The Government of Canada Announces New Funding for the Canadian Light
Source
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, April 6, 2004 – The
Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament
for Wascana, on behalf of the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, Minister
of Industry and Minister responsible for NSERC, today announced that
the Government of Canada will provide $19 million towards the operation
of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) –
a state-of-the-art synchrotron research facility located at the University
of Saskatchewan. NSERC is providing $16 million to the CLS while
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) will contribute up to $3 million.
“It is with great pleasure that the Government of Canada is announcing
this contribution to the Canadian Light Source project,” said
Minister Goodale. “This unique facility is paving the way for
pioneering scientific discoveries right here in Saskatchewan. The synchrotron
will benefit all Canadians and help us enhance Canada’s competitiveness
in today’s global knowledge-based economy.”
“The Canadian Light Source is an excellent example of collaboration
between the public and private sector,” said Minister Robillard.
“Through today’s investment, the Government of Canada is
reaffirming its commitment to remain competitive in today’s 21st century
economy.”
“This contribution to the Canadian Light Source builds on the
Government of Canada's commitment to commercialize bright ideas and
innovative research projects,” said the Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan,
Minister of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
A truly national “big science” project, the $174 million
CLS will be used by, and is critically important to, scientists across
the country from virtually all disciplines. Synchrotrons create light
millions of times brighter than sunlight and are used to analyze the
nature and structure of molecules. The CLS synchrotron, a leading-edge
instrument, promises major research breakthroughs in disciplines from
the basic sciences of chemistry, physics, geology and biochemistry to
the applied sciences of genomics, global warming, engineering, radiology
and medicine.
“NSERC is proud to support the work being done at the Canadian
Light Source in Saskatchewan,” said Dr. Tom Brzustowski,
President of NSERC. “Once fully operational, this facility will
serve to enhance Canada’s competitiveness in a broad range of
scientific disciplines, while helping us to become one of the world’s
top countries in R&D.”
The CLS is scheduled to open this fall. Today’s funding announcement
will bring the total operating budget over five years to $89.8 million.
Today’s announcement of continued support for the CLS is made
possible with funding from the March 2004 budget. This contribution
is in addition to previous announcements on funding for research and
the granting agencies.
“Today’s support for the Canadian Light Source’s
operational activities will go a long way in attracting world-class
researchers to the facility, providing maximum return on the investment
in infrastructure, and ensuring that Canada’s scientific community
and industry sectors are able to compete on an international level,”
said Peter MacKinnon, President of the University of Saskatchewan.
“This new money demonstrates a commitment on the part of the
Canadian government to operate this project as a truly world-class research
facility with the capability to recruit top staff scientists and provide
the level of support required by national and international users,”
said Dr. Bill Thomlinson, CLS Executive Director.
The CLS synchrotron research facility is a unique Canadian science
endeavour that came about through an imaginative partnership among the
federal government, three provincial governments, numerous universities,
and other private and public sector organizations. CLS capital contributions
have been made by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Province
of Saskatchewan, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Ontario Synchrotron
Consortium (Ontario Innovation Trust), Alberta Synchrotron Institute
(Alberta Science and Research Authority and Alberta Heritage Foundation
for Medical Research), the University of Saskatchewan, National Research
Council, City of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Power Corporation, Natural
Resources Canada, the University of Alberta, the University of Western
Ontario, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., and Cisco Systems.
NSERC, now also known as Science and Engineering Research Canada, is
a key federal agency investing in people, discovery and innovation.
It supports both basic university research through research grants,
and project research through partnerships among postsecondary institutions,
government and the private sector, as well as the advanced training
of highly qualified people.
Note to Editors: A short video clip from March 31, showing detection
of the first light in a CLS scientific beamline, can be downloaded from
the CLS Web site at:
http://www.lightsource.ca/.
For further information, contact:
Suzanne Godbout
Communications Division
NSERC
Tel.: (613) 943-0310
Fax: (613) 943-0742
E-mail: suzanne.godbout@nserc.ca
Kathryn Warden
Office of the Vice-President Research
University of Saskatchewan
Tel.: (306) 966-2506
Fax: (306) 966-2411
E-mail: kathryn.warden@usask.ca
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