The Short Report - October 25, 2023

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

The Government of Canada is investing more than $1 billion over the next 15 years for RADARSAT+, an initiative aimed at ensuring continuous, efficient and sustainable access to critical and high-quality Earth observation data for Canada. RADARSAT+ will continue Canada’s legacy as a globally recognized leader in this area, a reputation established with the launch of the first RADARSAT satellite in 1995, Ottawa said. The RADARSAT+ portfolio includes a project to design, build and launch a replacement satellite for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM), and a project to initiate the definition of a fourth-generation national sovereign satellite system that will succeed the RCM, among others. Canadian satellite Earth observation data supports more than 40 services from several federal departments and private enterprises. Satellite data is key to making science-based decisions on numerous fronts, from climate change adaptation to building resilience in vulnerable areas such as Canada’s North. Govt. of Canada

The Governments of Canada and Ontario are together investing more than $975 million to support Umicore Rechargeable Batteries Materials Canada to build a new manufacturing plant in Loyalist Township, Ontario. The facility will manufacture cathode active materials and precursor cathode active materials, critical components for producing electric vehicle batteries.

Umicore announced its firm investment decision for the first stage of the project - $2.1 billion, of which $1.8 billion is capital expenditures - for a battery materials production capacity of 35 GWh annually. The Government of Canada invested up to $551.3 million, while the Government of Ontario invested up to $424.6 million. The full project has the potential to produce enough battery materials to support the production of over 800,000 EVs per year, utilizing Canadian critical minerals, including nickel, lithium and cobalt, and strengthening Canada’s and Ontario’s domestic EV supply chain and batteries ecosystem. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada announced $219 million through the AgriRecovery Framework to support farmers and ranchers in Western Canada who are dealing with extraordinary costs due to drought conditions and wildfire. Producers can also apply for interim payments through AgriStability to help them cope with immediate financial challenges. Producers have access to a comprehensive suite of Business Risk Management programs, including AgriStability, AgriInsurance, and AgriInvest – that are the first line of defence when facing disasters. The federal government and Government of Alberta also are providing $165 million to support livestock producers affected by drought and extreme growing conditions. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada announced the contract award for the construction of the Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessel (NSFRV), the Canadian Coast Guard’s first-ever diesel-electric hybrid vessel with a battery energy storage system, designed to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Following an open competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, awarded Chantier Naval Forillon in Gaspé, Quebec, a contract to build a diesel-electric hybrid NSFRV. This contract was awarded for $55.5 million (excluding taxes) as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Outfitted with cutting-edge technologies in fisheries, oceanographic and hydrographic sciences, the new vessel will undertake critical research to collect the data and information needed to help guide decision-making for sustainable fisheries and healthy ecosystems in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf region. The vessel is expected to join the Canadian Coast Guard fleet as early as 2027. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Alberta is investing $40 million to help small and medium-sized businesses find new ways to lower emissions, reduce energy costs and grow the economy. Funded by Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction system, Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Emerging Innovators Challenge will help fund scale-up, pilot and first-of-kind emissions-reduction projects. The $40 million will help support new ideas and innovations that have not been commercialized before in everything from energy efficiency and heating to digital solutions and reducing methane emissions – and much more. Up to $5 million is available per project, with a minimum request of $250,000. Govt. of Alberta

The Government of Canada announced an investment of $26.6 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to improve the health of people in Canada through integrated care and policies. The investment will support 13 implementation science teams and a knowledge mobilization and impact hub that will address high priority health care challenges in Canada. The research teams will harness digital solutions to improve care in rural and remote regions, implement solutions to improve sexual health services delivered through pharmacies, improve the coordination of care for people with long COVID and chronic pain, support better mental health for equity deserving communities, and improve transitions from hospital to home for older adults, among other areas. The hub will foster coordination across the research teams and mobilize the research findings to increase their impact on the health and well-being of people and communities across the country. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada announced funding of more than $20 million to enable the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The funding included:

