Minister Joly marks completion of project to improve business-research partnerships at La Cité

Federal investment of $7.8 million is helping to create jobs, expand research and foster innovation in Ottawa

OTTAWA, Sept. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - Construction of La Cité's Place La Cité incubators is completed. The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, was at La Cité today on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, to mark the occasion.

La Cité received an investment of $7.8 million through the Government of Canada's Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund for its Interdisciplinary Creativity Incubators, a co-creative space where business integrates with post-secondary education. This new space will enable students to integrate a culture of innovation based on collaborative approaches and virtual tools, meeting the evolving needs of the labour market.

Building state-of-the-art facilities, labs and modern learning spaces is essential for skills and innovation. That's why the Government invested $2 billion in 300 projects under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund to renew university and college campuses across the country. The Fund also supports improved energy efficiency of lab facilities to help reduce their impact on the environment.

As a result of these investments, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities to advance research and innovation in Canada. They will collaborate in specially designed spaces and work in close proximity with partners to turn discoveries into products or services. In the process, they will train for—and create—the high-value jobs of the future.

The Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan aims to make this country a global centre for innovation—one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. Today's event is a prime example of that vision in action.

The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund is jump-starting a virtual circle of innovation and creating the right conditions for long-term growth that will yield benefits for generations to come.

Minister Joly also highlighted the Government of Canada's commitment to supporting and promoting the country's two official languages and the vitality of official language minority communities. The Government of Canada is implementing the Action Plan for Official Languages that was released in March. This federal investment in official languages—the largest in our country's history—will help communities across the country and ensure that Canada's official languages continue to flourish.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada's investment in La Cité is creating the right conditions for innovation and long-term growth, which will keep the Canadian economy globally competitive. La Cité is the largest French-language applied arts and technology college in Ontario. Our government's support is not only about creating jobs today; it is also about helping young Canadians prepare for the well-paying middle-class jobs of tomorrow, in the official language of their choice."
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie

"This historic investment by the Government of Canada is a down payment on the government's vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. This means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes."
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"Encouraging scientific awareness in Ottawa and throughout Canada depends on supporting our world-class scientists and researchers. Through investments such as those under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, we are continuing to lay the groundwork for making Canada a global leader in scientific excellence."
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport

"Investing in our post-secondary institutions like La Cité not only supports our local businesses, creates strong middle class jobs but also prepares students for the jobs of tomorrow. This facility will help students and employers have the specialized interdisciplinary training they need to ensure Canada is an innovator on the world stage."
– Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada contributed $7.8 million toward this $29 million project. La Cité provided $5 million for the project, $11.1 million was provided by the Government of Ontario and the remaining $5 million was provided by other contributors.
• The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund are promoting economic activity across Canada and helping Canada's universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund is supporting the Government of Canada's climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
• Budget 2018 proposed a historic investment of nearly $4 billion in research, researchers and needed equipment.
• The Innovation and Skills Plan is helping grow the economy, creating middle-class jobs—2 million more in science- and tech-related fields by 2025—and providing Canadians with the skills they need to succeed.

Associated links

• Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund
• Innovation and Skills Plan

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Nilani Logeswaran, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, 343-291-2849; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, [email protected]