Alberta announces more than $22M in funding for University of Calgary
The province has announced a $22 million boost in funding for the University of Calgary to support research infrastructure and technology development.
The money comes from Alberta's Research Capacity Program, and will be provided over the course of four years.
The government says the money will help build the facilities and infrastructure needed to support 11 research projects, which will attract new talent and investment to the province.
"These projects are collaborative in nature and some involve participation from researchers at facilities from across Canada," the news release stated.
"The Alberta government’s investment in the University of Calgary leverages close to $170 million allocated for these projects across partner institutions, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation, other participating institutions, non-profit organizations and industry collaborators."
The government says the projects will support leading-edge discoveries in health and wellness, infectious diseases, machine learning, energy storage solutions, clean energy technology, quantum computing, wireless telecommunications and more.
“Transformative research is the engine that will drive diversification forward and power Alberta’s economy for the future," Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation Doug Schweitzer said.
University of Calgary president and vice-chancellor Ed McCauley says the money will help support innovative and game-changing research.
"This funding means a range of research projects in health, science and engineering can take a big step forward," McCauley said in a news release.
The Research Capacity Program helps Alberta’s post-secondary institutions get equipment and research infrastructure.
This new funding is in addition to $4.9 million in Research Capacity Program funding for the U of C’s SMILE-UVI satellite project announced in October 2020.
NDP RESPONDS
Late Mondy afternoon, NDP Advanced Education Critic David Eggen released a statement saying the additional funding was meagre compared to what the UCP has already cut from Alberta post secondary institutions.
“Today’s funding announcement is a fraction of the amount the UCP has cut to post-secondaries across the province," it said.
“The UCP has already cut $87 million from the University of Calgary and $110 million from the University of Alberta with $700 million in planned cuts across the system under their government.
“The best asset for our future is education. If we want to diversify our economy and keep Albertans in the province, we need to be investing in our education system.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
Residents of northern Alberta First Nation told to shelter in place
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
LIVE SOON Honda expected to announce Ontario EV battery plant, part of a $15B investment
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Honda executives are expected to announce today that the Japanese automaker is building an electric vehicle battery plant in Alliston, Ont., part of a $15-billion investment.
Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'