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Federal budget 2015

Principal and Vice-chancellor of McGill University welcomes new federal investment in research infrastructure
Published: 22 April 2015

McGill University Principal, Prof. Suzanne Fortier, welcomes the federal investment in research infrastructure announced by Minister Oliver in yesterday`s budget.  

“The budget includes a significant investment of $1.33 billion over six years in research infrastructure through the Canada Foundation for Innovation. This investment is the second significant measure announced by the federal government in two years, after the creation of the Canada First Research Excellence Fund in Budget 2014 — a $1.5 billion investment in support of research and innovation” says Fortier. The first round of CFREF funding, a disbursement of $350 million, will be announced in July 2015.

Principal Fortier also noted other important funding initiatives which include $105 million over five years to CANARIE, Canada’s high-speed research and education network, beginning in 2015–16; $100 million to support digital research infrastructure; and the confirmation of funding of $243.5 million over 10 years towards the new Thirty-Metre Telescope, an international observatory to be located in Hawaii.

McGill University, along with Canadian universities and colleges, will continue to work closely with the federal government towards the development of a Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy, indicates Fortier. “This announced strategy is much needed. Cutting-edge research infrastructure is critical to training, attracting and retaining talented students and researchers, and to pursuing promising new areas of research.”

Moreover, McGill is also pleased with the addition of $56.4 million over four years, beginning in 2016–17, for the Mitacs Accelerate program in support of graduate-level industrial research and development internships, as well as the elimination of the penalty for in-study student income from the Canada Student Loans Program’s needs assessment process. Across the country, an estimated 87,000 students would receive an increased loan amount as a result of this initiative. 

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