For Immediate Release
August 9, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT IMPROVES EMERGENCY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES

New Centre To Enhance Training In Ontario

THUNDER BAY- The McGuinty government is investing in a new training facility that will enhance the delivery of emergency support services in the province, and strengthen the economy in the north, Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North, and Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan announced today, on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The province is contributing $500,000 for the project to the Thunder Bay and Region Protective and Emergency Services Training Corporation and its partner, the Thunder Bay District Fish and Game Association Incorporated.

"I am very pleased that we are contributing further funds to this innovative facility which will provide training for fire, police and other essential emergency and protective service providers," said Gravelle. "Significantly, its location right here in Thunder Bay means that, when completed, it will provide world-class training facilities for emergency personnel closer to the communities they serve."

"A multi-purpose training facility in Northwestern Ontario will support the local economy by attracting personnel and students from all over Ontario," said Mauro. "This builds on our previous contribution of $1.7 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to provide this project with significant start up capital that will ultimately create 10 jobs in Thunder Bay."

"Thanks to the support of the provincial government, we can begin building our state-of-the-art training facility," said Rick Peotto, president of Thunder Bay and Region Protective and Emergency Services Training Corporation. "This facility will help to set a benchmark for providing important training opportunities for workers from a variety of emergency service sectors."

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 $33.1 million in 119 projects, representing a total investment of $204.9 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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Contact:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
416-326-6439