Quebec and Ottawa award $4 million to the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic to allow it to pursue its innovative activities and maintain its tourist attraction

NOTRE-DAME-DES-BOIS, QC, Aug. 8, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The governments of Canada and Quebec are committed to supporting projects that inspire new ideas and showcase recreational and tourist attractions. They have announced that Université de Montréal has been awarded a joint $4 million non-repayable financial contribution that will allow the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM) [website in French only] to pursue its innovative, state-of-the-art optics-photonics activities, and will also help maintain the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic tourist attraction.

The announcement was made by David Birnbaum, Member for D'Arcy-McGee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Higher Education, and Ghislain Bolduc, Member for Mégantic, acting on behalf of Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, as well as the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of International Development, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport.

The Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation is granting the OMM a total of $1.5 million over five years, through its research support envelope. CED is awarding the organization a total of $2.5 million over five years, through its Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP).

Innovation is a key social and economic driver and lies at the heart of Canadian culture. It generates growth and sparks curiosity, contributing to the economic strength and vitality of regions and communities, organizations and businesses.

Inaugurated in 1978, the OMM is a world-class technological innovation hub with a mission to conduct cutting-edge astronomy research, provide training and ensure the public promotion of astronomy. Its telescope, a major infrastructure component dedicated to astrophysics research, is located at the summit of Mont Mégantic. The OMM also has experimental astrophysical labs on the campuses of Université de Montréal and Université Laval. The funding from the governments of Canada and Quebec will help support the observatory's technological and scientific development projects and maintain its facilities.

Quotes

"The support will ensure continuity for the observatory's mission and projects, providing ongoing training for the researchers of the future. Over the coming years, the observatory's activities will help develop the area's innovation capacity, which can be transferred provincially, nationally and internationally."

David Birnbaum, Member for D'Arcy-McGee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport (elementary and secondary education), and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Higher Education (college and university education)

"The Government of Quebec is proud to help fund the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic. The funding will cover part of the costs related to research and innovation. The financial assistance will help Quebec remain a global leader in astrophysics knowledge development. The OMM's activities will also develop and maintain Quebec's specialized expertise in astrophysics."

Ghislain Bolduc, Member for Mégantic

"This is great news for the region! The observatory has been part of the Estrie landscape for 40 years now. This financial assistance is an indication of the government's involvement and of the OMM's importance for the region's vitality. I am proud to be able to welcome researchers who actively participate in international projects."

Luc Fortin, Minister of Families, Minister responsible for the Estrie region and Member for Sherbrooke

"This financial commitment consolidates the government's commitment to making Quebec one of the most innovative and creative societies in the world. Over the next few years, the OMM's activities will help develop innovative capacity in the area, which is transferable provincially, nationally and globally."

Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

"The Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic is a leader in scientific innovation. The announcement of financial assistance from our government recognizes the importance of the observatory and will help it continue its research work while contributing to our region's economic vitality and tourism potential."

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of International Development

"Our Government recognizes the contribution of the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic to astronomy and to the field of astrophysics, as well as its contribution to the promotion of a culture of curiosity in Canada. Through our investment, the observatory will continue to inspire the next generation of Canadian scientists to push the boundaries of discovery and reach beyond the stars."

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport 

"By enhancing locations where discoveries are made and where innovation takes form, we are helping to ensure our prosperity for many years to come. The funding announced at the observatory highlights the importance of this infrastructure and the role it plays in upholding Canada's reputation as concerns Quebec's scientific excellence and outreach activities."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

"Today's announcement allows us to view the future of the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic under a brightly lit sky. Not only is this observatory a site that provides research and training unique in Canada, but it is also here that high‑level observation instruments are developed for use by organizations such as NASA. The observatory is a key that opens the door into space for all Canadians. It is a ticket that allows us to pursue, as a nation, our participation in space exploration."

Guy Breton, Rector, Université de Montréal

"Université Laval is proud to have been a part of the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic's great space adventure since its very beginnings. This unique research and training site, one of the most exceptional in Canada, opens the doors to space, and paves the way to incredible celestial discoveries in the vast universe that surrounds our planet. With its telescope and high-tech instruments, along with the specialized expertise of its research community that helps further international co-operation, the observatory contributes to the advancement of astrophysical science, a field of research that fascinates the entire world, because stars make us all dream. Long live the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic!"

Eugénie Brouillet, Vice-Rector, Research, Creation and Innovation, Université Laval

"The funding announced today will allow the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic to remain a leader, not only in astrophysical instrumentation on the international stage, but also in the training of Canadian astrophysicists."

René Doyon, Director, Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic

Quick facts

• CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
• This year marks the 50th anniversary of federal regional economic development in Quebec: half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses.
• For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 2018–2019 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.

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SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Sources, Élisabeth Prass, Director of the Constituency Office of the Member for D'Arcy-McGee, Tel.: [phone]; Flore Bouchon, Communications Officer, Office of the Member for Mégantic and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification, Tel.: [phone]; Isabelle Grenier, Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Families and Minister responsible for the Estrie region, Tel.: [phone]; Guillaume Bérubé, Communications Director, Office of the, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Tel.: [phone]; Information, Jean-Pierre D'Auteuil, Media Relations Officer, Communications Directorate, Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, Tel.: [phone], extension 4868, Cell: 418-559-0710; Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [email protected]