$741,000 investment will create jobs, expand research and foster innovation
GEORGETOWN, PEI, June 26, 2017 /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, the Government of Canada is investing more than $370,000 in Holland College's Georgetown Center—for a total combined investment of close to $741,000—which will help foster the training needed for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow.
The funding was announced by the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, along with the Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and the Honourable Sonny Gallant, Prince Edward Island's Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning.
Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan 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.
Holland College will use the funding to enhance and expand the trades training facilities at its Center in Georgetown, which provides programs for 250 full- and part-time students. Work at the Center will include new electrical, mechanical and building envelope systems, which will enhance the student experience and improve environmental sustainability.
Funding for this $740,768 project includes:
- $370,384 from the Government of Canada; and
- $370,384 from the Province of Prince Edward Island.
In total, universities and colleges throughout Prince Edward Island will receive close to $23.3 million 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.
Quotes
"This historic investment by the Government of Canada is a 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."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
"Investments like these in Atlantic Canada will have a long-term impact on innovation. Through these upgrades, Holland College researchers and students will have access to better quality facilities and will add to Canada's growing talent of global innovators. Through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, we are providing Canada's students with the tools and resources they need to join a strong, healthy middle class."
– The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Supporting our post-secondary students and institutions will help connect Islanders with jobs, grow local businesses and strengthen our communities. These improvements to the Georgetown Center are an investment in the growth of our rural communities and all of Prince Edward Island."
– The Honourable H. Wade MacLauchlan, Premier of Prince Edward Island
"Holland College appreciates the continued support of our federal and provincial partners. This funding will enable Holland College to perform much-needed upgrading to the Georgetown Center, which will enhance our teaching and learning environments significantly and improve the building's long-term sustainability in the community."
– Dr. Brian McMillan, President, Holland College
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is providing $10.4 million for research infrastructure at institutions in Prince Edward Island. Holland College has been awarded $370,384 in federal funding for a project at its Georgetown Center.
- This investment supports Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, which 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 Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada's climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
- In 2016 the Government of Canada and the governments of the four Atlantic provinces unveiled the Atlantic Growth Strategy, which aims to stimulate economic growth in the region by focusing joint federal-provincial efforts and resources on five areas of action: skilled workforce and immigration, innovation, clean growth and climate change, trade and investment, and infrastructure.
Associated links
Follow Minister Bains on Twitter: @MinisterISED
SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Karl W. Sasseville, 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]
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