Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release

For Immediate Release August 28, 2007

McGuinty Government Supports Skills Training for Manufacturers

Consortium To Promote Investment And Job Creation In Eastern Ontario

ALEXANDRIA - The McGuinty government is increasing the competitiveness of eastern Ontario by investing in a project that will create a manufacturing network for woodworking, Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"This will be the first network to help advance the woodworking sector in Ontario," said Lalonde. "This project will help coordinate employee training and resource exchange among a pool of manufacturers, meaning better competitiveness in global markets for all."

The province will contribute $1,500,000 to help Moulure Alexandria Moulding Inc. and its partners, Boiseries Can-Air Woodworks Inc. and Groupe Convex, create the network which will focus on skills training, increase export efforts and attract new investments to the area.

"We are pleased with the support of the provincial government," said Jacques Cholette, president of Moulure Alexandria Moulding Inc.. "This project brings together manufacturers in a way that combines their strength and experience to create a hub of expertise in the woodworking sector."

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

• Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools by increasing funding by $2,329 per student as of 2007-08
• Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
• Launching Employment Ontario, a new integrated training and employment system that will ensure people in rural areas have better access to skills training and labour market services tailored to the needs of rural communities. Employment Ontario provides seamless coordinated training, apprenticeship and labour market services, bringing together almost 1200 service providers in all regions of the province.

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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