Federal Investments in Charlottetown
During my seven years as Charlottetown’s Member of Parliament, I have been pleased to participate in the growth of Charlottetown as an economic and cultural centre. I am very excited to see this trend continue and am excited to be apart of the new initiatives occurring in our city. There have been many projects and initiatives in Charlottetown that have benefited from federal investment.
UPEI Business School
This state-of-the-art facility on the UPEI campus represents an exciting progression for business education on Prince Edward Island. The Government of Canada’s $1.7 million dollar investment in the project will help train the next generation of entrepreneurs, managers and executives to bring the economy of Prince Edward Island to new heights.
Jean Canfield Building
Completed in the fall of 2007, the Jean Canfield Building in downtown Charlottetown is one of the most environmentally-friendly buildings ever constructed in Canada. A combination of extensive solar panels, exhausted air recovery and the use of rainwater for cooling and heating processes are amongst the many sustainable functions of this building. The Government of Canada invested $50 million in this building, which houses Veterans' Affairs Canada, ACOA, Health Canada and Heritage Canada amongst other organizations.
NRC Institute of Nutrisciences and Health
Completed in 2007, National Research Council’s newest institute is located on the UPEI campus and serves as a cornerstone in PEI’s emerging Bioscience cluster. The $13.5 million state of the art 55,000 ft² facility houses 80 – 100 NRC scientists and support staff, UPEI scientists, visiting scientists, students, and industry partners. The new facility creates a dynamic research and commercialization hub for the province’s bioresources sector.
Atlantic Veterinary College
The federal government contributed $18 million to the 57,000 square foot expansion for a Bioresource Research Complex at the AVC. The Grand Opening of the Bioresource Research Complex was held in spring 2008 and signalled the new research possibilities at this complex’s expanded aquatic areas, animal holding areas and student space. This expanded capacity is crucial as Prince Edward Island is quickly becoming a leader in bioresource research and development.
Charlottetown Wastewater Treatment Plant
Charlottetown’s wastewater treatment plant has become one of the leading systems in Canada for its health standards and environmental programs. $21 million has been invested since 2000 and upgrades are continuing to ensure that Charlottetown’s water is safe and sustainable for all residents.
Recently, the Government of Canada announced $650,000 that will improve the city’s wastewater utilities through the installation of ventilation and odour control systems at the Charlottetown Wastewater Treatment Plant, and upgrades to the Brighton Road and Beach Grove Road lift stations.
Holland College Centre for Labour Force Innovation
Responding to the needs of today’s knowledge-based economy, the Government of Canada contributed $2.53 million to establish the Holland College Centre for Labour Force Innovation. The Centre will provide training and skills needed for the Island’s new economy, including PEI’s burgeoning bioscience cluster.
Port of Charlottetown
The Port of Charlottetown through $19 million in federal funding has gone under a major redevelopment to expand the wharf, to renovate the transit shed into a Welcoming Centre and to expand the overall capacity of the Port. This redevelopment has increased Charlottetown’s ability to attract more cruise ships and increase the space for tourism information on the waterfront.
