Universities in Canada will receive up to C$2 billion (?1.06 billion) to help them modernise their infrastructure, the government has announced.

The new Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will be given to higher education institutions over three years from 2016-17, was announced last week in the first budget from Canada¡¯s new Liberal government, led by Justin Trudeau. It will support up to 50 per cent of the ¡°eligible costs¡± of on-campus infrastructure projects at universities and affiliated research and commercialisation organisations.

The government also earmarked an additional C$95 million a year for the country¡¯s research-granting councils from 2016-17 ¨C the highest amount of new annual money for discovery research in more than a decade, it said.

Elizabeth Cannon, chair of Universities Canada and president of the University of Calgary, welcomed the announcements. ¡°This government understands that universities are best able to drive immediate economic stimulus and longer-term prosperity through infrastructure projects, through research and by ensuring students have the skills they need,¡± she said.

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¡°We¡¯re very excited that students and researchers will benefit from new research and innovation facilities and their improved environmental sustainability.¡±

In a statement, the Canadian Association of University Teachers said that it had raised concerns about ¡°the former government¡¯s direction in science policy that favoured narrow commercial interests at the expense of basic research and the broader public interest¡±. It added that the budget announcements from the Liberal Party were ¡°a first step in the right direction¡±.

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The budget also included a number of measures designed to make higher education more affordable for students. From 2016-17, state-funded bursaries, known as Canada Student Grants, will be increased from C$2,000 to C$3,000 per year for students from low-income families, and from C$800 to C$1,200 for students from middle-income families. Part-time students will also receive a C$600 annual increase to C$1,800. These increases were?promised by the Liberal Party in its election pledges last year.

The student loan repayment threshold will also be increased from C$20,210 to C$25,000.

Earlier this month, the Canadian government announced amendments to legislation that will make it easier for international students to become permanent residents.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com