Moncton, New Brunswick - Government of Canada
Science is fundamental to informing the actions we take to ensure our fisheries sector remains sustainable and healthy.
Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Honourable Anita Anand, announced that the Government of Canada has reached another milestone for the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre (ASEC). A bidding process is underway, through requests for proposals, to find architectural and engineering, and construction management services to redevelop the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick. This redevelopment is part of the Laboratories Canada strategy and will turn the ASEC into a leading-edge collaborative research facility.
The ASEC is in fact two construction projects being managed as one by Laboratories Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada: a science facility and an office headquarters facility. The ASEC project will modernize and expand the existing heritage structure to facilitate collaboration.The ASEC hub will be a leading edge facility to undertake science focused on improving sustainability of Atlantic fresh and saltwater resources and monitoring and protecting the health of coastal ecosystems of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic Ocean regions.
The construction work is anticipated to begin in 2022 with site preparation and more extensive work beginning in 2023. All project phases are expected to be finalised by 2030. In Atlantic Canada, this is the largest federal financial investment since the construction of the Confederation Bridge.
Once completed, the ASEC will house teams from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment and Climate Change Canada; the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; and the National Research Council of Canada. The Canadian Space Agency will also be a virtual partner.
Quotes
"I'm so excited to see this milestone in the redevelopment of the Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre, part of the whole-of-government Laboratories Canada Initiative, a 25-year transformative initiative to renewing federal science and technology laboratories. This project will bring together some of the best minds to conduct critical scientific research and harness innovative technology. The work that will happen here will greatly improve our knowledge of Canada's marine environments and enable us to grow us a stronger, more sustainable Blue Economy for Canadians."
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
"The Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre is a significant addition to the Gulf Region and to Atlantic Canada. I am proud to see our region continue to prosper and I'm excited to see science innovation continue to grow as we work collaboratively with partners to ensure science expertise remains in the region."
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Member of Parliament for Beauséjour
"The Government understands how crucial the ASEC facility is in advancing coastal aquatic ecosystem research. As a flagship of our Laboratories Canada strategy, this re-development project will provide researchers with the modern labs, facilities and tools they need to continue the important work they do on behalf of Canadians for generations to come."
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
"A strong, collaborative federal science and technology community is fundamental to growing our economy and improving the lives of all Canadians. With this support through Laboratories Canada, our Government is further realizing its vision for science excellence, one where Canada's federal researchers deliver cutting edge, world class research and innovation in state-of-the-art infrastructure."
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry - Champlain
Quick facts
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Gulf Region currently operates out of the Gulf Fisheries Centre, the administrative centre for the Gulf Region. The building was built in 1948 as a college for young Acadian women and was run by the Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Congregation. The building has significant cultural and historical significance for the greater Moncton area. Improvements were made to certain areas of the building to allow interim ASEC outreach programming to take place.
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The re-developed Atlantic Science Enterprise Centre will respect and commemorate the Acadian Heritage elements which are part of the current Gulf Fisheries Centre building.
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ASEC will be a multi-partner research facility, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, tools and networks in the pursuit of world-class scientific research.
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The federal Science Partners Committee has been working collaboratively for two years and has developed a science vision for the ASEC and identified research themes which will be pursued in the Centre, complimentary to departmental mandates.