• $11.5 million to Nova Scotia Power to improve grid system monitoring and automation as new clean energy assets are commissioned and the proportion of intermittent wind on the Nova Scotia grid grows. This will support the innovation and transformation needed to adopt clean generation and effectively manage the off-coal transition in Nova Scotia.
• $7 million to support pre-development of ARC Clean Technology Canada’s small modular reactor at Point Lepreau in New Brunswick.  
• $2 million to help explore the feasibility of converting the Belledune coal-fired Generating Station in New Brunswick from coal to sustainably sourced biomass, through a fuel testing program, as well as a $978,945 investment to help the Belledune Port Authority undertake site preparedness studies to establish an industrial green hub. Gov't of Canada

The Government of Canada announced $9.9 million in PacifiCan funding to Innovate BC to help establish and grow the “Integrated Marketplace.” The Government of B.C. provided $11.5 million. The Integrated Marketplace provides a platform for B.C. technology companies to develop and operationalize new innovations that address business challenges and advance climate goals in a real-world environment, such as a seaport or airport. Delivered by Innovate BC, the program builds a network of industry partners to identify challenges and implement technological solutions that help large-scale organizations decarbonize, increase competitiveness, and improve health and safety. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Newfound and Labrador launched a $6-million CCUS Innovation Challenge to accelerate the decarbonization of the province offshore through the development of carbon capture, utilization and storage. The provincial Department of Industry, Energy and Technology is inviting expressions of interest for financial support to qualifying businesses, organizations and researchers engaged in R&D in offshore CCUS. The funding is allocated in two streams: 

• Up to $3 million to support R&D to advance the development of CCUS to decarbonize ongoing oil production in the province’s offshore; and
• Up to $3 million to support studies of the potential and feasibility of the province’s offshore to serve as a regional CCUS hub for the storage of locally and externally-produced carbon dioxide. Govt. of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Government of Canada is providing more than $3.6 million in PacifiCan funding to Indigenous-led Kitselas Geothermal. With the funding, Kitselas Geothermal will drill production wells on the traditional territory of the Kitselas First Nation, near Terrace, B.C. to harness geothermal energy for commercial use. This project is expected to generate more than 170 new jobs, including for Indigenous workers. Govt. of Canada

The Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions allocated $3.6 million to support Numana in building a quantum communication infrastructure. This funding will aid in establishing fiber-reinforced and overhead quantum communication testbeds in Montréal, Québec and Sherbrooke, which will later be interconnected. Numana serves as a catalyst for technological innovation, enhancing technology transfer within the ICT ecosystem and strengthening cybersecurity. The project aims to position Quebec as a leader in quantum technology innovation, with CED's support facilitating project implementation, equipment acquisition, and national and international commercialization. The initiative is part of the federal National Quantum Strategy, which seeks to promote quantum science adoption by Canadian businesses and generate economic benefits. Mirage.

The Government of Canada announced repayable contributions totalling nearly $3 million to six life sciences companies in Nova Scotia. They are: Adaptiiv Medical Technolgies; Daxsonics Ultrasound Inc.; NovaResp Technologies Inc.; Sparrow Acoustics Ltd.; Allumiqs Corporation; and B-Line Technologies. These investments will help the companies enhance product offerings, scale-up production, create efficiencies and enter new markets.  Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada invested more than $1.7 million in the Composites Knowledge Network at the University of British Columbia to help small and medium-sized businesses become leaders in composites manufacturing. With this funding, the network will expand its operations and provide training for businesses across B.C. The government also invested more than $3 million to grow B.C. businesses and build a skilled workforce. The funding, which was provided through PacifiCan’s Regional Innovation Ecosystems program, will go to four projects that will support small and medium-sized businesses and help workers improve their technical skills. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada invested $2.7 million in École des entrepreneurs du Québec (EEQ) to help women entrepreneurs start a business and put their plans for growth into action. This funding, coming through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund, will help support the EEQ’s FAIR.E project, which consists of three transformational learning programs:

• Make the move to launch your business – for those who have an idea or project but don’t know where to start
• Make your business thrive – for those facing challenges in reaching set targets and looking to increase their profits and customer base
• Make it grow – for those facing challenges in growing their business and moving from strategy to execution

