The Government of Canada Assists Georgian College to Build World-Class Marine Simulator and Researc

Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce - Grey - Owen Sound, Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the transfer of a marine navigation simulator and a marine engine room propulsion plant simulator from the Government of Canada to the Province of Ontario, along with federal funding of $1,435,000 for the province to modernize these simulators.

Ontario is one of five provinces that will receive federal funding under the $7.2 million Marine Simulators Contribution Program. Georgian College's Owen Sound campus will be the home of the Ontario bound simulators, used to train seafarers and formerly belonging to Transport Canada, and will be the site for the $8.5 million world-class marine simulator and research centre presently under construction on the campus.

"The transfer of the navigation and engine room simulators along with $1,435,000 in federal funding contributes to Georgian College's Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre being a world class simulation and research centre, and encourages foreign and domestic students to take advantage of the international marine training opportunities right here in our community of Owen Sound," said Mr. Miller.

"Given the forecasted increase in global marine traffic and shortage of mariners, the transfer funding announced today will ensure that Canada's marine training facilities, such as Georgian College's Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre, are equipped to respond to the increased demand in Canada and worldwide," said Minister Cannon.

"The Great Lakes have shaped the economy of our province since its founding days," said Ontario Minister of Training Colleges and Universities, John Milloy. "Marine transport remains vital to the Ontario economy. Our government's $3.75 million-investment in this simulator project, and additional contributions from the federal government, the City of Owen Sound and private sector partners, will help ensure enough trained marine transport workers graduate each year to keep this vital sector strong. This is good news for Georgian College and for Ontario."

The Marine Simulators Contribution Program provides financial assistance to five provinces that have Marine Training Institutes -- British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador -- over a four-year transition period, from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011. Ten marine training simulators currently owned by the Government of Canada are being transferred gratuitously to the provinces to promote consistent training standards for seafarers, while allowing more flexibility around their use. (Release No. H 239/07)

For further details on the above initiative and other marine safety issues, visit www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/menu.htm. Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.