Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release

For Immediate Release

June 28, 2005

Ontario Supports Access to Health Care Services in Seaforth

Invests In Skills for Health Care Attraction And Retention Pilot Project

Seaforth - The Ontario government is improving access to health care services in rural Ontario by investing in a Skills for Health Care Attraction and Retention pilot project in the Town of Seaforth and surrounding areas, Carol Mitchell, MPP, Huron-Bruce announced today on behalf of John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

"The McGuinty government is committed to meeting the top priorities for rural Ontario -- strong people and strong economies, better health, and success for students," said Mitchell. "This announcement supports Ontario's rural plan to help rural communities like Seaforth to achieve these priorities for their residents."

The Ontario government will contribute $317,750 to the Huron East/Seaforth Community Development Trust and its partner, Huron Business Development Corporation. The project will develop local capacity for effectively recruiting health care professionals to rural Ontario and expose local youth interested in health care-related careers to a full range of health care employment opportunities.

"We are very grateful to participate in this project," said Joe Steffler, chairman, Huron East/Seaforth Community Development Trust. "Working with the government to provide health care training and education opportunities is a win-win situation for health care services and economic growth in the area."

"Health care recruitment is no longer just a hospital issue; it's a community issue," said Paul Nichol, economic development manager for the Huron Business Development Corporation. "It now takes a whole community to recruit professionals in the health care sector. If we don't have a strong health care system, we don't have a strong economy."

Today's investment was made through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program, which invests in projects that support sustainable rural economies and community partnerships, and is a key part of Ontario's Rural Plan. The rural plan provides a coordinated framework across government to build on rural Ontario's strengths -- committed people, diverse economic opportunities, unrivalled resources and a solid sense of community.

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