“We are listening to our post-secondary institutions and working hard to provide essential support for capital maintenance and renewal in their facilities and on their campuses,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “With this biggest-ever investment, we are taking a chunk out of the backlog and addressing ongoing maintenance needs before they become pressing issues.”

Of the nearly $155-million investment, $82.5 million will be distributed over two years through the province’s surplus allocation policy. This will fund 26 high priority infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects at 12 post-secondary institutions.

The remaining $72.3 million will be provided in 2008-09 to all of Alberta’s public post secondary institutions through the Infrastructure Maintenance Program. More than double the investment from last year, these funds will be used to address annual maintenance and renewal needs at 21 public institutions.

“A well-maintained learning environment plays an important role in the success of students,” says Jack Hayden, Minister of Infrastructure. “By investing in the infrastructure of our post-secondary institutions, we are investing in the future of our students and our province.”

Addressing post-secondary infrastructure maintenance and renewal needs is part of Alberta’s long-term strategic capital plan, a 20-year strategy for public infrastructure that anticipates and addresses the longer-term needs of a changing and growing province.