Pictured above Adolphus Cameron, MP Greg Rickford, Vernon Copenace, Minister Gary Goodyear, Dr. John Sinclair, Kenora Mayor Len Compton and Kenora Councillor Rory McMillan

(KENORA, Ontario, May 19, 2009) – The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), today announced a significant new research project to examine how northern Ontario and First Nations communities are working together in a unique partnership to jointly manage the use of former Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. lands and promote economic development in the region. Through a Community-University Research Alliances (CURA) grant administered by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), this investment will support numerous university researchers and students, in partnership with community-based organizations.

“Our government has been investing in Canada’s knowledge advantage through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Our investments, which include funding for the granting councils, university infrastructure, scholarships and research chairs, foster research excellence in our country,” began Rickford. “We are particularly pleased to see programs such as the SSHRC CURA program which allows for collaboration between universities and between communities. The CURA program is a tangible example of the government’s commitment to research that benefits Canadians.”

“Social sciences and humanities research plays a valuable role in advancing innovation and competitiveness, fostering job creation, and building a diversified, resilient economy over the long term. That’s why Canada’s Economic Action Plan includes a $5.1-billion investment in science and technology initiatives,” said Minister of State Goodyear.

Among SSHRC’s largest grants, the CURA will provide $1 million over six years to form the Common Ground Research Forum (CGRF). The CGRF partnership will include stakeholders (the City of Kenora, Grand Council Treaty #3, the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, among others) in the handover of several parcels of heritage land to northern Ontario communities by Abitibi–Consolidated Inc., one of the world’s largest producers of newsprint and groundwood paper.

Over the grant’s six years, the CGRF will study how the parties work together to share natural resources and build sustainable local and regional economies, generating social capital and enabling communities to undertake innovative and proactive regional planning and development. The result will be an advanced model for collaboration, recommendations for policy and legal reforms, curricula and pilot projects, and a group of students and community members highly trained in research, negotiation and sustainable community planning.

The social sciences and humanities community continues to be Canada’s largest research community, consisting of some 22,000 faculty members and well over 50,000 graduate students. All grant applications are adjudicated by a rigorous peer-review process, according to the highest international standards.

The CURA program supports research projects that promote the sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise between post-secondary institutions and organizations in the community, reinforcing community decision-making and problem-solving capacity; and that enhance students' education and employability by means of diverse opportunities to build their knowledge, expertise and work skills through hands-on research and related experience.