Our Progress

The Rural Economic Development (RED) Program helps rural communities remove barriers to community development and economic growth. RED's priorities are revitalized communities, improved access to health-care services and improved access to skills development and enhancement opportunities.

Assabaska Shoreline Settlement This settlement agreement calls for the mainland portion of the Lake of the Woods Provincial Park to become a reserve held jointly by the Big Grassy River First Nation and the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation. The First Nations agree to continue to offer park services to the public for so long as it is economically viable. In addition to the land to be provided under the settlement, the First Nations will receive $1,565,000 from the province. This settlement will help the First Nations become economically strong, independent and self-reliant and contribute to a positive and stable climate for investment.

Delhi Innovation Team Community volunteers and Norfolk County staff worked with provincial staff to develop the Delhi Innovation Team project. The Innovation Team identified actions for local economic development opportunities in Delhi's downtown core. The community and the County are ready to implement the team's recommendations, which include actions such as brownfield redevelopment and developing tourism opportunities.

An Innovation Team is a group of up to five people with expertise in addressing economic development issues identified by a community. The team focuses on facilitating solutions that address the community's barriers to sustainable growth.

First Impressions Community Exchange - SEAFORTH AND PETROLIA In February 2005, the towns of Seaforth and Petrolia were the first communities to pilot the First Impressions Community Exchange Program, which helps communities better understand the first impression they make to visitors, including tourists, potential investors and new residents. When Petrolia presented its report to Seaforth, the municipal council approved funds to support some of the recommendations in the report. A total of 22 communities have been involved in 11 community exchanges. "Many retailers in a small town like Seaforth don't get much opportunity to see other towns and how retailers offer their services to other towns. And when we had feedback from Petrolia, a town very much like this, with the same kind of retailing, it was positive feedback and businesses felt better for their offerings and how they presented themselves." Ralph Laviolette, Economic Development Officer, Huron East

Strong Local Leadership

Ontario's Rural Plan recognizes the importance of fostering strong local leadership, of making sure the capacity to engage in successful economic development exists in rural communities.

That's why we will not only provide the right tools, but also help the people in rural Ontario use those tools by building on their skills.

Goal

The capacity to develop vibrant local economies through strong leadership.

Strategies

• Provide tools and resources to build local community and economic development capacity
• Provide employment opportunities and leadership development to youth in rural areas
• Build the capacity of the voluntary sector
• Provide support to municipal staff and enhance the fiscal capacity of municipalities.

Our Progress

• Helped more than 4,000 eligible students in southern and eastern Ontario gain valuable work experience and enhance their work skills through the Rural Summer Jobs Service Program. By investing more than $2.8 million in 2005, we helped students aged 15 to 24 to find jobs in rural Ontario.

• In Northern Ontario, the Summer Jobs Service Program assists more than 4,000 students annually to gain valuable work experience with over 1,600 employers.

• Provided over 2,000 opportunities for youth aged 15 to 24, new postsecondary graduates and professionals through the Youth Employment Program, which offers a unique combination of work, learning and skills development focusing on resource management.

• Launched the Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op program to help young northerners make the transition from school to work. In addition, the Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program provides young entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop business skills while assisting them to start their own enterprises in the North.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) works with northern entrepreneurs, companies and business organizations while continuing to support vital infrastructure and community development projects that enhance quality of life and stimulate economic activity.

• Refocused the NOHFC with six new programs to provide new opportunities to youth, young entrepreneurs, business owners, communities, public-private partnerships and others across the North. These programs include Enterprises North Job Creation Program, Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program, Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op Program, Infrastructure and Community Development Program, Assistance Supporting Emerging Technology Projects in Northern Ontario, and the Small Business Energy Conservation Program.

• Provided opportunities for students to participate through cooperative education placements in apprenticeship trades while completing an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

BR+E The Township of Gravenhurst and Muskoka Community Futures Development Corporation received $15,220 through the RED Program to implement a BR+E project which will enhance working relationships between the town and local businesses, identify ways to support local businesses, establish a strategic action plan for economic development and create skills training opportunities for youth.

The Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) program is an internationally recognized community economic development tool that works to improve the local business climate by evaluating and addressing the needs and concerns of local businesses, thereby saving jobs and creating new ones.

• Launched a web-based BR+E resource customized for rural communities. More than 50 communities have signed up for this web-based application since June 2005.

• Boosted science awareness among Ontario's young people, through the Youth Science and Technology Outreach program, a $3-million, three-year investment. One of the program's main objectives is to engage youth, with an emphasis on young people in rural, remote and underserviced communities.

• Committed to provide $2.1 million over three years to 4-H Ontario to enable the organization to continue its important work in developing the skills of rural youth.

