News Release

Northerners Encouraged To Make Their Voices Heard

July 20, 2006

Dialogue On Youth Shows McGuinty Government On The Side Of Northerners
 
SUDBURY – The McGuinty government is asking northerners to submit their ideas on how to encourage young people to build their futures in the North.

“Youth represent the future of Northern Ontario,” said Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Northern Development and Mines.  “I urge all northerners to be creative, share their thoughts and ideas, and to comment on our proposed strategies for keeping our youth in the North.”

For the past several weeks, members of the Northern Development Councils (NDCs) have been talking to community groups and stakeholders across the North to gather their views on proposed strategies for attracting and retaining young people.  The strategies, developed with input from northern youth, focus on three key areas: engaging youth in their communities, improving education and training opportunities for young people and enhancing youth employment opportunities in Northern Ontario.

In addition to the community dialogues, the NDCs have also posted information and a survey on their website (www.ndc.gov.on.ca), which will be available until July 28. Members of the public can respond online or by printing out the survey and mailing it in. Information is also available at Ministry of Northern Development and Mines offices throughout the North. The NDCs expect to report their findings to the Minister later this year.

“One of our government’s priorities is to engage citizens, as broadly and effectively as possible, in the policies and programs that affect them,” Bartolucci said. “We see the judicious use of the Internet as an opportunity to overcome Northern Ontario’s vast distances and to connect with many northern communities.”

The NDCs are also gathering input by talking to key opinion leaders, accepting written submissions and attending stakeholder events. 

The Northern Dialogue on Youth is just one way the McGuinty government is supporting young people in the North. Others include:

•  Providing up to $25,000 through the Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program to  support business start-ups by young northerners;
•  Opening the first Northern Ontario School of Medicine to train doctors in the North;
•  Investing nearly $6 million in 350 internship and work placements that provide on-the-job  training and experience to youth in Northern Ontario.

The four NDCs (Northwest, Northeast, major cities and the province’s Far North) were developed by the McGuinty government to advise the Minister of Northern Development and Mines by providing input on northern matters. They are part of the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for building stronger northern communities. The Northern Prosperity Plan has four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

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Contacts:

Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454 

Lisa Zanetti, Manager 
NDC Unit – Sudbury
(705) 564-7016

www.ndc.gov.on.ca

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