SURREY, Canada — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed $45 million in federal funding for a new building at the Surrey, B.C., campus of Simon Fraser University to advance research and innovation in the energy sector.
The province has matched the funding for a total of $90 million for a building that Trudeau says will be home to new degree programs in energy systems and environmental engineering.
He says research at the five-storey building will equip students with an education allowing them to contribute toward Canada's aim to be a world leader in research and innovation.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark says the new programs will create more jobs in a province that is already leading the country with the most startups.
Clark says extra funding from the university and private donors will amount to a total of about $120 million in investments for the new building that will accommodate a mechatronics systems engineering program.
It combines the fields of mechanical, electrical and software engineering with entrepreneurship and business.
Quotes
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada –
“This once-in-a-generation investment is a historic leap to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will in turn keep the Canadian economy globally competitive and help grow the middle class.”
The Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia –
“British Columbia’s thriving tech sector is a key part of Canada’s leading economy, paying wages that are 75 per cent higher than average. The new energy systems engineering building at Simon Fraser University will help ensure British Columbians are first in line for those jobs, while driving innovation, prosperity and job creation throughout our province.”
Andrew Petter, president, Simon Fraser University –
“Engineering science programs at Simon Fraser University intentionally challenge students to prepare them to be innovators in an increasingly high-tech world. The energy systems engineering building will allow students to develop the skills needed to design and develop tomorrow’s energy systems, which are rapidly evolving to anticipate society’s future energy needs.”
