Creating Jobs and Benefitting Science –; Government of Canada Invests in Upgrading Federal Laboratories in Ottawa

Ottawa, September 9, 2009 – The Government of Canada is creating jobs and supporting research by delivering nearly $7 million to modernize the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Ottawa Laboratory (Fallowfield), announced Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

"This investment will go a long way towards updating and enhancing this facility. Jobs in construction will be created in the short term while laboratory staff will continue to have a safe and up to date work environment to carry out the important work they do in the long term," said Minister Ritz. "Canada's Economic Action Plan means more jobs and better science in Ottawa and across the entire country."

Modernizing federal laboratories is one of many job-creating investments in the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan. The funding is part of a $250 million commitment to upgrade laboratories across the country.

The CFIA's Ottawa Laboratory (Fallowfield) carries out testing vital for assessing risks to human, animal and plant health in Canada. The laboratory is a Reference Centre for the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) for rabies and brucellosis, and is a World Health Organization collaborating centre for rabies.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations: 613-773-6600

Minister's Press Secretary
Meagan Murdoch
613-759-1059

TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - 613-957-9090