Accountability, Transparency Earn CFI National Governance Award

February 9, 2006

Ottawa, February 9, 2006 – The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is very proud to announce that it has won the prestigious Conference Board of Canada / Spencer Stuart 2006 National Awards in Governance in the Public Sector category. Presented last night at a gala event in Toronto, these awards celebrate bold and innovative solutions to governance challenges, and recognize organizations that have broken the mould in the search for governance excellence.

“Because of its unique status as a foundation entrusted with public money, the CFI attaches paramount importance to operating in an economical, effective, and transparent manner, and to communicating its activities and results to a wide audience,” said Dr. John Evans, Chair of the CFI Board of Directors. “We’ve made great efforts to ensure that our governance practices reflect this fundamental philosophy, and we’re very proud to be recognized for our successes in this regard.”

Over the past few years, the CFI Board has taken significant steps to increase its interaction with a larger and more diverse community in order to expand its understanding of how Canada can better position itself to continue excelling in an increasingly knowledge-based global economy. Consultation and communication with researchers, private-sector partners, provincial funding agencies, policymakers, political leaders, and the public have resulted in broader and more strategic thinking by the Board, leading to more informed decisions, better program design and delivery, and more robust communications initiatives with its stakeholders.

“The CFI has really lived up to its name and has much to be proud of when it comes to governance,” said Anne Golden, President and CEO of The Conference Board of Canada. “By proactively engaging its major stakeholders in its strategic planning, the CFI’s board has taken public sector governance practices to a new level.”

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI’s mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

For further information:

Angus McKinnon
Coordinator, Media Relations
(613) 996-3160
angus.mckinnon@innovation.ca