Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release
For Immediate Release August 31, 2007
McGuinty Government Invests in Northern Ontario
New Nordic Centre Means Recreational, Tourism Boost
For Timmins
TIMMINS - The McGuinty government is investing in a new Nordic Centre in the
City of Timmins, David Ramsay, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane, announced
today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs.
"A new Nordic Centre will be an economic and recreational asset
for the City of Timmins," said Ramsay. "The complex will generate
tourism dollars and will be a centre for year-round recreational activities
for the whole community."
The province will contribute $95,857 to the Porcupine Ski Runners Inc.
and its partner, the City of Timmins, for the development of the Centre.
The facility will replace a deteriorating building and will be the new
home of the Porcupine Ski Runners Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Club.
It will also have facilities to hold regional, provincial and national
Nordic competitions and will host community recreational and sports groups.
"This funding is a major contribution toward the building of a Nordic
Centre," said Gerry McNair, chair of the Timmins Nordic Centre Project.
"The new facility will be enjoyed by school groups and community
organizations as well as the members of the Porcupine Ski Runners Cross
Country Ski and Snowshoe Club."
"I would like to thank the Ontario government for this investment
in our new Nordic Centre," said Tom Laughren, mayor of the City of
Timmins. "The residents of Timmins will experience the tourism, health
and recreational benefits that come with this new facility."
This is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have
achieved results in northern Ontario. Other examples include:
- Investing in northern health care - this year, a $15-million investment
will help reduce wait times in the northwest and northeast Local Health
Integration Networks, and expand and improve hospitals in North Bay,
Sault Ste. Marie, Sioux Lookout, Thunder Bay and Sudbury
- Investing $14 million in tourism marketing and in sports, culture
and tourism infrastructure initiatives in northern Ontario
- 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 $45.1 million 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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