The programs will serve up to 1,800 women in six provinces: Quebec, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Govt. of Canada

The Government of Canada announced $500,000 for the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses (CCAB) to support Indigenous entrepreneurs. This funding will help the CCAB promote the 50-30 Challenge, with the goal of increasing Indigenous inclusion in the business space. The CCAB will also use the funding to revamp its Tools and Financing for Aboriginal Business website and do a deep dive into the Indigenous business ecosystem to assess what new tools, funding and training Indigenous entrepreneurs need the most and how existing support programs can be improved. Govt. of Canada

 TECH NEWS, RESEARCH  & COLLABORATIONS

Montreal’s Logistec Corporation announced it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by 1443373 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of the Logistec. The purchaser is an entity owned by certain funds managed by New York-based Blue Wolf Capital Partners LLC in partnership with New York-headquartered Stonepeak, an alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets. Under the agreement, the purchaser will pay $67.00 in cash per share, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion, subject to customary closing conditions. Logistec, which provides specialized services to the marine community and industrial companies, will remain a Quebec-based business. Logistec Corporation

Pfizer Canada, in partnership with Communitech, announced the tech and innovation startups selected from its open call to help address key challenges in Canadian healthcare, with the goal of enhancing outcomes and the patient experience. The initiative is driven by Pfizer Canada's Healthcare Hub, a commitment to fostering innovation in the life sciences sector in Canada. The startups and their proposals are:

• CANImmunize (Ottawa):

A technology solution that helps healthcare providers navigate complex immunization guidelines to enhance both patient safety and the healthcare provider experience, ultimately improving vaccine awareness and uptake.

• PharmaGuide (Richmond Hill, Ontario):

An innovative patient portal, PharmaVision, that will use artificial intelligence to streamline the drug coverage processes – eventually predicting the coverage by an insurer, with the goal of promoting transparency, informed decision-making and better patient care.

• Wave View Imaging (Calgary):

A novel breast imaging medical device that could provide accessible, comfortable, and convenient breast imaging for women of all ages. The device will first deliver breast density assessments, but has the potential to address a currently unmet clinical need for neoadjuvant treatment monitoring, allowing oncologists to monitor tumour response in clinic.

Pfizer has committed to investing $1.4 million across this first cohort of the Healthcare Hub “Call for Solutions” winners. Pfizer Canada

CGI Federal Inc., the wholly-owned U.S. operating subsidiary of Montreal-headquartered CGI Inc, announced the competitive award of a multi-year, US$522.6 million contract, by the General Services Administration’s Federal Systems Integration and Management Center on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Under the Information Technology Enterprise contract, CGI will work with EPA to reimagine its technology portfolio at the application, platform and enterprise levels to advance the agency’s vision for secure, agile and efficient enterprise development. CGI

Plug and Play Alberta, a business accelerator, announced 16 startups selected for the fourth cohort of its Digital Health program, 18 startups for the fourth cohort of its Sustainability program, and 16 startups for its second cohort of its Food & Beverage program. The aim of this initiative is to bring global innovation to the region through the expansion of businesses, providing guidance, and facilitating pilots and proof of concepts among selected startups. Plug and Play Alberta

Concordia University launched a new research program that seeks to use novel technologies to deliver affordable green energy across Canada. Named “Volt-age,” the overarching goal of the program is to help Canada achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with an aim of doing so by redefining electrification, smart buildings, and net-zero communities. Volt-age is supported by a $123-million grant over seven years from the Government of Canada's Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), and is coordinated with partner institutions University of Calgary, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Dalhousie University, as well as collaborations with Université de Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal, École de technologie supérieure and Carleton University. In addition Carleton will join forces with more than 30 private and public collaborators. At the program’s launch event, Concordia Professor Karim Zaghib said the name “Volt-age” “describes the fact that a new era of electrification is crucial if we are to create green and resilient communities that will thrive for years to come.” Concordia University

