Northern Ontario law school proposed

NEWS RELEASES

CHRISTINE ELLIOT

PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF ONTARIO

************************* Elliot returns to Northern Ontario for leadership debate

Highlights policies for Ontario’s North on third trip to region SUDBURY, ON – Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Christine Elliott returned to Ontario’s North today, her third visit since the race to lead the Ontario PC Party began.

She will be participating in the second of four official PC Party debates tonight in Sudbury. “I’m excited to be in Sudbury today. Sudbury is a great example of Northern Ontario’s enormous economic potential,” said Elliott. “The North has the people, the talent, and the resources to be an economic powerhouse – but it has been hampered by government regulation.”

“Christine Elliott has demonstrated an openness to the issues that affect Northwestern Ontarians the most. She’s listening and I appreciate that,” said Kenora MP Greg Rickford, one of a dozen federal MPs who are supporting Elliott. “It's clear to me that Christine can win in 2011.” In late April, Elliott proposed several detailed policies for Northern Ontario while at a campaign stop in Thunder Bay, including: - Establish a law school in Northern Ontario. The young people of Northern Ontario deserve as much access to a quality education as those in southern Ontario. A government led by Christine Elliott will listen to the people of Northern Ontario who have long advocated for a post-secondary institution specializing in legal studies. - Ensure access to affordable broadband. Equal access to high speed Internet is a foundation of future economic growth in Northern Ontario. It puts Ontarians in Northern and rural communities on an even footing. Broadband removes the obstacle of distance from business, access to knowledge, government services and improves healthcare delivery through easier and faster consultation. It is the infrastructure of the 21st century and must be accessible to all Ontarians, wherever they may live. - Support communities through post-secondary education. To build a knowledge-based economy in Northern communities, Ontario will establish centres of excellence in transforming resource based industries into high value-added, green technology job generators. - Improve access to justice. Too many rural and Northern Ontarians do not have timely and affordable access to legal information and services. Ontario should support the Law Foundation of Ontario’s proposal to use existing videoconferencing systems that are in place for health services to provide legal service. We should explore solutions such as incentives for law students willing to practise in under-serviced areas. “Dalton McGuinty has been no friend of the North,” charged Elliott. “My plan for the Ontario’s North comes with detailed policies, not vague promises. Any government that I lead would never forget that the best people to guide the government on policies for Northern Ontario are people from Northern Ontario.”

************************* Ontario PC Party brings leadership race to the North as membership in the region builds

SUDBURY, ON - Ontario PC Party leadership candidates shared their visions and ideas with Party members in the North today at a debate in Sudbury.

All four leadership hopefuls were in attendance to participate in the second of four debates the party has scheduled prior to the election of a new leader at the end of June.

“I am pleased that members of this region had the opportunity to attend this debate tonight and listen to the great ideas that all four candidates have for our Party and province,” said Party President Ken Zeise.

The party has signed up thousands of new members in Northern Ontario.

These memberships are among the over 40,000 that are now eligible to vote for the next leader.

“We are pleased with all the enthusiasm coming from the North during our leadership race,” added Zeise. “This growing enthusiasm and participation will help us continue to rebuild and prepare for victory in 2011.”

The leadership hopefuls will square off next in Markham on Thursday, June 4 and at a final debate in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 10.

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