The government of Ontario is to double the funding of the Science North science centre in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty announced that the science centre’s annual provincial operating grant will increase from CA$3.4m (£1.9m, US$2.8m, 2.1m euro) to CA$7m (£2m, $US3.7m, 4.2m euro), beginning in the 2009-10 fiscal year. The McGuinty also announced an additional CA$340,000 one-time contribution in the current fiscal year.

The new funding will see a 24 per cent increase in Science North's $15m (£8.4m, US$12.2m, 9.4m euro) annual operating budget.

“The new operating funds announced by Premier McGuinty offer Science North a once in a generation chance to fully meet our mandate to serve all of Northern Ontario,” said Jim Marchbank, Science North CEO.

“We are very grateful because for the first time in 25 years, Science North will be able to invest in the resources required to expand science program outreach to schools and communities throughout the North, from Quebec to the Manitoba border.”

Science North will also invest new operating funds to enhance science programmes at the science centre and Dynamic Earth, its second attraction located in Greater Sudbury.

Internet-based programs, aimed at reaching new audiences in Northern Ontario and beyond will also be developed.

The new funding is part of the local government's strategy to in increase funding for Ontario’s cultural attraction agencies.

On 8 April the province announced that six cultural agencies in the Greater Toronto Area will be sharing more than $43m in new funding, with $25m of that investment representing new, permanent increases to the annual operating grants at Art Gallery of Ontario, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the Ontario Heritage Trust, the Ontario Science Centre, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Royal Ontario Museum.