Saskatchewan
Sees the Light

The Canadian Light Source (CLS) in Saskatoon will be Canada's national facility for synchrotron light research when the huge instrument is turned on in January 2004. Located on the University of Saskatchewan campus, the stadium-sized, US$173.5-million project is Canada's biggest scientific research facility in more than 30 years.
        A synchrotron produces extremely bright light, which scientists can use to see the microscopic nature of matter. Potential uses will be to design new drugs, develop more effective motor oils, build more powerful computer chips and assist in clean-up of mining wastes. The CLS is one of a handful of "third-generation" synchrotrons in the world. CLS will create 200 jobs once operational.

Saskatchewan's Canadian Light Source synchrotron project will facilitate research in several important fields. It will be operational in 2004 at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

        Building on the province's standing as an energy producer, three new 80-million-liter (21-million-gallon) ethanol plants will be built over the next few years, making Saskatchewan Canada's number one source of ethanol. The Broe Companies will build all three plants. The first will be near Belle Plaines and will open in Spring 2004. Sites for the other two will be announced late in 2003.
        "We are investing in Saskatchewan because its government has taken the lead in Canada in the aggressive development of an expanded ethanol industry," says Dwight Johnson of the Broe Companies. "Saskatchewan has the raw materials and sits at the crossroads of the North American marketplace."
        Construction is under way on a $220-million oriented strand board mill (OSB) near Meadow Lake. Tolko Industries will be the majority owner and operate the plant that will employ 130.