Minister Struthers and MP Mark Announce Investment in Assiniboine Community College (Parkland Campus)
(DAUPHIN), May 22, 2009—On behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Inky Mark, Member of Parliament for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, along with Stan Struthers, Minister of Conservation for Manitoba, today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of $3.44 million in the Parkland Campus of Assiniboine Community College.
This investment is part of the federal government’s two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities. The program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It is also helping to generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada’s colleges and universities at the forefront of scientific advancement.
“This Government of Canada investment in Assiniboine Community College will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus to the Dauphin area and will create jobs in this region,” said Mark. “Our government is investing in innovation to create jobs, to help our economy recover quickly and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”
“Today’s $1.72-million provincial investment supports ACC’s expanding role in building our knowledge and skills economy and will ensure the province continues to develop a highly skilled, well-trained workforce to meet increasingly complex labour market needs,” Minister Struthers said.
Assiniboine Community College was awarded $3.44 million towards the expansion of Parkland Campus classrooms and labs, to provide valuable training for Licensed Practical Nursing, Integrated Early Childhood Education program and Enhanced Early Learning Centres. As well, renovation of existing space will include construction of a high-tech electrical trades shop, featuring a multi-functional, flexible, modular space required to introduce new apprenticeship trades on a permanent basis.
"This is a great addition to our campus in Dauphin. It allows us to expand post-secondary training in skilled trades and early childhood education. As well, it enhances our contribution to the community as a whole by expanding our early learning centre and providing more spaces for pre-school and infant care to the general public, as well as to our students. This will strengthen the early childhood education program by establishing the college as a centre of excellence in children’s programming,” commented Joel Ward, President of Assiniboine Community College.
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, including program criteria and application instructions, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure .
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