TORONTO, Ontario, December 12, 2014 — York University welcomes the recent announcement in Markham by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of State for Science and Technology Ed Holder, which outlined how Canada’s top researchers can compete for resources available through the newly established Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF).

The $1.5-billion CFREF will provide post-secondary institutions with required funding to drive innovation across a broad range of research fields, while demonstrating Canada’s commitment to retain and attract the world’s most elite researchers, faculty and students.

"The Government of Canada should be acknowledged for its vision and commitment in implementing the Canada First Excellence Research Fund to build on our strong performance in science, technology and innovation,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice Chancellor, York University. “This initiative will undoubtedly result in multiple breakthrough discoveries and innovations by Canadian universities and their research partners, and will ultimately advance Canada as a global leader.”

The new Fund is expected to enable Canadian universities to explore and secure partnership opportunities that position them to be among the best in the world. It also builds on York’s success in pursuing research with global impact by researchers who are at the forefront of scholarship and innovation.

                                                        --30--

Media contact: Joanne Rider, York University, jrider@yorku.ca, 416-736-5593