The University of Alberta launched a new fund to invest in startup ventures working to solve complex challenges facing the world and diversify Alberta’s economy. The University of Alberta Innovation Fund, supported by private donors and public partners, will work with startups to mobilize the university’s research expertise, innovation and creativity. The fund, expected to grow over time to $50 million through donor support, empowers innovative startups from the U of A and beyond to unlock their potential through access to financial support, mentorship and expertise, allowing them to move from concept to reality. The Alberta government contributed $500,000 to the fund. U of A

The Canadian Space Agency announced an opportunity for the post-secondary academic community interested in satellite Earth observation. The opportunity for funding was issued through the CSA’s smartEarth initiative and Enabler track, which aims to enhance the capacities and expertise of Canada’s post-secondary institutions in the use and application of satellite data. The initiative has an estimated $5 million available. CSA

VC & PRIVATE INVESTMENT

The latest available PitchBook data on the Canadian VC market indicates that, from a deal-count perspective, the VC investment deal count in Canadian companies has been falling steadily since the second quarter of 2022. On a quarterly basis, first-time deals per quarter have fallen 70 per cent since Q1 2022, while the total value of them has dropped 90 per cent during this time, according to Pitchbook data. In 2023 so far, PitchBook reports that there have only been 35 Canadian tech exits, totalling $900 million. This represents a steep drop from the same time period last year, when 66 exits worth a combined $1.7 billion took place. According to PitchBook, by deal count, the most active VC firms in Canada so far this year have been government-affiliated, including BDC Capital – the frontrunner by a large margin – Investissement Québec, Invest Nova Scotia, and EDC. BetaKit

Procurify, a Vancouver-based spend management and procurement software startup, has raised $68 million in a Series C funding round led by Ten Coves Capital, with co-investment from Export Development Canada  and participation from existing investors including Information Venture Partners, HarbourVest, and others. Procurify offers an all-in-one spend management solution for mid-market organizations. This latest investment, which more than doubles the company’s total equity funding to over $70 million, will enable Procurify to expand globally, launch new payment capabilities and provide customers with an AI-enhanced procure-to-pay experience. Procurify

Kitchener, Ontario-based Miovision closed its second and final tranche of its latest funding round, raising $36 million and bringing the total investment round to $296 million. Miovision provides intelligent transportation solutions that enable cities to reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions while improving public safety. Investors in this second round included TELUS Ventures, Maverix Private Equity, Export Development Canada (EDC), McRock Capital, HarbourVest Partners and BDC Capital’s Growth Venture Co-investment Fund. Miovision

The Government of Quebec is providing $22.25 million to Cycle Momentum as part of five-year partnership, enabling the Montreal-based accelerator to scale new climate tech startups and launch an investment matching program named Origo. The financing will support five acceleration programs per year for a total of 125 companies, and the creation of a bursary program. From that amount, $12.25 million is earmarked for Origo, a program to encourage investment in innovative climate tech entrepreneurship in Québec. Cycle Momentum

Toronto’s Ripple Ventures VC firm is opening a new office in Vancouver on November 1, under partner Dominic Lau. The new space will be located at Pavilion Cowork in Mount Pleasant and signifies Ripple Ventures commitment to fostering innovation, growth and entrepreneurial spirit in the entire Canadian ecosystem, the company said. Ripple Ventures recently received a $7.5-million investment from the federal government’s nenewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative. Ripple Ventures

REPORTS & POLICY

The Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC) released its first five-year progress report. Vision to Action: 2018-23 describes the progress made in the CRCC’s seven priority areas, as well as the committee’s experiences in becoming a valuable, senior strategic forum – including during the pandemic – for both government and the research community to anticipate and address challenges and opportunities in meeting the Canadian research enterprise’s changing needs. The New Frontiers in Research Fund, which the CRCC launched in 2018, has over the past five years provided support, through three funding streams for more than 800 Canadian-led research projects, engaging co-investigators from more than 40 countries. Launched in 2019, Transformation grants are unique in supporting large-scale, Canadian-led interdisciplinary, international research projects with the potential to create significant and lasting change. The program offers up to $4 million annually for six years, giving research teams sufficient time and resources for ambitious, moonshot projects. The 2020 competition awarded $144 million to seven projects, while the 2022 competition awarded $142 million to six projects.

