Ottawa announces billions for scientific research

Ottawa announces billions for scientific research
CanWest News Service
Fri 18 May 2007
Byline: James Cowan
Dateline: WATERLOO, Ont
Source: CanWest News Service

WATERLOO, Ont. - The federal government will move some of its laboratories to universities or to the private sector as part of a new science-and-technology strategy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Thursday.
The $9.2-billion plan is designed to jump start private spending on research and development, the prime minister said during a press conference at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
"Our national science strategy has failed to harness market forces in the pursuit of scientific progress," Harper said. "As a result, our private-sector investment in research and development has fallen well below most of our major international competitors."
Under the Conservative plan, as many as five government labs will be relocated and integrated with universities or the private sector.
As a first step, Natural Resources Canada's materials technology laboratory will be moved to McMaster University at a cost of $6 million. An expert panel will determine which other laboratories can be moved and on how they should be managed once the transfer occurs.
The government is also providing funding to a number of existing research facilities, including the Brain Research Centre at the University of British Columbia, the Canada School of Sustainable Energy at the University of Alberta and the National Optics Institute in Quebec City.
The funding for these projects was announced as part of the 2007 federal budget, but the document unveiled Thursday creates a framework to guide future spending.
Investment is needed in research and development to help boost Canada's productivity, the prime minister said.
"If we do not improve, Canada will become a poorer, weaker country and, ladies and gentleman, that will not happen on my watch."
Harper said the new strategy will also focus government resources in four fields where Canada has a national interest, including energy, environmental science, communication technologies and health sciences. Money will also be spent on internships and scholarships to encourage university students to pursue scientific careers.
Howard Burton, the Perimeter Institute's executive director, praised the Conservative government for being selective about the projects it will fund under the new strategy.
"This government realized it was important to consult the scientific community and listen to what they had to say," Burton said.
The institute received $50 million as part of the 2007 federal budget.
The Perimeter Institute is an independent research facility founded by Research in Motion's (RIM) Mike Lazaridis, who earned millions from the manufacture and sale of the BlackBerry handheld device.
National Post
jcowan@nationalpost.com
Story Type: Business
Note: EDS: Refiled to add line at bottom
Length: 406 words