University of Toronto

21 Province of Ontario Matching Fund for CFI Awards

 PDAD&C #21, 2004-05

MEMORANDUM

I am very pleased to confirm that in a recent speech to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit, Premier McGuinty announced that the Province was committing “at least $300 million over the next four years for equipment and other research infrastructure”. 

Our current understanding is that this amount is inclusive of the $80M announced to date by the Province in support of the Innovation Fund awards announced by CFI in March 2004 and a number of New Opportunities and Canada Research Chair-related infrastructure requests that had been pending at the Ontario Innovation Trust prior to its retirement as a source of new awards.  The details of how and when this new funding will be made available to leverage future Canada Foundation for Innovation
(CFI) funding in Ontario have yet to be made known.  We look forward to working with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade on program design and implementation.  We will convey new information as it becomes available. 

The announcement of this funding, at a time of economic restraint in the provincial government budget, is a strong indicator of support of and commitment to university research.  It is a very significant first
step toward the estimated $630M required to assist Ontario’s research community in leveraging an appropriate share of the funds remaining at CFI. 

Should you wish to write to thank the Premier and or Minister Cordiano, their addresses are as follows: