For immediate release: 26 July 2006

ONTARIO INVESTS IN JOBS, PROSPERITY FOR SAULT STE. MARIE
McGuinty Government On The Side Of Northerners

SAULT STE. MARIE - The McGuinty government is investing in Northern jobs and prosperity by supporting a plan to strengthen and diversify the economy of Sault Ste. Marie and neighbouring Northern communities, David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie announced today.

"Our government's contribution through the Rural Economic Development Program means continued support for the Destiny Sault Ste. Marie Economic Diversification Strategy," said Orazietti. "We have made outstanding progress in health, education and in improving the local economy in the past several years with much more growth and development on the horizon."

The government will contribute $150,000 to the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area, and the City of Sault Ste. Marie to help complete business models for community economic development priorities already identified through the diversification strategy.

"We are pleased with the support of the provincial government for our project," said Brian Irwin, executive director of the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area and member of the project steering committee. "This project will allow us to build on our very successful Destiny Sault Ste. Marie Economic Diversification Strategy."

"This provincial support strengthens our ten-year plan, now in its fifth year, to diversify our community," said John Rowswell, Mayor of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. "This plan will help address some important economic opportunities for our community including those in information technology, energy, health and transportation. It will also address the independent operation of Science Enterprise Algoma, and the establishment of an Invasive Alien Species Centre in Sault Ste. Marie."

Other government initiatives for Northern Ontario include:

• A $1.8 billion investment over five years in upgraded and expanded Northern highways
  
• Enhanced tourism by making the largest single Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation investment of $15 million towards the Sault Major Destination Project, to enhance tourism in Sault Ste. Marie
  
• Investing $14 million in tourism marketing and in sports, culture and tourism infrastructure initiatives in Northern Ontario.

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.

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Contacts:
Christopher Flavelle
Minister's Office
416-326-3072

Brian Cardy
Rural Investments Branch
519-826-3787