$400,000 over 2 years from the federal government for the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais

$400,000 over 2 years from the federal government for the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais

The MP for the Pontiac and the Parliamentary Secretary for Science, William Amos, announced last Friday (March 12) that the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais has received $ 400,000 over a 2-year period from the Government of Canada, through an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Institutional Capacity-Building Grant.

“This is a really important investment for the Outaouais region, and will certainly strengthen the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais in terms of enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion. Keep in mind that there are only 12 institutions across Canada receiving this funding, and CÉGEP de l’Outaouais is among them. By securing $400,000 of the $4.8 million fund, CÉGEP de l’Outaouais will be better enabled to undertake activities to advance their own EDI objectives. As Parliamentary Secretary for Science, part of my responsibilities is to ensure strong relationships between the Government of Canada and the post-secondary sector, so this is a regional announcement that I am particularly excited about!”, stated William Amos.

The purpose of the funding is to better support more inclusive career advancement, recruitment and retention at the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais. MP Amos announced this federal investment on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, in his role as the Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary. The $400,000 that the CÉGEP de l’Outaouais is receiving is part of $4.8 million in federal funding that will support 12 institutions across Canada as they adapt and implement changes that will increase equity, diversity and inclusion and create inclusive career opportunities for researchers by overcoming systemic barriers.

The Government of Canada established the EDI Institutional Capacity-Building Grant as a pilot program for post-secondary institutions in 2019. It is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). NSERC is administering it on behalf of the three federal research granting agencies.

The EDI grant is designed to support the federal government’s commitment to tackling challenges encountered by underrepresented and/or disadvantaged groups in Canadian research institutions. It supports institutions as they adapt and implement organizational and systemic change informed by evidence and meaningful engagement with affected groups.

“Increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion in science and research enhances excellence, innovation and creativity and leads to more impactful results for all Canadians. The Government of Canada is committed to tackling challenges encountered by underrepresented and disadvantaged groups in Canadian research institutions and the impacts on research at large.”, stated MP Amos.