Council committee supports $250,000 request from VIDO-InterVac

Saskatoon’s VIDO-InterVac research facility could soon be getting a $250,000 cash injection from the city.

At Monday’s governance and priorities committee meeting, city councillors voted unanimously to support the company’s bid to construct for a national $65,000,000 “Centre for Pandemic Research.”

It would also include a Level 4 biosecurity lab, capable of handling the world’s deadliest and most infectious diseases.

The lab is currently a Level 3 biosecurity facility.

The support, however, is also conditional upon financial support from both the provincial and federal governments and must be approved by Saskatoon City Council.

The terms of the potential contribution will be negotiated, and the source of funding – potentially in the city’s 2022 budget –  will also be discussed at a future date.

Mayor Charlie Clark said the city has a history of supporting major research initiatives like this.

“Like the Synchrotron, or the Canadian Light Source, like InterVac when it was expanded. And the benefits back to our city, our economy, our university, our ability to provide opportunities for young people to be a part of cutting edge research is huge.”

He added that it would ensure more jobs and opportunities for the future and was a ‘must-win.’ Clark also spoke with Premier Scott Moe who indicated his enthusiasm for the proposal.

“I think we’re in a very strong position,” said Clark. “But we want to make sure we win this bid in my view because we’re the best-positioned place to have this project and to build on the incredible history of VIDO’s cutting edge work.”

However, the project isn’t a slam dunk for Saskatoon. The University of British Columbia (UBC), and McMaster University in Hamilton have also expressed interest in becoming the country’s centre for pandemic research.

VIDO is currently building a vaccine manufacturing facility that will be capable of producing up to 40 million vaccine doses per year. Construction is expected to be completed this year, with vaccine certification in 2022.