Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Halifax, Alan R. Abraham, Jr., Chair of the Saint Mary's University Board of Governors, and Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, announced a joint investment of $20 million to support Phase 2 of the Sobeys Inspiration Hub and the modernization of several campus buildings at Saint Mary's University.
This funding will enable the addition of solar panels and integrated audio-visual communications technology to the Sobeys Inspiration Hub. The Hub, which is currently under construction, will be dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation at the University. These upgrades will enhance knowledge sharing and collaboration among users and reduce energy consumption. In addition, landscaping work around the building will beautify the campus.
This investment will also fund interior and exterior renovations and energy efficiency enhancements to several campus spaces, notably the Loyola Building, the Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness, the Patrick Power Library, the Burke Theatre, and the McNally Theatre Auditorium. The installation of solar panels on some of these buildings will increase Saint Mary's University's capacity to generate clean energy by an estimated 230 per cent - from 0.2 Megawatts to 0.66 Megawatts.
Once the project is complete, the Saint Mary's community and the broader public will have access to modern and accessible spaces for generations to come.
To build Canada's clean economy, Budget 2023 makes transformative investments to fight climate change and create new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. This includes significant measures that will deliver cleaner and more affordable energy, support investment in our communities, and create good-paying jobs.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, building resilient communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
