are providing Canada's students with the education and training they need to join a strong, healthy middle class."
– The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions

"We celebrate today's funding announcements for Sir Sandford Fleming College as it builds upon its dynamic program expansions. Our government is about creating jobs and creating opportunities that establish outstanding educational opportunities for generations to come."
– Kim Rudd, Member of Parliament for Northumberland–Peterborough South

"Our government is proud to support this important project, which will give Fleming College students access to a renewed and upgraded Health Sciences facility. We know that providing access to high-quality education and training facilities is critical to building the highly skilled workforce we need to support good jobs and economic growth for today and tomorrow, and this investment will help us to do it."
– The Honourable Jeff Leal, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

"We are pleased to welcome this funding announcement from our federal and provincial governments. After the recent opening of the Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, we are excited to embark on two more projects to further improve and enhance our specialized learning spaces on our campuses in Peterborough and Lindsay."
– Dr. Tony Tilly, President, Fleming College

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario are providing more than $950 million for research infrastructure at institutions across Ontario.
• Canada's Innovation Agenda is designed to ensure our country is globally competitive in promoting research, translating ideas into new products and services, accelerating business growth and propelling entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to international success.
• The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada's universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada's climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.

Associated links

• Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund website
• Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund backgrounder
• Innovation Agenda backgrounder
• BuildON

Follow Minister Bains on Twitter: @MinisterISED

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Philip Proulx, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-2500; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]