• Introduced new Youth Partnerships grants to facilitate the development of an enterprising culture amongst Ontario's youth by providing them with educational and entrepreneurial opportunities and programs. Programs will have an emphasis on reaching youth who are under-served, outside the mainstream educational system and living in rural and remote communities across Ontario.

• Provided hands-on business training and mentoring – together with awards of up to $3,000 – to help students start up and run their own summer businesses through the Summer Company program. In 2005, approximately 170 student businesses – 60 per cent of the Summer Companies – were created in rural Ontario.

• Hosted "Beyond the City Lights" rural tourism conferences in seven rural locations across the province. The workshops focused on topics such as Partnering for Success, Marketing Your Business, Shoulder Season Diversification and Customer Service. More than 750 delegates attended the sessions in March and April, 2005.

• Supported rural Ontario municipalities with an estimated $41 million in payments for local infrastructure and services through Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation revenues.

The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) is the province's main transfer payment to municipalities. The OMPF will provide $707 million in 2006. This grant assists municipalities with their share of social program costs; includes equalization measures for areas with limited property assessment; addresses challenges faced by northern and rural communities; and responds to rural policing costs.

• Provided $249 million to rural and northern municipalities through the Northern and Rural Communities Grant of OMPF. An additional $58 million will help rural communities better support policing costs.

 

 

A Skilled Workforce

A skilled labour force is an essential component of all competitive and strong economies. It is key to the growth and expansion of local businesses, and ultimately, the success of the local economy.

Rural communities that can offer a range of employment opportunities that include well-paying, highly-skilled jobs not only encourage people - especially young people - to remain in rural Ontario but also attract new residents and new investments.

Goal

Skilled workers able to take advantage of diverse employment opportunities.

Strategy

• Invest in skills development.

Our Progress

• Created a new $95- million Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit to encourage Ontario businesses to hire and train apprentices in skilled trades. Small businesses with payrolls under $400,000 are entitled to an enhanced tax credit rate of 30 per cent and there's a 25 per cent credit rate for larger corporations. Ontario is also on target to increase new registrants for apprenticeships by 7,000 annually, reaching a total of 26,000 by 2007-08.

Grand Erie Apprenticeship Information Sessions The government held Employer Apprenticeship Information sessions in three communities (Simcoe, Brantford and Cayuga) in partnership with regional partners such as the Grand Erie Training and Adjustment Board, Community Futures Development Corporations, manufacturing associations, the local school board and provincial ministries. Eighty people attended the sessions to develop a regional awareness and marketing strategy to enable businesses and communities to attract and retain the human resources they need for sustained development.

• Invested $3.8 million to create 216 internships and work placements, to provide on-the-job-training for northern youth, through the NOHFC's Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op Program.

• Invested $20 million through the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund, to update apprenticeship training facilities and equipment at 24 colleges of applied arts and technology. Another $6.2 million will assist more than 600 experienced workers to develop their skills through the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, and be eligible to become apprentices.

• Signed the Superior Forest Agreement, forming a partnership with the Missanabie Cree First Nation and Tembec to help build a better future for Aboriginal young people. This will provide mentoring opportunities for members of the Missanabie Cree First Nation to gain training on forest management planning, regulatory requirements and forest technology.

Workforce Development in Quinte Through the RED program, the government partnered with the Quinte Economic Development Commission, the Trenval Business Development Corporation and the Quinte Manufacturer's Association of the Quinte Industrial Corporation to address a lack of skilled labour. The project will improve the ability of local businesses to compete by increasing student awareness of careers in technical and skilled trades, providing internship opportunities and offering customized training. The government invested over $1 million.

• Invested almost $6 million in nine skills training projects through the Rural Economic Development Program since fall 2004.

Modernized Infrastructure

Well-maintained infrastructure is critical to every element of our lives.

Clean drinking water and the effective management of water and wastewater systems are essential to public health in all communities across Ontario.

Sound roads and bridges provide important regional links and are vital not only for our safety, but also for economic development and growth.

Cultural, recreational and tourism facilities can boost local economies, create jobs, increase community safety, enhance education, engage youth and add to the quality of life in our communities.

Because this government values public health and safety, a high quality of life and economic prosperity, we're working with our partners to upgrade this province's infrastructure.

Goal

Up-to-date and well-maintained infrastructure.

Strategies

• Improve water quality and upgrade sewage treatment and waste management infrastructure
• Improve local roads and bridges
• Improve northern highways
• Provide municipalities with innovative financing tools to help fund infrastructure projects
• Repair and improve arts, culture, sports and recreation infrastructure
• Improve access to affordable housing.

Our Progress

• Announced investments of approximately $125 million in 120 rural communities to enhance and renew Ontario's public infrastructure, following the first intake of applications under COMRIF. Through COMRIF, 35 water and wastewater projects were approved in 30 municipalities and 177 road and bridge projects were approved in 87 municipalities.

