KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS COMPLETE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

Released on November 18, 2011

Federal MP for Saskatoon-Humboldt Brad Trost and Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris were at the University of Saskatchewan today to celebrate the completion of the veterinary diagnostics complex at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, the roof renewal projects across campus and the Veterinary Road steam tunnel construction.

These projects are part of the $118 million the provincial and federal governments in Saskatchewan under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) announced in June 2009. The federal and provincial governments and the University of Saskatchewan provided $27.6 million in combined funding to these projects.

"Our government's investment in post-secondary infrastructure has given the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's students and researchers the facilities they need to be global leaders in their fields," Trost said. "This project will allow the University of Saskatchewan to strengthen its capacity and build on its reputation as a leading institution of higher learning."

The University of Saskatchewan KIP-funded projects are:

• The upgrade and enhancement to the infrastructure and facilities at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, providing critical diagnostic capacity and relevant research in animal health, public health, environmental health and food safety. 
• The Campus-wide Roof Renewal will ensure the preservation of physical assets and the continuity of university programming, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 
• The construction of a steam tunnel connecting the Canadian Light Source and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) will help support nationally important, world-class research, decrease energy losses, improve safety and service reliability, save water and reduce the use of treatment chemicals.

"Our government recognizes the value of investing in Saskatchewan's post secondary education and these infrastructure investments provide real benefit for students and researchers," Norris said. "The upgrades at the University of Saskatchewan will continue to move Saskatchewan forward as a leader in research education and innovation, maintaining our strong and steady economy."

"This investment is not just about bricks and mortar - it's about laying the foundation for the future for education, research and innovation," U of S Vice-President Finance Richard Florizone said. "The new state-of-the-art diagnostics lab complex, for instance, will result in faster responses to emerging diseases to protect Canada's food chain, as well as innovations in diagnostic and clinical techniques and specialized training for the next generation of veterinarians."

KIP was a two-year, $2 billion program that provided economic stimulus measures to support infrastructure enhancement at Canadian post-secondary institutions, including universities and community colleges. It resulted in the creation of jobs for engineers, architects, trades people and technicians, as well as helped ensure that Saskatchewan and Canada are better positioned to contribute to, and benefit from, the global knowledge economy.

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.

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For more information, contact:

Bill Stovin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926

Media Relations
Industry Canada
Phone: 613-943-2502

Michael Robin
U of S
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-966-1425