WEST NOVA, NOVA SCOTIA, APRIL 30, 2009 — On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Canada’s Minister of Industry, Greg Kerr, MP for West Nova, accompanied by Université Sainte-Anne President André Roberge, today announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program investment of $1,276,500 to Université Sainte-Anne.

            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.

            “At a time of economic uncertainty, our government is making a strong intervention to stimulate economic activity through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program,” said Greg Kerr. “This initiative to renew Canada’s college and university infrastructure will provide a significant short-term economic stimulus and put many people to work in West Nova. Université Sainte-Anne is a vital component of the economy in this region and this project will have an impact right now and will also leave a legacy for Sainte-Anne’s students in the future.”

             This $2,553,000 “Combined technologies project” involves three components of renewable energy technologies at Université Sainte-Anne’s main campus in Church Point, Digby County. The installation of a woodchip fuelled hot water boiler and associated fuel storage and handling equipment to replace the existing fuel oil fired heating plant, the installation of solar thermal systems that will supply domestic hot water (DHW), and the installation of a wind turbine to reduce reliance on purchased electrical energy.

          “This project will have long term benefits for Université Sainte-Anne,” said President André Roberge. “It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 90%, contribute to the local economy by using a local renewable fuel source, and it will reduce the university’s operating costs substantially, which will mean more money targeted for new programs and student services. As a result of this three-component project, we will likely be the greenest university in Canada in a year.”

            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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For further information (media only), please contact:

Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Industry
613-995-9001