Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirms $50M for physics think-tank in Waterloo, Ont.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau affirmed today a budget announcement of $50 million for the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ont.

"It's extremely important to underline just howessential the work being done here is, not just for Canada but forthe entire world," said Trudeau.

"The investment we're announcing todaywill strengthen the Perimeter Institute's position as a world-leading research centre in helping advance Canada's role as a leader in the global scientific community."

Trudeau's visit to the think-tankwasmet with much anticipation:a crush of media and spectators, and even ahigh-profile videowelcome from startheoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

Two hundred high school students, most of them young women,filled the upper levels of the Perimeter Institute lobby for the announcement.

They were at the institute aspart of a program aimed at "inspiring future women in science," said Bardish Chagger, the minister of small business and MP for Waterloo.

"It's a chance for these women to meet and speak to successful women scientists, to discuss challenges, to find mentoring,which we all know is so important," said Chagger.

The $50 million in federal funding, spread over five years, was first announced in Trudeau's 2016 budget.

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It was a continuation of funding received in the past and is supposed to help "strengthen its position as a world-leading research centre for theoretical physics."

Trudeauwas joined by Perimeter Institute founder Mike Lazaridis, as well asKirstyDuncan, the federal science minister.

Trudeauwas also in southern Ontario on Thursday. Hetoured Fanshawe College in London and Polycon Industries, an auto-parts maker, in Guelph.