Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release

For Immediate Release August 27, 2007

McGuinty Government Invests in Eastern Ontario

Aquatic Amusement Park Will Create Jobs For Community

CASSELMAN - The McGuinty government is supporting economic development, job creation and tourism in eastern Ontario by investing in what will be North America's largest aquatic amusement park, Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell announced today, on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"This funding is helping bring new jobs to this community," said Lalonde. "The creation of this park will significantly boost the local economy and will attract thousands of new visitors to the region."

The province will contribute $2 million to the Municipality of The Nation and Village Vacances Valcartier (VVV) to build the water park in Limoges. The more than 450 acre park is scheduled to open in 2010 with numerous attractions and camping facilities. It is expected to create more than 500 jobs during the first five years of operation.

"We are pleased with the support of the Ontario government for this initiative," said Guy Drouin, president of VVV. "With this support, the vision of making this community a major tourist destination is on its way to becoming a reality."

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

• Providing $472 million in 2007 to rural municipalities through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund
• Investing $10 million to help expand broadband coverage to the most ready rural and remote communities in southern Ontario
• Provided $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 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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For more information:
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Fax:1-519-826-4336
Email: red.omafra@ontario.ca