Investment in university infrastructure will contribute to Canada’s economic recovery

[Ottawa, January 27, 2009]

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada welcomes the new investment in Canada’s university infrastructure and the Canada Foundation for Innovation funding announced in today’s federal budget. These investments will boost universities’ role in the effort to stimulate the economy in these difficult times.

AUCC is pleased to see the investment of $2 billion targeted for critical infrastructure at postsecondary education institutions aimed at supporting repairs and maintenance as well as accelerated construction on university and college campuses. This will create jobs immediately in communities across the country as well as ensuring that the Canadian economy is equipped to compete internationally when we emerge from this difficult economic period. Renewed campus infrastructure will enhance the quality of teaching and research at Canadian universities.

The Canadian Association of University Business Officers has estimated that Canadian universities have a deferred maintenance backlog of more than $5 billion from maintenance delayed over more than a decade. This infrastructure investment will help deal with the $2.4 billion of deferred maintenance that is considered urgent as well as develop new facilities on university campuses.

“Universities will identify projects that are ready to go and will deal with urgent maintenance issues such as upgrading buildings, labs and research facilities,” says Tom Traves, chair of the Board of Directors of AUCC and president of Dalhousie University. “In these difficult economic times, supporting universities’ ability to contribute to Canada’s short-term recovery and long-term growth has an even greater significance.”

AUCC is pleased to see the federal government’s continued commitment to the people and knowledge priorities as outlined in Advantage Canada and the S & T strategy with funding for infrastructure that focuses on increasing productivity and competitiveness through the immediate commitment in 2009-10 of $150 million to existing Canada Foundation for Innovation competitions as well as $600 million for future competitions.

The additional $87.5 million short-term funds for Canada Graduate Scholarships and $3.5 million internships in science and business are significant contributions to maintaining Canadian universities’ ability to produce highly qualified talent. These funds will provide an additional 1,000 master’s scholarships, 500 doctoral scholarships and 600 internships.

“Canadian universities are the training ground for tomorrow’s innovators and entrepreneurs. These are the young professionals and creative workers who will contribute to the development of a strengthened and diversified national economy as we emerge from the current economic crisis,” says AUCC president and CEO, Claire Morris.

AUCC is the voice for Canada’s universities. It represents 94 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges.

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For more information contact:

Lyse Huot
Director Communications
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada