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News Release - Canada and Manitoba

Merv Tweed, MP, MLA Drew Caldwell Announce Brandon University Investment



BRANDON, Man., May 22, 2009 — On behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, along with Drew Caldwell, MLA for Brandon East, on behalf of Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy, today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of $562,520 in Brandon University.

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 Brandon University will provide a significant upgrade for the security of their technology space,” said Tweed. “Our government is investing in innovation across the country to create jobs, to help our economy and to improve the quality of life for Canadians.”

“Today’s shared provincial-federal investment supports Brandon’s expanding role in building our knowledge economy and reflects this government’s commitment to expanding and renewing of post-secondary institutions to provide exciting and vibrant settings for learning,” Caldwell said. 

“The central servers at any university are the hubs of information flow at these institutions,” says Brandon University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Louis P. Visentin. “Support for this project recognizes the crucial importance of maintaining a secure electronic network.  This is a benefit to our whole system, and improves the capacity of our ability to do research and teach.  Every student, faculty and staff member will benefit from this enhancement.”

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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