News Release

McGuinty Government Committed to Enhancing Opportunities for Youth in the North

June 06, 2006

Government Launches Dialogue On Young People

THUNDER BAY – The Ontario government is seeking input from northerners on how to create opportunities that would encourage young persons to build their futures in Northern Ontario, Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced today.

“We’re on the side of northerners – including those who want their sons and daughters to find opportunity in Northern Ontario,” said Bartolucci. “That’s why we are working to create northern communities that are tremendous places for young people to live, to work, and to build lives.”

Bartolucci announced the dialogue on youth strategies at the first joint meeting of the Ontario government’s four Northern Development Councils (NDCs) in Thunder Bay on June 6.  The NDCs, with the assistance of northern youth, will provide a range of ways for northerners to contribute their thoughts and suggestions on creating opportunities for youth in Northern Ontario.  On Wednesday, June 14, a discussion paper and survey will be posted on the NDC website (www.ndc.gov.on.ca) for northern input.

The out-migration of youth and young adults is a serious concern to northern communities, who regard the outflow as a threat to their viability and a detriment to the vibrancy of community life. They are looking for ways to retain young northerners, attract newcomers and encourage expatriates to return to live in Northern Ontario.

Bartolucci also took the opportunity to introduce the new Far North Northern Development Council, whose members are drawn from the remote region’s First Nations communities, the municipalities of Moosonee and Pickle Lake, and the private sector.

“Over the past year, members of our three existing councils – representing the five major cities, the northwest and the northeast – have provided excellent advice on several priority issues,” he said. “We now welcome our newest members from Ontario’s Far North, and I look forward to their input on Far North issues.”

This is just one way the McGuinty government is promoting northern prosperity by enhancing opportunities for young northerners. Others include:

• Providing work experience for northern youth through an internship and co-op placement program

• Investing in northern schools, including $15.4 million to keep good schools open and $6.6 million to repair and improve schools

• Creating 75,000 more opportunities in postsecondary education for qualified students throughout the province.

The northern-focused dialogue will help the government build on the many initiatives it has introduced, and will be introducing, as part of its broad commitment to Ontario’s youth.

Ontario’s NDCs 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
MNDM-Northern Development Councils Unit
(705)564-7016

www.ndc.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder

Northern Development Councils

The McGuinty government has established four Northern Development Councils (NDCs) to advise the Minister of Northern Development and Mines by providing input on issues and initiatives affecting Northern Ontario. They provide a direct link between the Minister and northern communities, generally focusing on pan-northern matters that can lead to a range of recommendations for rural, urban and Aboriginal communities.

Membership of NDCs representing the Northwest, Northeast and Major Cities (cities of Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay) was announced in February 2005. The fourth council – representing the province’s Far North region – was established in Spring 2006.

(A list of members, map of council boundaries and other information is available on the Northern Development Council website at www.ndc.gov.on.ca.)

NDC members reflect a broad cross-section of northerners, including community and business leaders, members of Aboriginal communities, Francophone and youth groups, and individuals with experience in education, health, economic development, resource sectors, emerging sectors and municipal and community organizations. The members serve as individuals rather than as delegates of particular organizations or geographic areas.

In 2005-06, the NDCs assisted the government on several issues of importance to Northern Ontario, including Ontario’s Mineral Development Strategy, the GO North Investor Program and the Northern Ontario Grow Bonds Pilot initiative.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci has asked the NDCs to help stem the outflow of youth from the North by providing recommendations on how best to attract and retain young people.

NDC members worked with northern youth to review existing research from across Northern Ontario and other jurisdictions. From this, they developed a series of proposed objectives and strategies that will provide a framework for the discussions. The NDCs are seeking input from northerners on the proposed strategies, through an online survey (to be posted Wednesday, June 14), written submissions, and discussions with stakeholders and community groups. More information is available on the NDC website (www.ndc.gov.on.ca) and at ministry offices throughout the North.

The NDCs are expected to report back to the Minister by Fall 2006.

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