The Government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to creating jobs and strengthening Canada’s knowledge economy by making a $600-million investment as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. Researchers in Quebec and across Canada will benefit from new facilities and equipment, and universities will have more opportunities to develop and attract top scientists. The investment is designed to promote research excellence while continuing to improve Canada's long-term competitiveness.

The federal government will invest in the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI's) Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF). The fund is designed to help Canada's universities continue to attract and retain the world's best researchers at a time of intense international competition for leading faculty. This funding will enable institutions to strategically set priorities and acquire new infrastructure to support these exceptional researchers and improve labs and facilities. The LOF is meant to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals and not-for-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

The funding announcement was made today at McGill University in Montreal by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources.

"Science powers Canada's economy," said Minister of State Goodyear. "This investment will create jobs and improve the quality of life of Canadians. It will also help our universities develop, attract and retain some of the best scientific minds on earth."

Canada's Economic Action Plan is creating new jobs and improving infrastructure at colleges, universities, federal laboratories and research facilities. The government is also introducing additional funding for graduate students and internships and supporting research and technology leadership in Canada.