Canada and Quebec award funding to maintain Mont-Megantic National Park

They have announced that Université de Montréal has been awarded a joint $4 million non-repayable financial contribution that will allow the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM) to pursue its innovative, state-of-the-art optics-photonics activities.

The governments of Canada and Quebec are committed to supporting projects that inspire new ideas and showcase recreational and tourist attractions. They have announced that Université de Montréal has been awarded a joint $4 million non-repayable financial contribution that will allow the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM) to pursue its innovative, state-of-the-art optics-photonics activities, and will also help maintain the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic tourist attraction.

The announcement was made by David Birnbaum, Member for D'Arcy-McGee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation, and Sport, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Higher Education, and Ghislain Bolduc, Member for Mégantic, acting on behalf of Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, as well as Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead and Minister of International Development, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), and the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport.

The Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation is granting the OMM a total of $1.5 million over five years, through its research support envelope. CED is awarding the organization a total of $2.5 million over five years, through its Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP).

Innovation is a key social and economic driver and lies at the heart of Canadian culture. It generates growth and sparks curiosity, contributing to the economic strength and vitality of regions and communities, organizations and businesses.

Inaugurated in 1978, the OMM is a world-class technological innovation hub with a mission to conduct cutting-edge astronomy research, provide training and ensure the public promotion of astronomy. Its telescope, a major infrastructure component dedicated to astrophysics research, is located at the summit of Mont Mégantic.

The OMM also has experimental astrophysical labs on the campuses of Université de Montréal and Université Laval. The funding from the governments of Canada and Quebec will help support the observatory's technological and scientific development projects and maintain its facilities.