Laval University gets $100M from Ottawa to study effects of Arctic climate change
Sentinelle Nord studies effects of climate change on people, animals, environment in northern Canada
Laval University in Quebec City has received a $98 million federal grant — its biggest subsidy to date — to continue a research project on the North.
However, an environmental group said that doesn't make up for the hundreds of millions of dollars cut by Ottawa in funding to scientific research over the years.
The university's Sentinelle Nord program studies the impact of climate change on the Arctic by looking at different facets of the environment, from animal populations to mining.
Laval University Vice-Rector Éric Bauce said the project brings together researchers and scientists from universities all over the world as well as NASA.
"It's very good news that will consolidate our position at the international level as a university that conducts research in the North," Bauce said.
Steven Guilbeault, the senior director of environmental group Équiterre, said he's thrilled by the news.
"We can only rejoice at the fact that the federal government, after having cut for so many years hundreds of millions of dollars, having fired so many scientists from the federal government, is deciding to reinvest into science," he said.
Guilbeault said that when it comes to research, Canada has a lot of catching up to do because of the toll cuts took.