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The Government of Canada Invests $1,531,100 in the Télébec
Mobilité Underground Communications Laboratory
Val-d’Or,
Quebec, May 30, 2003 – The Honourable Claude Drouin,
Secretary of State responsible for Canada Economic Development, and Guy
St-Julien, Member of Parliament for Abitibi – Baie James –
Nunavik, today announced a contribution of $1,531,100 to the Université
du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) for its Laboratoire
Télébec Mobilité, an underground communications research
facility. The Government of Canada’s participation is provided through
Canada Economic Development ($1 million), the Natural Sciences and
Engineering Research Council (NSERC) ($513,100) and the CANMET Experimental
Mine ($18,000), and will serve to finance the necessary research work
and facilities. This project will be conducted in conjunction with a team
of some 15 scientists.
“Research is an important facet of development for the Government
of Canada. The work performed as part of this initiative is aimed at
increasing miner safety and at supporting automated mining operations.
This internationally unique and innovative project, backed by strong
industry support, will enable Abitibi-Témiscamingue to maintain
its role as a leading research centre in the mining sector,” said
Mr. Drouin.
The activities of this new institution will be conducted at Val-d’Or’s
CANMET Experimental Mine, so technologies may be tested under actual
working conditions.
Canada Economic Development’s $1 million contribution falls
under the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Regional Strategic Initiative.
This initiative is aimed at supporting the development of state-of-the-art
knowledge in the mining sector with the potential for international
dissemination.
Underground environments present challenges to wireless communications
because bedrock blocks and reflects wireless signals, creating serious
signal loss and echo issues. Mines currently employ five or six different
communications systems. “The research being performed at UQAT
in view of developing a versatile underground communications system
is of great importance in ensuring the safety of mining personnel,”
said Tom Brzustowski, NSERC’s president.
NSERC’s contribution to project financing, which was made possible
through the Collaborative Research and Development Grants Program, totals
$513,100 spread over three years. Prof. René Le, a nuclear
physicist at UQAT’s Department of Applied Science, will also receive
financial support from private sector partners, such as Télébec
Mobilité, Bell Canada, NorTel Mobility, CANMET and SOREDEM, as
well as the Fondation de l’UQAT, to forge associations that will
produce economic and industrial benefits for Canada.
Canada Economic Development’s mandate is to promote the economic
development of the regions of Quebec (http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca).
To that end, the Agency focusses on two main areas of activity –
Enterprise development and Improving the environment for economic
development of the regions – thus contributing directly to
the attainment of the Government of Canada’s economic priorities,
particularly with respect to innovation, competitiveness, local development
and sustainable development.
NSERC is a key Government of Canada agency investing in people, discovery
and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research
through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among
universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced
training of highly qualified people.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 federal
budget.
Sources:
François Bélisle
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: (819) 825-5260, ext. 235
Martine Perreault
Media and Public Affairs Officer
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Tel.: (613) 995-8824
Marie-Claude Lavigne
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Claude Drouin
Tel.: (514) 496-1282
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