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For Immediate Release
August 29, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN FISH HATCHERY
BOOSTS EASTERN ONTARIO TOURISM

Improved Fish Hatchery Will Promote Sustainable Trout Populations

BANCROFT - The McGuinty government is investing in a fish hatchery to rejuvenate lakes and to help support local business in eastern Ontario, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced today.

"We are pleased to invest in this very important project that will not only enhance the health of our lake trout populations, but also support the sport fishing and tourism industries in the North Hastings region," said Dombrowsky. "The fishery will bring renewed opportunities for hatchery research, education and events to increase public awareness, while retaining and attracting businesses to the area."

The province will contribute $150,000 to help the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery and its partner, the Community Futures Development Corporation of North and Central Hastings and South Algonquin, with the project. A total of 62 lake trout lakes and populations will be assessed in the area and a fish hatchery will be developed to grow trout species that can live in local lakes.

"The commitment that the Ontario government has made to this project will help us move forward with the rehabilitation of trout lakes in our community," said Dennis Le Feuvre, president of the North Hastings Community Fish Hatchery. "This project will also allow us to begin the economic recovery of the businesses that support the angling community."

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

  • Recognizing innovation in the province's agriculture sector by creating the five-year, $2.5-million Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. In 2007, 55 awards totaling $425,000 are being presented at events across the province
  • Enhancing educational experience of rural students by providing specialized programming utilizing community and local resources, a new farming and rural major within the Specialist High Skills Major, and new rural and agricultural related cooperative education courses
  • Providing $400 million as part of the $1.2 Billion Move Ontario initiative for municipal road and bridge maintenance and construction projects; included in this funding is $188 million for rural municipalities and $56 million for municipalities in northern Ontario.

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 $45.1million in 139 projects, representing a total investment of $477.4 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

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