The governments of Canada and Ontario are each investing up to $298 million over five years to improve public infrastructure in small urban and rural municipalities throughout the province. With municipal contributions, the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) is expected to stimulate up to $900 million in infrastructure investments.

Improving Infrastructure in the Township of Clearview The governments of Ontario and Canada each invested up to $81,250 under COMRIF in a municipal water infrastructure upgrade project in the communities of Avening, Brentwood, Dunedin, Singhampton and Sunnidale. The work includes water treatment upgrades in the community halls and fire halls. The Township of Clearview will contribute the balance of the total eligible project cost of up to $243,750. "We are eager to proceed with these vital improvements to our water system to ensure a safe and healthy community for our residents." Fran Sainsbury, Mayor, Township of Clearview

• Invested $54.7 million through the OTF in operating and project grants to communities of 20,000 people or less. The grants will strengthen the capacity of the voluntary sector, through investments in community-based initiatives. $29.3 million went to support initiatives in the arts and culture sector and human and social services sector. The grants were awarded in recognition that the voluntary sector plays a critical role in building healthy and vibrant communities.

ReNew Ontario is a strategic five-year infrastructure investment plan. The government and its partners will invest more than $30 billion in public infrastructure in Ontario to support health care, education and economic prosperity.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) supports the building of healthy and vibrant communities through community-based initiatives that strengthen the capacity of organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services, and sports and recreation sectors.

Tyrconnell Heritage Society The organization was awarded $37,400 through the OTF to assist in the interior restoration of an important heritage site located in Wallacetown. Due to the success of the restoration, the organization has provided employment for three students for the last three years, and is planning to hire a curator who will assist the Society in achieving provincial museum standards. In 2005, they attracted 2,285 visitors, provided an education day for 800 elementary students and produced a War of 1812 Reenactment that drew 400 people

• Supported the acquisition of broadband telecommunications for public internet access at 150 rural Ontario public library locations, including 14 First Nation public libraries. Ninety-nine per cent of Ontario's 1,114 public libraries and First Nation public libraries now provide public internet access services.

• Invested $3.9 million in the construction of the new accommodations at the Greenstone Forest Fire Management Headquarters and $2.4 million in a new state-of-the-art fire management facility in Chapleau, to make northern communities safer and stronger. The projects are part of ReNew Ontario.

Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre at Ridgetown College The government invested a total of $3.5 million, through ReNew Ontario, toward the completion of the state-of-the-art Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre at Ridgetown College. This complements the efforts of the Ridgetown College Agri-Food Foundation, which raised half of the total funding needed for the project. When complete, the centre will include classrooms, a lecture theatre, and office and administration space to accommodate the college's increasing enrolment, while newly created community space will be used to host local events.

• Introduced the Northern Ontario Highways Strategy, a $1.8-billion, five-year plan that will increase infrastructure investment in the North by almost 40 per cent. Of the funds, more than $1 billion will be invested in repair and upkeep of nearly 200 bridges and more than 2,000 kilometres of highway. The remaining funds will be used to expand northern highways, adding 54 new bridges and 62 kilometres of new roadway.

• Introduced the new Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program, which makes up to $6 million a year available to assist municipalities and farmers with the costs of drain construction, improvement and maintenance.

• Contributed $3.5 million to the winter roads program to assist Far North First Nations build temporary roads over frozen lakes, rivers and ground, connecting 31 communities that are accessible only by air or water in other seasons.

• Provided affordable infrastructure financing to 36 municipalities through the second round of the Infrastructure Renewal Loan Program, available through OSIFA. To date, OSIFA has committed to provide more than $1.24 billion in financing to more than 150 of Ontario's rural municipalities for more than 580 local infrastructure projects.

The Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority (OSIFA) offers low-cost and longer-term financing to assist Ontario municipalities, universities and other broader public sector partners to finance priorities such as clean water, sewage and waste management infrastructure, roads and bridges, public transit, social housing, long-term care homes and culture, tourism and recreation projects.

Improving Infrastructure in Lanark Highlands In Lanark Highlands, more than three quarters of the 512 kilometres of roads in the township are gravel. Paving was made possible through OSIFA. The Township borrowed $1.94 million, at a rate about one per cent lower than the bank's best rate. Based on the difference in the cost of maintaining paved and gravel roads, it is estimated that the paved roads will pay for themselves in 10 years. "We were always getting complaints about the gravel roads and their condition. Those complaints have dropped off significantly as a result of this project. That rate makes a big difference in a municipality like ours when this much money is involved. It helped to get the work done while keeping costs as low as we possibly could." Robert Bunker, Treasurer, Township of Lanark Highlands

• Announced 289 affordable housing units in rural areas through the Affordable Housing Program's Community Rental Program.

• Allocated $30 million of the $602-million Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program for repairs, renovation or construction of homes and affordable rental units in Northern Ontario

Link to Rural Plan Update Table of Contents

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