For Immediate Release
May 9, 2007

McGuinty Government Invests in Northern Ontario

Community Revitalization Project To Strengthen And Diversify Sault Ste. Marie Economy

SAULT STE. MARIE - The McGuinty government is supporting community revitalization in Sault Ste. Marie by investing in the implementation of a community resilience plan, David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The implementation of a community resilience plan builds upon the 'Community Portrait' project to increase Sault Ste. Marie's capacity to adapt to economic change," said Orazietti. "This project demonstrates the positive outcomes that can be achieved when leaders from different sectors work together towards a common goal."

The province will contribute $70,528 to help Algoma University College, along with its partners, Northern Ontario Research, Development, Ideas and Knowledge Institute Inc., and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, implement a community resilience plan, based on the results and findings from a 2005 Rural Economic Development project "Community Portrait of Sault Ste. Marie". One project component of the resilience plan will be a pilot project to enhance the Kinsmen-Hiawatha Park.

"Over 60 leaders from all sectors in Sault Ste. Marie will collaborate to build on the strengths and gaps identified in the 'Community Portrait of Sault Ste. Marie' project," said Dr. Linda Savory-Gordon, associate professor, Algoma University College. "Thanks to the support of the provincial government, our goal of implementing a community resilience plan with the objective of making Sault Ste. Marie a more resilient community is now attainable. Increasing the Sault's resilience is crucial to the success of its economic diversification."

This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in northern Ontario. Other examples include:

  • Making the largest single Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) investment of $15 million towards the Sault Major Destination Project, to enhance tourism in Sault Ste. Marie.
  • Supporting businesses in northern municipalities through a planned $540-million cut to high Business Education Tax (BET) rates. Businesses in northern municipalities will benefit from an average 32 per cent reduction in provincial business education taxes by 2014.
  • 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 Program, which invests in community-based projects that support sustainable rural economies in three priority areas: improved access to health care services, revitalized communities and downtowns, and enhanced skills training.

Through the program, the Ontario government and its rural partners are building stronger communities that work better for the people who live in them. Since 2003, investments in infrastructure, postsecondary education, research and innovation and key economic sectors have strengthened Ontario's economic advantage and continue to build opportunity.

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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416-326-6439

Brent Ross
Communications Branch
416-326-9342

www.ontarioconserves.gov.on.ca

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