Federal funding for health and innovation

By Krista Baliko Posted: April 27, 2018 1:00 a.m.

(L-R) Jamie Hilts, Dean, School of Mining, Energy & Manufacturing, and School of Natural Resources & Built Environment, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Roger Gauthier, President, Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise, Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Dr. Robert Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Light Source, Dr. Dr. Tony Vannelli, Provost and Vice-President Academic, University of Saskatchewan, and Dr. Thomas Chase, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), University of Regina Photo courtesy U of R Photography

Today at the University of Regina, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced more than $10.6 million for 14 projects in Saskatchewan through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.

“These investments will help drive innovation by supporting the development of new technologies and products, and better preparing Canadians for high-demand skilled occupations. They will help strengthen the middle class and grow our economy,” says Goodale.

Dr. Thomas Chase, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) at the University of Regina says the Western Economic Diversification Canada funding will support two exciting projects at the University worth $484,616.

“This support will help the University to further our work to improve the health of our citizens and grow our economy,” says Chase.

Minister Ralph Goodale and some of the Saskatchewan recipients of more than $10.6 million through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The University received $348,831 to develop a next generation Bio Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system, considerably expanding the capabilities of an existing PhytoPET device that was used for studying plants. The new BioPET is a real-time imaging detector that allows University physicists to study plants and soil microbiome without using destructive harvesting methods. Using this powerful new tool, University of Regina scientists will be able to conduct research into plant adaptation to environmental stresses, disease, efficient nutrient and water use.

La Cité universitaire francophone will receive $135,785 to purchase French educational resources and audio-visual equipment, and to renovate an outdated language lab into a multifunctional space for the new bilingual option of the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, a partnership between the University of Regina, La Cité and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

“Through La Cité, students in the new bilingual option of our existing nursing program will be equipped with the very best resources, helping to ensure patients receive the highest quality of health care in both French and English. The funds will also allow our physicists to develop a next-generation, state-of-the-art Bio Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system, paving the road for transformative research into more resilient and fertile crops, ultimately contributing to global food security,” says Chase.

Other investments announced today will:

assist in the evaluation of clean technologies for enhanced oil recovery at the Petroleum Technology Research Centre;
equip advanced materials manufacturing training centres at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Regina and Saskatoon campuses;
establish a vaccine manufacturing centre and a fee-for-service Green Roof Environment and Engineering facility at the University of Saskatchewan;
develop an innovative prototype generator to produce medical isotopes at the Canadian Light Source;
support the first technology incubator in Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Collaborates Inc.;
implement clean technology clusters in Western Canadian Research and Innovation Parks;
expand services to better assist food, feed, cosmetic, and nutraceutical companies to add value to agricultural products at the POS Pilot Plant, Innovation Place Saskatoon;
establish six francophone social economy businesses;
develop a smart grid platform to optimize solar power and electric vehicle integration in Saskatoon;
as well as support Canada’s Farm Progress Show, the largest trade show for agricultural equipment.