Ottawa plans new pandemic lab beside site of Chinese scientist scandal
Ottawa is set to fund a new pandemic lab beside the Winnipeg facility rocked by scandal involving the Wuhan Institute of Virology and researchers linked to Beijing’s military.
Ottawa is spending $10.2 million to design a new pandemic lab beside the Winnipeg facility rocked by the Chinese scientist security scandal.
Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid announced Wednesday that Architecture49 Inc. had secured the architectural and engineering contract on behalf of Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Government Transformation Minister Joël Lightbound.
The new facility will include Level 2 and Level 3 containment laboratories and provide additional space for pre-clinical research. It seeks to bolster Canada’s ability to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tools for future pandemics and emerging infectious diseases.
Design work is expected to continue through 2029, with construction beginning in 2030 and completion targeted for 2033.