The CRCC is mandated to advance federal research priorities and coordination of policies and programs among the three federal research funding agencies and the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The report highlights initiatives the group has overseen to date to inspire and sustain an increasingly equitable, connected and innovative research enterprise in Canada. CRCC

Not enough people are starting businesses to replace those closing their doors, according to a study  by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in collaboration with the Université de Montréal Innovation Centre and Millénium Québecor. Despite a population of 40 million, Canada has 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs than it did 20 years ago, according to the study. By 2022, only 1.3 persons out of 1,000 had started a business, compared to three out of every 1,000 in the year 2000. The report identifies several factors contributing to this decline, including low unemployment, high wages, an aging population and a more complex business environment. BDC

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) following a public hearing announced the Commission’s decision to amend Bruce Power’s power reactor operating licence for Bruce Nuclear Generating Stations A and B, with respect to fitness-for-service requirements for pressure tubes. The Commission decided to remove licence condition 15.3, related to pressure tube fracture toughness, and to include a new licence condition requiring an enhanced fitness‑for-service program for fuel channels in extended operation. The licence amendment reflects recent Commission decisions with respect to elevated hydrogen equivalent concentrations in pressure tubes. The amended licence remains valid until September 30, 2028. The Commission also concluded that the proposed licence amendment will not result in any changes to Bruce Power’s operations, nor will it result in any adverse impacts to any potential or established Indigenous and/or treaty rights. CNSC

Recent studies using satellites reveal most nations, including Canada, have been significantly underreporting methane leaks from their oil and gas industries. The most recent, “National quantifications of methane emissions from fuel exploitation using high-resolution inversions of satellite observations,” published in Nature Communications, covers methane emissions in the year 2019. Globally, it found the oil and gas industry was leaking 30 per cent more methane than governments were reporting. Canadians are leaking far more methane per person than the Americans. In Canada, unreported leakage was even higher. In both Canada and the U.S., methane leaks were roughly 50 per cent higher than reported. In Mexico, they were double. National Observer

Mission-oriented innovation to address climate change – a moonshot or Manhattan project for climate – is an approach that promises to address climate change by achieving net-zero carbon emissions. However, even with significant technical advances, successfully reaching this goal would dramatically reduce the market for fossil fuels, according to a paper by Sara Hastings-Simon and Eliot Tretter at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. A climate mission must overcome carbon lock-in – the dependency on fossil fuels and the inertia that this dependency can create in policy development, said the paper. The paper explores how mission-oriented innovation potentially impacts and is impacted by incumbent industries and describes how in the case of Alberta’s fossil-fuel industry, regional incumbents influenced the establishment of a mission they saw as a direct threat to their market. For example, advancing in-situ production from the oil sands happened only after the industry saw its development as market rewarding. It suggests like other examples that any policy that would be market destroying is unlikely to succeed. UCalgary School of Public Policy

Canada’s competitive intensity has declined over the last two decades, according to a study by the Competition Bureau. Specifically, the Bureau determined that:

• Concentration rose in the most concentrated industries, and the number of highly concentrated industries increased
• The largest firms in industries are being less and less challenged by their smaller competitors
• Fewer firms have entered industries overall, suggesting many industries have become less dynamic
• Profits and markups have both risen overall, and these increases were generally greater for firms already earning higher profits and markups.

The result of this decline in competitive intensity is that both consumers and businesses have seen fewer of the benefits that a more competitive economy has to offer, such as lower prices, greater choice and more innovation, according to the study. Competition Bureau

THE GRAPEVINE – News about people, institutions and communities

Denise Amyot, outgoing president and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), shares her insights, reflections and cherished memories about CICan in a CICan podcast. Amyot has served as CICan’s chief executive for 10 years. In September, CICan announced that Pari Johnston is its incoming president and CEO, effective December. 4, 2023. Johnson currently leads Genome Canada’s federal advocacy, policy and corporate partnership strategy as vice-president, policy and public affairs. CICan

