North bulks up on Orazoonie diet

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINES

************************* Northerners seeing real results from Northern Prosperity Plan

Progress report demonstrates positive impacts of plan on North and minerals sector

SUDBURY – Record investments in highway expansion and rehabilitation projects and safer drinking water for 63 northern communities are just two of the results highlighted in a progress report on the Ontario government’s Northern Prosperity Plan released today by Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.

"When our government unveiled the Northern Prosperity Plan three years ago, we said we were providing better economic tools to help northerners build stronger communities," said Bartolucci. "Today I am pleased to report that northerners have seized the opportunities offered under the plan's programs, with gratifying results."

The progress report was released at a pan-northern videoconference broadcast from Cambrian College's eDome in Sudbury.

The videoconference connected groups of community, business and education leaders in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sioux Lookout, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins.

The progress report details results of McGuinty government programs and initiatives to support northern economic development and the province's minerals sector.

It also profiles individuals and businesses that are achieving success with help from provincial programs and initiatives, including a group of biomedical research companies in Thunder Bay that are at the forefront of cutting edge research, development and innovation in the health and life sciences sector.

"Biomedical research is the next big economic driver," said Dr. Ryan Parr, vice-president of research and development at Genesis Genomics, a potential tenant of Thunder Bay's new Cancer and Cardiac Research Centre to which the Ontario government has provided more than $2 million. "We're on the boundary of a revolution, which means tremendous economic development potential for the North."

"Despite the long-standing challenges of our cyclical economy, today we celebrate northerners' efforts to build a prosperous North," said Bartolucci. "I am proud that our government's Northern Prosperity Plan has been an important catalyst for a range of community and economic development initiatives upon which the future of Ontario's North and its minerals sector are being built."

The Northern Prosperity Plan is founded on four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

The report is available online at www.ontario.ca/northernprosperity and in print at ministry offices and Government Information Centres/ServiceOntario centres throughout the North.

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