This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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The federal government has succeeded in reaching a tentative deal with renowned Manitoba-based think tank, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), to save an internationally recognized freshwater research facility, the Experimental Lakes Area. A memorandum of understanding was signed today, which is being referred as “a major milestone” even though it doesn’t actually transfer the program yet, but only sets the guidelines on how the negotiations will proceed.
For the time being, Ottawa has promised to allow the facility to continue some of its work over the summer so scientists with active research at the ELA site in northwestern Ontario can continue their work uninterrupted. The future of the facility was put in danger when the government announced its intention to cut the annual operating funding by almost $2 million to $3 million per year in 2012. An official statement of Fisheries Minister, Keith Ashfield, stated on Thursday that “I believe that IISD is well-suited to operate the Experimental Lakes Area with excellent capacity, expertise and international reputation to take on this important work.” It was added that “we are pleased to have worked with IISD to get to this point and look forward to working with them towards a final agreement.”
The president and CEO of the research institute, Scott Vaughan, alleged that he was working hard to make sure that the facility is kept an independent outlet that keeps its research in the public domain for issues of public interest. The federal department and the think tank would now need to finalize negotiations with the government of Ontario.
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