Government of Canada Takes Major Steps in Advancing Research in the Arctic 
Québec City, Quebec,
August 26, 2003 – Hélène Scherrer, Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and
Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), today attended the unveiling of a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker intended to raise international awareness of Canadian arctic science and answer major questions on the effects of global changes in the Arctic. The ministers also announced that the Government of Canada would invest $25.7 million over the next four years in ArcticNet, a new Canadian Network of Centres of Excellence.
Minister Rock pointed out that: “With investments totalling more than $66 million and the only Network of Centres of Excellence on the Arctic, research on the North of the country will grow by leaps and bounds.”
Headed by Louis Fortier, a professor at Université Laval, the new Network of Centres of Excellence will look at the scientific challenges resulting from Arctic warming using a cross-sectoral approach involving natural, social and medical science experts, that is, more than 145 researchers from 41 Canadian and foreign universities. ArcticNet will provide the information required to develop response strategies intended to help Canada deal with the environmental and socio-economic effects of Arctic warming. Northern residents and their governments will play a critical role in ArcticNet research, which will help them administer a changing Canadian Arctic.
At the official launch of the Canadian Coast Guard’s icebreaker, Mr. Thibault unveiled the new name, the CCGS Amundsen, in honour of the early 20th century Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Mrs. Lily Schreyer, ship sponsor and wife of the former Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer, attended the ship’s launch.
“The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is proud to be a partner in this major research project in the Arctic,” Mr. Thibault said. “We are pleased to be able to support this unprecedented initiative by providing high quality facilities and the expert knowledge of our researchers and members of the Coast Guard,” he added. Researchers from Fisheries and Oceans Canada will partner with Canadian university researchers and foreign participants to carry out exploratory work and research in the Arctic. The team working on this international project will leave for the Beaufort Sea in September 2003 for the first icebreaking mission.
Tom Brzustowski, President of NSERC, explained that “the CASES Network (Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study), funded by NSERC, is of paramount importance. Only top-notch research teams can provide Canada with answers regarding changes in the North that affect us all.” NSERC will allocate $10 million directly to its new CASES research network, made up of a group of 13 Canadian universities.
The Networks of Centres of Excellence Program is intended to mobilize the most distinguished Canadian researchers from universities and the private and public sectors to ensure economic development and a better quality of life for Canadians. It is based, first and foremost, on research excellence and strong partnerships and country-wide networking to maximize the effect of research. The new Network of Centres of Excellence, ArcticNet, joins the other 19 networks made up of 778 companies, 221 federal and provincial departments and agencies, 63 hospitals, 155 universities and more than 327 other Canadian and foreign organizations.
NSERC is a key federal agency that invests in highly qualified people, exploration and innovation. It supports basic university research through research grants and research projects carried out in partnership with universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the specialized training of highly qualified individuals.
For more information, contact:
Mylène Dupéré
Office of Allan Rock
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001
Pascale Fortin
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Tel.: (418) 649-6297
Valérie Reuillard
Université Laval
Tel.: (418) 656-2131, ext. 8644
Valérie Poulin
Canada Foundation for Innovation
Tel.: (613) 996-3160
Jean-Claude Gavrel
Networks of Centres of Excellence
Tel.: (613) 996-0409
Martine Perreault
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Tel.: (613) 995-8824
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