Six Ontario universities have been awarded endowments for eight chairs in public policy. The winners of the government-sponsored chairs were selected from 37 proposals submitted by 14 Ontario universities.

The winning universities, which were selected by an arm’s-length Selection Panel, and the fields for which they won are as follows:

• McMaster University, Educational policy and at risk students;
  
• Queen’s University, Bioethics;
  
• University of Toronto (awarded three chairs), Biomarkers in disease management; Health policy and system design; and Postsecondary education policy and measurement;
  
• University of Waterloo, Environmental policy and renewable energy;
  
• University of Windsor, Cross-border transportation policy; and
  
• York University, Economics and cross cultural studies.

“Our universities play a vital role in helping unlock Ontario’s creative potential,” said Premier and Research and Innovation Minister Dalton McGuinty. “Creating Ontario Research Chairs demonstrates our government’s commitment to helping make our province a leading innovation based economy.”

The winning universities have already begun their searches for distinguished candidates for the new chairs, and it is expected that the merits of this investment will be visible within the next two years. All six institutions plan to supplement the endowment with their own resources, which means that appointments of the highest calibre can be expected.

“Ontario needs to continue to be a world leader in research to strengthen Ontario’s economic advantage and create a culture of innovation in the province,” said Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “With the new Ontario Research Chairs, we are increasing the number of leading-edge researchers at our universities and investing in the next generation of graduate students who will help us unlock our potential for the future.”

David Strangway, Chair of the Ontario Research Chairs Selection Panel, noted that Ontario universities responded brilliantly to the request for proposals: “Only eight chairs could be funded; the choices were very hard. The panel concluded that no fewer than 19 proposals were so meritorious that they would unreservedly qualify for funding.”

“We are confident that work done in these eight key policy areas will be of crucial benefit to Ontarians over the next decade and beyond,” said Ian Clark, President of the Council of Ontario Universities. “We salute the government for reaching out to universities to contribute to the policy process.”

Funding for the eight new Ontario Research Chairs in Public Policy was announced in the 2005 May Budget.

Read the 2006 press release and background information on the Ontario Research Chairs in Public Policy program here.

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For further information:

David Strangway
Chair, Ontario Research Chairs Selection Panel
(416) 979-2165 ext. 30

Arnice Cadieux
Executive Director, Public Affairs, COU
(416) 979-2165 ext. 224