Montréal, February 10, 2004 - Marc G. Fortier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montréal International, along with the heads of Metropolitan Montréal's four universities - Robert Lacroix of the Université de Montréal, Frederick H. Lowy of Concordia University, Roch Denis of UQAM, and Heather Munroe-Blum of McGill University - today released a report entitled Universities: Catalysts for the Development of Metro Montréal, which contains an abundance of new data concerning the tremendous contribution that universities make to the economic vitality of Metro Montréal.

 "Montréal is the Eldorado of Canadian brainpower, and the effects of academic activity on the area's socio-economic life are simply spectacular," said Robert Lacroix, Rector of the Université de Montréal. "If anyone still had any doubts, this report made public today should finally convince them."

 The report reveals that the static direct impact of the activities of Montréal's academic community amounts to $3.6 billion in salaries and various expenditures, while providing more than 65,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs. The dynamic impact, which measures the effects of the introduction of new knowledge on capital and employment, accounts for $6 billion of Canada's gross domestic product and $4.2 billion of Québec's gross domestic product annually.

 According to Roch Denis, Rector of UQAM, "it's more than just numbers that make our university community unique, it's the ever-increasing eagerness to participate in collaborations and exchanges. Of course, each institution must continue to develop its own areas of excellence, in keeping with its own unique personality, but we are also working together towards improving transferability between programs, increasing the number of joint doctoral programs, and enhancing our presence within the community. In this way, we will continue to contribute to the economic, cultural, and social development of our region."

The report also contains a synopsis of the academic community, a list of campus buildings recently completed or under construction representing a total investment of more than $1 billion, and an abundance of other rather eloquent data.

Marc Fortier was delighted with this performance by Montréal's institutions of higher learning. "This area has undeniable advantages to offer in terms of brainpower, innovation, know-how, and skilled labour. These assets make our job of prospecting for foreign investment, attracting international organizations and strategic skills that much easier," he said.

Heather Munroe Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University, emphasizes the international reputation that is enjoyed by Montréal's universities, which welcomed 17,000 foreign students in 2003: "These students are invaluable ambassadors for Montréal, whether they choose to remain in Québec or anywhere else, they constitute a vital worldwide network of friends and contacts in such areas as business, healthcare, and research."

"Montréal is also home to a wealth of international festivals, and has become the ideal place for students who are following a program of general studies to discover their passion," according to Frederick H. Lowy, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University. "Our students choose Montréal not only because of the vibrant lifestyle and multiculturalism, but also for the tangible synergy that exists between the university community and the social and cultural environments."

In today's knowledge-based economy, universities represent extremely strategic assets on which a substantial portion of the region's future development depends, more now than ever before, because as mentioned in the report, an investment in knowledge is an investment in growth.

The report Universities: Catalysts for the Development of Metropolitan Montréal is based in part on the highlights of a study by Professor Martin and Jean-Yves Benoît entitled L'impact économique des universités montréalaises (Economic Impact of Montréal Universities). Both documents are available online at www.montrealinternational.com.

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 CONTACT:

Céline Clément
Montréal International
(514) 987-8191
Cell.: (514) 892-4030

Sophie Langlois
Université de Montréal
(514) 343-7704

Jennifer Robinson
McGill University
(514) 398-6747

Chris Mota
Concordia University
(514) 848-2424 # 4884

Francine Jacques
UQAM
(514) 987-3000 # 7954