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News Release

Experts Share Ideas To Boost Northern Growth Plan

November 07, 2008

McGuinty Government Helps Foster Northern Prosperity

NEWS

Ontario is holding a series of roundtable technical discussions across the North to explore key areas of potential future growth.

Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines, and George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, kicked off the first sessions today in Thunder Bay, which focused on health issues in Northern Ontario.

These roundtables are the next step toward the development of a Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. In all, 10 technical sessions will bring industry, academic, Aboriginal and government leaders together to discuss growth issues in greater depth.

The outcomes of each discussion will contribute to the development of a draft Growth Plan, which is expected to be released next spring for public review. A final Growth Plan for Northern Ontario is anticipated later in 2009.

QUOTES

“We are making solid progress toward the development of a Growth Plan that will create a more innovative and competitive economy across Northern Ontario,” said Minister Gravelle.

“The Growth Plan will bring a coordinated focus and align the right resources to build on the North’s tremendous strengths and talents for a sustainable economy, a clean environment and a vibrant quality of life for northern families,” said Minister Smitherman.

QUICK FACTS

Health care is a key economic factor in the North. The region’s 38 hospitals, 329 long-term care facilities and agencies, and two regional cancer centres contribute hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs to local communities.
An innovative telemedicine initiative, the Ontario Telehealth Network links 70 sites in 50 communities across the North.

LEARN MORE

Read the discussion paper, Towards a Growth Plan for Northern Ontario
Learn how the government is planning for the future through its Places to Grow initiative

Anne-Marie Flanagan, MNDM Minister’s Office, 416-327-0655
Amy Tang, MEI Minister’s Office, 416-327-6747

ontario.ca/north-news

Backgrounder

A Growth Plan For Northern Ontario

The Growth Plan for Northern Ontario is a long-term strategic plan that will chart a new economic direction for the North. It will set out a framework of policies and investment strategies for building on the North’s strengths, creating a more innovative and competitive economy, supporting a skilled workforce and providing a coordinated approach at all levels. This will help ensure that investments, planning and economic development will encourage and support sustainable growth of northern communities and First Nations in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The initiative is co-led by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. It is backed by the province’s Places to Grow legislation and supported at Queen’s Park by a special committee of 16 Cabinet ministers.

After releasing a discussion paper in May 2008, the Growth Plan initiative held a series of regional discussions to gain input on themes outlined in the paper.

This fall, northern leaders will join business, industry, research and academic experts to explore key policy directions for the Growth Plan in greater depth. These one-day technical sessions will be held across the North.

Date	Topic	Location
November 7, 2008	Health	Thunder Bay
November 26, 2008	Transportation	Sault Ste. Marie
November 27, 2008	Alternative Energy	Sault Ste. Marie
December 10, 2008	Mining	Sudbury
December 11, 2008	Education and Training	Sudbury
January 7, 2009	Value-added Forestry	Thunder Bay
January 8, 2009	Bio-economy	Thunder Bay
January 21, 2009	Agriculture	North Bay
January 22, 2009	Tourism	North Bay
January 28, 2009	Aboriginal Economic Development	Timmins

Early in 2009, Thunder Bay will play host to a major think tank featuring national and international experts who will share their experiences with northern participants. A draft Growth Plan for Northern Ontario will be released later in 2009 for public review.