For release: December 09, 2005
Ontario Government Invests In Rural Ontario Skills Enhancement,
Economic Development
New Consumer Products Plant Will Create More Than 100 Jobs
BELLEVILLE - The Ontario government is supporting
new jobs and skills development opportunities as part of a long-term economic
expansion project in Belleville, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs, announced today.
“Our people are this province’s greatest asset – Ontarians
deserve to have every opportunity for employment and skills enhancement
in their communities,” Dombrowsky said. “Not only will this
project help make our province a global leader in the consumer products
industry, it will lead to more local job creation, training, research
and development, and business investment. It’s great news for Belleville,
and great news for Ontario.”
The government will contribute $2 million to the expansion of the Procter
& Gamble Canada Belleville plant. Procter & Gamble Canada will
build a new facility to develop three new products that will create more
than 100 direct new full-time and temporary jobs , 500 supplier jobs and
approximately $25 million of new economic activity. Procter & Gamble
is investing the remainder of the $41 million project , which will total
over $40 million.
“We are very pleased to make this critical investment in the Belleville
Plant with the support of the provincial government,” said Tim Penner,
President of Procter & Gamble Canada. “This plant currently
exports over 90 per cent of its products to 11 countries. Adding
state-of-the-art technology, and expanding this already successful facility,
will enable our Belleville employees to provide even better products for
consumers across North America and worldwide.”
“ Procter & Gamble has been a longstanding partner and active
contributor in the City of Belleville,” said Belleville Mayor Mary-Anne
Sills. “As they continue to grow, we look forward to attracting
even more new economic activity which will improve the quality of life
in our community.”
“Eastern Ontario is an essential part of Ontario’s economy
because communities like Belleville have strong, committed people,”
said Ernie Parsons, MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings. “Partnerships
like the one we are announcing today mean that eastern Ontario will have
more opportunities for skilled jobs, prosperity and a high quality of
life.”
Today’s investment was made through the Rural Economic Development
(RED) program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural
economies and community partnerships – a key part of the government’s
plan for rural Ontario. Through the RED program, the Ontario government
and its rural partners are building stronger communities that work better
for the people who live in them. For more information about RED or Ontario’s
rural plan, visit www.mah.gov.on.ca.
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RELATED LINKS
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing
Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister’s Office
(416) 326-3072
Dave McLeod
Communications Branch
(519) 826-3198
