Government moves quickly to fund pressing university and college infrastructure projects

Knowledge Infrastructure Program

The federal government has made good on its word to move quickly on the deployment of a $2-billion program to help refurbish Canada's aging university and college infrastructure. The Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) was launched March 9th with a March 31st deadline for the first of two planned competitions, providing a host of employment opportunities designed to mollify the worst effects of the growing economic slowdown.

Two competitions of $1 billion each will be held in each of the next two fiscal years, with 70% allocated to universities and 30% to community colleges. The fund will cover 50% of eligible costs, providing universities with $2.8 billion and $600 million for colleges. Matching funds are expected to come from provincial governments, the institutions involved, charitable organizations or the private sector. The first projects could be announced as early as April and all projects must be complete by March 31/11.

A survey of deferred maintenance at Canadian universities — conducted by the Canadian Association of University Business Officers using 2006 data — identified $5.1 billion in deferred maintenance projects, with $2.4 billion classified as urgent. While the match between the identified projects and the KIP criteria is not perfect, it appears that the vast majority of urgent projects can be funded.

"The purpose of this is economic stimulus (and) all of this will be able to happen quickly," says Claire Morris, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). "The program is recognition of what an important investment this is."

The KIP was the main recommendation of the AUCC leading up to the recent Budget where the program was announced and is considered a big win for the university and college communities.

This week's announcement served to clarify the criteria for the KIP, emphasizing that it is intended for projects that includes those emanating from the social sciences and humanities. But it also underlined that, while the projects are intended to support projects connected to R&D, the definitions of those projects will be interpreted broadly and can be identified by either the institutions or even the provinces.

The eligibility requirements make clear that, while enhancing R&D projects is the primary focus, funding can also go to projects related to health and safety, environmental or waste management aspects of R&D facilities (see chart).

"The program will promote employment and provide economic stimulus, and create jobs for engineers, architects, tradespeople and technicians. It will also generate the advanced technological infrastructure needed to keep Canada's research and educational facilities at the forefront of scientific advancement." — Industry Canada press release

Prior to the announcement, Industry Canada contacted universities, colleges and provincial governments asking for lists of priorities for infrastructure investment. It has stated that it will "ensure that funding is awarded to top priority projects".

The college community has criticized the larger share going to universities, arguing that it also has approximately $5 billion worth of infrastructure projects ready to go. University representatives argue that the disproportionate share is due to the age of university infrastructure, compared to that of colleges.

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