Budget includes $15 million for invasive species centre

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************* McGuinty government's 2008 budget strengthens Ontario and creates opportunity in Sault Ste. Marie

Orazietti announces $15 million for new invasive species centre and $1.4 million additional for ARCH

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – The McGuinty government’s 2008 budget focuses on strengthening Ontario’s economy while continuing to increase investments in health care, education and infrastructure David Orazietti, MPP announced today.

“With funding for a new invasive species centre, local health care initiatives and support for our community’s businesses, this budget is great news for Sault Ste. Marie,” said Orazietti. “In our government’s first budget in this new term we are continuing to address the issues that matter most to our community by increasing support for families, health care, education infrastructure and numerous other areas.”

Investments from 2008 budget that specifically benefit Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario:

- $15 million over four years to build a new invasive species centre while expanding the research and innovation capacity in the community. - $6.5 million in savings for local businesses over three years through accelerating the plan for reducing business education taxes four years earlier than planned. - $1.4 million in additional capital funding for Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH) to enhance local end-of-life care and ease pressure on Sault Area Hospital - bringing the total capital investment to $2,725,000 $853,000 for infrastructure funding to rehabilitate social housing units - recently announced.

- Sault Ste. Marie will benefit from a share of $400 million to build and repair municipal roads and bridges - local funding to be announced this week.

- $302 million over the next four years for new investments in northern highways. - Increasing funding to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation from $60 million to $100 million in 2011-12 - $10 million this year, $53 million over three years to add 50 more family health teams by 2011-12, targeting underserviced communities. - $27 million over three years for a distance grant to assist students from rural and remote areas with travel costs to attend college or university. - $13 million in 2008-09 for enhancements to the Northern Health Travel Grant,

“We are enhancing local business competitiveness while making major investments in skills training and innovation to strengthen Ontario’s position in the new global economy,” said Orazietti. “Our government is helping to make sure Ontarians have good jobs while continuing to support families in Sault Ste. Marie.”

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