Michael Smith foundation gifted by BC government

The 2005 British Columbia Throne Speech, read by Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, included a pleasant surprise for the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research &mdash; a promise of $100 million in 2007.

The spark which led to the foundation of the Michael Smith Foundation was struck by Nobel laureate Michael Smith, who saw a need in British Columbia to pursue research funding and helped connect the key organizations and stakeholders in health research in the province. Working toward their vision of health research leadership, and their strategic objectives of health improvement, research funding and BC's knowledge economy, they have striven to increase provincial investment in health research.

The Liberal government in Victoria, which has set the next provincial elections for May 17, used the Throne Speech to announce a long list of spending initiatives &mdash; most of them dependent on their re-election to power.