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 News Release

For Immediate Release
June 14, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS BUSINESS CLIMATE
IN SOUTHEASTERN ONTARIO

Community-based Project to Encourage Growth and Stability of Local Businesses

INGLESIDE - The McGuinty government is supporting prosperity in southeastern Ontario by investing in a community-based project that will encourage growth and stability of local businesses in the townships of South Stormont and South Dundas, Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-Charlottenburgh announced today, on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The McGuinty government is proud to be a partner in this project that will have many benefits for these two townships," said Mr. Brownell. "This project will revitalize these communities and improve the competitiveness of local businesses by surveying and evaluating their needs and concerns."

The province will contribute $16,600 to help the Township of South Stormont and the Township of South Dundas, survey business plazas in the Iroquois, Morrisburg, Ingleside and Long Sault communities, as well as businesses in the retail and service sector. The information collected will help the townships develop action plans to address local economic development needs.

"We are pleased with the support of the provincial government," said Bryan McGillis, mayor of the Township of South Stormont. "This project will improve business and community competitiveness, attract new businesses, enhance business partnerships and strengthen strategic alliances."

"This project will promote an integrated approach to economic development and enhance communication between the two townships and our business community," said Charles Barkley, mayor of the Township of South Dundas. "Together we will strengthen the identity of southeastern Ontario as an ideal place for businesses to locate."

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

  • Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools by increasing funding by $2,329 per student as of 2007-08.
  • Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.
  • Launching Employment Ontario, a new integrated training and employment system that will ensure people in rural areas have better access to skills training and labour market services tailored to the needs of rural communities. Employment Ontario provides seamless coordinated training, apprenticeship and labour market services, bringing together almost 1200 service providers in all regions of the province.

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

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