Dr. Jonathan Burchill, PhD at the University of Calgary is part of an international team that received funding from the European Space Agency to show the feasibility of a concept to launch a group of tiny satellites – called a “swarm”  into space. The satellites can take new measurements in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, called the ionosphere. With these measurements, scientists will be able to more accurately predict and prevent satellite and debris collisions. Space debris is a growing threat to global communications systems and space exploration. More than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris are tracked by the Space Surveillance Network. Yet there are more than 170 million smaller pieces that cannot be tracked. Much of Burchill’s work is funded through Alberta’s Major Innovation Fund, through the Space-Defence Technologies Alberta program. UCalgary

Alexandra Clark is returning from leave to become vice-president of communications and public affairs at Ottawa-headquartered Shopify, she posted. She will replace Erin Pelton, whom Shopify hired from the White House in August 2022. Alexandra Clark post

Damien Steel is the new CEO of Deep Sky, a Montreal-based venture commercializing carbon removal and storage solutions at scale. Steel brings more than 20 years of venture capital and operator experience to the position. In his new role, he will work towards the goal of guiding Deep Sky into the world’s first gigaton-scale carbon capture company. Most recently, Steel served as managing partner and global head of ventures at Toronto-based OMERS Ventures. CleanTech Canada  

Nicolas Brunet was appointed president of Lion Electric Company, a Quebec-based manufacturer of electric medium- and heavy-duty urban vehicles. Brunet served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since December 2019, playing a role in the execution of the company’s strategic plan, including through the completion of key financing transactions, the establishment of partnerships with key customers and stakeholders, and the management of the company’s corporate development and corporate affairs. Cleantech Canada

The Government of Canada announced four new members who are joining the Net-Zero Advisory Board (NZAB), which provides advice to support the development of plans and policies needed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The new members are:

• Louise Comeau, Iris Communications, and Senior Advisor, Re.Climate, for a term of two years
• Anne de Bortoli, Carbon Neutrality Research Lead, Polytechnique Montréal, for a term of three years
• Robert Hornung, Independent Consultant, for a term of three years
• Shianne McKay, Senior Project Manager, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, for a term of two years

In accordance with the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, NZAB has been asked to submit advice to the minister to support the establishment of Canada’s next target for 2035, which must be set no later than December 1, 2024. Environment and Climate Change Canada

 Cégep du Vieux Montréal (GVC) was certified “carbon neutral,” becoming one of the first colleges to achieve carbon neutrality. The target is now met for 2021-2022 for both direct and indirect energy emissions. The college will continue its actions to further reduce its carbon footprint in the coming years. To achieve net-zero emissions, the GVC produced a Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report that presents all data on GHG emissions and removals from its operations. GVC

Northern Lakes College in Slave Lake, Alberta, launched mamawapowin, the Virtual Indigenous Student Centre. Mamawapowin is a Cree word meaning “the act of coming together or an organized meeting.” This virtual space, accessible to all, was created to support Indigenous students and those who want to learn about Indigenous culture. Visitors to the site will learn about Indigenous arts, the Elders in Residence program, and Indigenous Library resources, check out featured Indigenous authors, and read Indigenous student success stories. Northern Lakes College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) in Surrey, B.C. launched a  new Indigenous Studies Department in the Faculty of Arts, providing the university a key focus for Indigenization and decolonization. KPU has been offering courses in the growing field of Indigenous studies, along with a well-subscribed minor in Indigenous Community Justice, since 2017. KPU

The Government of Quebec plans to nearly double tuition for out-of-province students at its English-language universities, as part of an effort to reduce the amount of English spoken on Montreal streets and increase funding for French-language universities. With tuition set to rise to about $17,000 per year from the current $8,992, the province says enrolment at three anglophone universities will drop, starting next year. Bishop’s University, the smallest of the anglophone institutions, has said it would be “very difficult” for the university to survive the loss of almost a third of its students. Concordia University’s principal Graham Carr said he was “shocked and disappointed, and that anglophone universities were never consulted about the drastic changes.” McGill principal Deep Saini said he’s “very disappointed” by the announcement. Montreal Gazette

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