Rural Economic Development (RED) Program
News Release

For Immediate Release August 27, 2007

McGuinty Government Promotes Health, Sports and Culture

Sports Complex Is First Phase Of Hockey Academy In Eastern Ontario

VARS - The McGuinty government is building a sports complex in the community of Embrun, as part of a larger project to develop a Canadian International Academy of Hockey, Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, announced today on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The sports complex will allow the community to promote health, sports and culture with better access to new facilities," said Lalonde. "Once the Hockey Academy is completed, it will boost the tourism industry for eastern Ontario and bolster the local economy."

The province will contribute $620,000 to help the Canadian International Academy of Hockey and its partners, the Township of Russell, United Counties of Prescott and Russell and Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation, create a sports complex in the community of Embrun. Phase one includes building a single ice-pad sports facility as well as two dormitories. Once completed, the Academy will be a multi-disciplinary campus that will include education, health, promotion, culture, sports and youth involvement.

"We are pleased with the support of the provincial government," said Robert Bourdeau, president of Canadian International Academy of Hockey. "A new arena will help revitalize our community with many economic spin-off results such as new jobs, increased investments and tourism."

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

• 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 almost $1 million through the RED program for the Journey to Your Good Health project, an educational exhibit that will teach the public - particularly our children - about the important link between agriculture and health
• Providing an additional $70 million for the Rural Infrastructure Investment Initiative. This means a total of $140 million will be available for improvements to water systems, roads, bridge and other priorities.

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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