Rural Economic Development (RED) Program

For Immediate Release
March 15, 2007

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN COLLINGWOOD
Business Attraction Study Will Improve Local Economy

COLLINGWOOD — The McGuinty government is supporting community revitalization in
Collingwood by investing in a plan to promote business and economic growth, Lou Rinaldi,
MPP for Northumberland, announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

“This project will help Collingwood to develop a strong, economically-viable community,” said
Rinaldi. “This business attraction report will help identify opportunities and actions to promote
business and economic growth in the Collingwood area.”

The province will contribute $25,000 to help the Town of Collingwood and the Collingwood
Chamber of Commerce survey local businesses and develop a business attraction study.

“This project will assist Collingwood in developing the tools necessary to identify the area’s
main business sectors – manufacturing, knowledge based, retail/commercial, medical, tourism
and developer/construction, and their immediate concerns relating to retention and expansion
needs,” said Catherine Durrent, economic development officer for the Corporation of the Town
of Collingwood. “Thanks to the support of the provincial government, our business survey will
help facilitate the development of an improved local business climate and help promote an
integrated approach to economic development.”

Other government initiatives to strengthen rural and smaller communities across Ontario include:

• Investing $2.7 million for the Rural Summer Jobs Service Program (2006-07), which helps
  rural businesses provide summer employment to more than 3,600 rural youth
• Investing $67.5 million over five years for source protection planning to help protect
  drinking water. Initially $7 million will be provided to help Ontario farmers and small rural
  businesses take action to reduce threats to local drinking water sources
• Investing in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program.
  Since October 2003, 94 projects have been approved with a total provincial commitment of
  over $28 million.

Today’s investment was made through the Rural Economic Development 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 program, the Ontario government and its rural partners are building stronger
communities that work better for the people who live in them. Since 2003, investments in
infrastructure, postsecondary education, research and innovation and key economic sectors have
strengthened Ontario's economic advantage and continue to build opportunity.

– 30 –

| Top of Page |

For more information:
Toll Free: 1-888-588-4111
Fax:1-519-826-4336
Email: red.omafra@ontario.ca