For Immediate Release
July 4, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT HELPS STRENGTHEN ECONOMY IN LAKE COUNTRY REGION

Revitalizing The Community And Developing A Sustainable Economy

BRECHIN - The McGuinty government is investing in a study that will help strengthen the economy in Lake Country region, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced today.

"This project is a road map for revitalizing the economies of communities in this area," said Dombrowsky. "It will strengthen the local economy by providing a better understanding of the community's needs and how to address them."

The province will contribute $20,000 to help the Township of Ramara and its partner, Rama Mnjikaning First Nation, conduct surveys, interviews and focus groups about local economic activity. The information gathered will be used for economic development planning in the region.

"We are pleased that the provincial government has chosen to support this initiative," said Bill Duffy, mayor of the Township of Ramara. "Our partnership with Rama Mnjikaning First Nation is the foundation for a more efficient way to use local resources and expertise in strategic planning for sustainable economic development."

"This project will give our community a better understanding of what is occurring economically in the area," said Sharon Stinson Henry, chief of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation. "It will be a springboard for making sound plans for the future of our region."

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