Feds provide $100M for MUN's new core science building

Memorial University is receiving $100 million from the federal government to complete thenew core science building onits St. John's campus.

That money was originally coming from the Newfoundland and Labradorgovernment, which will now contribute $25 million to the project..

• A preview of Memorial's new core science building in St. John's

Minister of Public Services and Procurement JudyFoote said at a news conference Thursday that getting funding for this project was particularly important to her.

"For me it was part of our university. We only have the one university, and we need state of the art buildings here," she said.

"In addition, we need to support our scientists, we need to support our students, and this will do all of those."

Building 'on track' to open in 2019

MUN President GaryKachanoskisaid the building initially wasn't eligible for funding from the NewBuilding Canada Fund, butFoote"made it happen"

Construction on the facility started last fall andKachanoskisaid construction was "on track" for it toopen in 2019. Hesaid the foundation is almost complete and several tenders are closing Thursday afternoon.

The $325 million projectwill house the departments of biochemistry, biology and chemistry, in addition to electrical and computer engineering.

Money for science grants, scholarships

Footealso announced $6.8 millioningrants and scholarships for scientists at the university

"For so long we've hadscientistswho've been saying they've been muzzled, they couldn't speak outpublicly, very little money going into science," she said.

"That's not where we are. We believe in science. We believe inevidence-baseddecision making, and that comes from science."

Memorial University will face a $26.5 million budget shortfall by 2019/20, and was provided no money for deferred maintenance projects in this year's provincial budget.

• No tuition hike for undergraduate students, says MUN president

In May, Kachanoski said the university urgently needs $25-30 million to replace its animal care centre, and has submitted a proposal to the federal government for help.

Footewould not make any commitments, but said her government islooking at a number of applications, both from MUN and the College of the North Atlantic.