May 29, 2009 -- On behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Industry, David Sweet,  MP, announced a Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) investment of almost $3 million in Redeemer University College in Ancaster.

This investment is part of the federal government's two-year, $2-billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian colleges and universities.The program is helping to provide economic stimulus and promote employment by creating jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It is also helping to generate the educational infrastructure needed to keep Canada's colleges and universities at the forefront.

"I'm pleased that both universities in our area received investments in the knowledge infrastructure that will drive short-term jobs now and propel our economy in the future," said MP Sweet, noting that McMaster University received funding under the KIP program in a separate announcement made on Monday (May 25th). "What's more is that this is the first-ever Federal investment in Ancaster's Redeemer University College - a campus that brings so much to the fabric of our community."

"We're overjoyed with this historic announcement," said Dr. Justin Cooper, President of Redeemer University College. "This marks the first time we have received capital funding from the federal government and it's an important investment in the education of our students."

Redeemer University College was awarded $2,947,652 to for improvements to the Academic Complex scheduled to begin immediately and be completed by 2011.

Canada's Economic Action Plan sets out to stimulate the Canadian economy over the next two years and to improve our long-term competitiveness through $12 billion in new infrastructure investment, which includes the $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program.

This new support is the next substantive investment in the Government of Canada's multi-year Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage.

For more information about the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, including program criteria and application instructions, please visit www.ic.gc.ca/knowledge-infrastructure.