For Immediate Release
June 8, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT PROMOTES TOURISM IN COBALT

Community Revitalization Project Will Help Attract Visitors

COBALT - The McGuinty government is investing in a tourism destination initiative that will strengthen the local economy, David Ramsay, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane announced today, on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The McGuinty government understands the importance of attracting tourism in rural northern communities," said Ramsay. "With the support of residents, local businesses and community groups, the town has the opportunity to attract outside investment and promote itself to the rest of the province."

The province will contribute $500,000 to help the Town of Cobalt and its partner, the Historic Cobalt Corporation, implement the "Strengthening the Tourism Core for Historic Cobalt" strategy, which will promote community revitalization, economic growth and local tourism.

"Thanks to the support of the provincial government, this important initiative can now begin," said Andre Belanger, mayor of the Town of Cobalt. "This project will allow our town to promote itself as a world-class mining heritage tourism destination, enhance community employment and attract new businesses."

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

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) 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 RED Program, the province has invested $31.2 million in 108 projects, representing a total of investment of $187.6 million in rural Ontario, since 2003. The Ontario government and its partners are building strong rural communities that work better for the people who live in them.

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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