Free Press, Metro, et al.: Gov’t will pour $9M into Churchill scientific facility

As the Winnipeg Free Press, Metro News, Canadian Manufacturing, CJOB and ChrisD report:

Manitoba came through Wednesday with the final piece in a western Canadian partnership for a $32 million Marine Observatory in Churchill to study arctic oil spills.

“Everybody’s provided their funding, the project’s moving forward,” said the lead scientist on the project, David Barber, a University of Manitoba professor and Canada Research Chair in Arctic systems science. “We just need to finalize who’s going to build the thing. It’ll be in the next 12 months.”

On Wednesday, Manitoba pledged $9 million towards construction of the observatory.

“This project is an important part of our vision for a strong, diversified northern economy,” Education and Training Minister Ian Wishart said in the province’s announcement.

“The Churchill Marine Observatory will create up to 21 permanent jobs, boost tourism and transportation in the region and enhance Manitoba and Canada’s reputation as a world leader in Arctic research,” Wishart said.

The provincial funding will flow through the University of Manitoba.

Led by the U of M, the project includes collaboration from the University of Calgary and the University of British Columbia with major funding from the federal Canadian Foundation for Innovation and co-ordination from Polar Knowledge Canada, an arms-length agency of the federal Indigenous and Northern Affairs department. Funding is also in place from the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Manitoba was the last major funder to make its announcement.