OTTAWA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The Canadian government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced C$139 million ($118 million) in funding on Tuesday for a Canadian initiative in the search for an HIV/AIDS vaccine. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Microsoft Corp. <MSFT.O> founder Bill Gates told a news conference that the money would go to an initiative that would try to accelerate development of a vaccine and address critical research gaps. Under the plan, a facility will be set up in Canada to manufacture and test HIV vaccine candidates. Canada will provide up to C$111 million and the Gates Foundation up to C$28 million. ($1=$1.17 Canadian)
