News Release

MONCTON (GNB) – More than $15 million of provincial and federal government funding will be invested at the Université de Moncton in a $26.45 million infrastructure project as part of recently-signed Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Infrastructure Fund.

“We understand that New Brunswickers want us focused on the economy, education and health care,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “This investment helps get things done for all three of these priorities.”

The funding will enable the university to renovate its science faculty and construct the New Brunswick Centre for Precision Medicine near its Moncton campus. The new centre will build on the university’s strength in biomedical research to provide space for the incubation of emerging companies, and become the province’s first multidisciplinary health research centre situated in a clinical setting. Of the funding, $10.5 million is federal and $5.25 million is provincial. The university and its partners are contributing a further $10.7 million to the project.

“This project will support industry, both here in Atlantic Canada and across the country, and contribute to building a vibrant economic future by helping to grow the middle class and address regional challenges,” said Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard Minister Dominic Leblanc. “Through the Strategic Investment Fund we are supporting innovation to help improve opportunities for business, create jobs in the Atlantic region and contribute to Atlantic Canada’s reputation as an innovation hub.”

Leblanc spoke on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains.

As a result of these investments, students, professors and researchers will work in state-of-the-art facilities and will collaborate in specially-designed spaces that support lifelong learning and skills training. They will work in close proximity with partners to turn discoveries into products or services. In the process, the intention is for them to train for and create the high-value jobs of the future.

Through this infrastructure fund, the federal government will provide $49.3 million, the provincial government will invest $35.2 million, and universities will contribute $14.1 million, in several projects, which will result in a total of $98.6 million being spent on university and college infrastructure in New Brunswick.

It is expected that additional investments will bring the total amount received by colleges and universities in New Brunswick to $111 million.

The provincial government is contributing the institutional share of college project funding. The investments of $49.3 million from the $2 billion federal fund represent 2.5 per cent of its total, greater than New Brunswick’s per capita share of 2.1 per cent.

“In addition to its economic impact for the region, the Centre for Precision Medicine will enable our researchers to gain a better understanding of the genetic, proteomic and metabolic changes caused by illnesses and by reactions to various treatments,” said Raymond Théberge, president and vice-chancellor of the Université de Moncton. “It will allow the Université de Moncton’s researchers, faculty members and students to put their knowledge to the test in a modern environment adapted to their needs. This is a great day for health research in New Brunswick.”

“Vitalité Health Network is proud to be part of this project with all other partners: the Université de Moncton, the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute and the Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, as well as the federal and provincial governments,” said Johanne Roy, vice-president of Clinical Services. “This is a developmental and innovative project  for the research and teaching mission of the entire network and especially for the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre.”