This release was issued under a previous government.
UCalgary will receive $78 million for eight projects under the federal government’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF). This is in addition to nearly $162 million from the Government of Alberta in new and ongoing capital projects including the MacKimmie Complex project planning and the Schulich School of Engineering.
Investment in the Utility Reduction Program will improve the environmental sustainability of research and innovation on campus, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 9,000 tonnes and avoiding utility costs of $1 million per year. Upgrades to Research Field Stations will support wildlife, ecology, and environmental research, including more modern methods for collecting climate data, helping the university maintain its place among the top research institutions in Canada.
“Supporting our colleges and universities with these important infrastructure investments will ensure Albertans have access to state-of-the-art learning opportunities and create much-needed jobs to stimulate and grow our economy.”
“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.”
“We are very grateful for the provincial government’s ongoing infrastructure support. We are also extremely pleased and thank the federal government for this incredible investment in eight infrastructure projects. This is truly a great day for our students, our researchers and the Alberta economy.”
The SIF projects, totalling $160 million, will include nearly $82 million in a mix of provincial funding, philanthropy and the university’s own infrastructure dollars.
Under Budget 2016, the Alberta Jobs Plan, the Government of Alberta made a commitment to investing $449 million for post-secondary capital projects and renewal across the province. This investment combined with federal funding will help modernize student spaces, boost the quality of instruction and enhance the research capacity and environmental sustainability at our institutions.
The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund is a time-limited program that will provide up to $2 billion over the next two years to accelerate infrastructure projects at universities and colleges across Canada.