A federal budget that includes $2 billion for university and college infrastructure is great news for The University of Western Ontario.
“This is an important investment,” says Western President Paul Davenport. “It provides jobs in our community and allows Western to modernize and rehabilitate historic buildings to make them into key teaching and research facilities. This will greatly enrich the student experience we provide.”
The funding would allow the university to proceed quickly with work on a number of key research and teaching facilities such as the Physics & Astronomy department, the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, the departments of History, Classical Studies, Philosophy, Women’s Studies and Feminist Research and for the Program in Writing, Rhetoric and Professional Communication.
Western’s Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Fred Longstaffe says this is an “important investment in times that are financially challenging.”
“The prospect of significant infrastructure spending is welcome news for Western and the London region,” says Longstaffe. “It will allow us to provide a strong environment for our leading edge researchers, and will also speed the introduction of major initiatives to support energy efficiency and sustainability on campus.”
Longstaffe cautioned the important infusion of capital resources announced today will not resolve the shortfalls in operating funds Western and many universities are experiencing, so budget reductions will still be needed.
“In addition to the funding for the renewal of campus facilities, we salute the government for their continued commitment to the Canada Foundation for Innovation,” says Davenport. “It is also encouraging to see the additional funding for the Canada Graduate Scholarship program that will increase opportunities for students to pursue degrees at the highest level. These graduates are the key to the future prosperity of Canada’s economy.”