Canada and Ontario invest to renew infrastructure at Loyalist College, Belleville ON
$1.6M investment will expand research capacity and foster innovation
October 11, 2016 – Loyalist College – Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $1.6M investment in the Health and Wellness Centre at Loyalist College.
This joint federal-provincial investment was announced today by Neil R. Ellis, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and by Jeff Leal, MPP for Peterborough and Minister of Ontario Municipalities, Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
The Government of 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 is a prime example of that vision in action.
The funding will support the Health and Wellness Centre, which houses the Health, Human, and Justice Studies programs, including the award winning Nursing programs at Loyalist College. Of the $2.4M investment, $1.6M will come from the federal government and $0.8M from the Government of Ontario. Loyalist College will contribute an additional $0.8M for a total investment of $3.2M.
The funding from the Government of Canada is being 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.
The Honourable Jeff Leal, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Loyalist College Board of Governors Chair June Hagerman; Dianne Spencer, Interim President, Loyalist College; and Neil R. Ellis, Member of Parliament for the Bay of Quinte riding.
Quotes
“These infrastructure investments will create high paying, in demand jobs that will help the middle class grow and prosper today, while also delivering sustained economic growth for years to come. Through the Strategic Investment Fund, we are strengthening the foundation to build Canada as a centre for global innovation.”
– Neil R. Ellis, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte
“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 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
“Encouraging scientific awareness in [province/territory or region] and across Canada depends on supporting our world-class scientists and researchers. Through investments such as those under the Strategic Investment Fund, we are continuing to lay the groundwork for making Canada a global leader in scientific excellence.”
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science
“Our government is proud to support this important project, which will give Loyalist students access to renewed and upgraded facilities in their new Health and Wellness Centre. 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, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
“Renovation of the third floor of the Northumberland Wing in the Kente Building will provide the foundation for Loyalist’s Lifelong Health and Wellness Centre where students and faculty from Health Sciences, Human Studies and other disciplines will collaborate on innovative programming, projects and applied research. The Centre, which was conceptualized in Loyalist 2020, the College’s Strategic Plan for 2015-2020, will create important synergies to help people of all ages live healthy, fulfilling lifestyles, in their homes and communities. Thanks to Strategic Investment Funding, we will update key experiential learning spaces, including the Human Simulation Lab where students and community health partners use the latest virtual simulation technology to participate in realistic, interactive practice scenarios.”
– Dianne Spencer, Loyalist College Interim President
Quick facts
• The Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda is designed to ensure Canada 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
• Innovation Agenda backgrounder
Contacts
MP Neil R Ellis Contact
Matt Richardson
TEL: 613-969-3300
E-Mail: neil.ellis@parl.gc.ca
MPP Jeff Leal Contact
Matt Stoeckle
TEL: 416-326-3077
mstoeckle@liberal.ola.org
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca