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Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry press release

Northern Economy Continues To Grow - McGuinty Government Connecting Communities And Supporting Training

June 14, 2011

Ontario is helping to build a stronger, more sustainable and diverse northern economy by supporting new infrastructure and training in Northern Ontario.

These new improvements include:

• Bringing cellular services to remote northern communities to connect them with cell service and broadband
• Providing new skills training for Aboriginal people and Northern Ontarians to build a skilled workforce in sectors such as mining, energy, forestry, tourism and agriculture
• Extending natural gas services to Red Lake, Balmertown and Cochenour to support the growth of the local mining industry, provide energy alternatives to residents and create jobs
• Establishing an industrial park at the Kapuskasing airport to support existing businesses and help attract new economic development opportunities.

Over the next week, the northern community and business leaders are meeting to develop the next phase of the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. The focus is to attract people and investment to the North by supporting training, education and employment opportunities in order to compete internationally.

Planning and investing in future economic strategies in Northern Ontario communities is a key component of the plan laid out in Ontario’s 2011 Budget – Turning the Corner, to create and support 10,000 new and existing jobs for Ontario families and to strengthen local economies.

QUOTES

“With the Growth Plan as our blueprint, we are working with northerners to build a more innovative economy, strengthen northern communities and provide northerners with a vibrant place to live, work and raise families.”
- Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry

QUICK FACTS

• ThinkNorth II will bring together about 500 northerners to work alongside international experts to share ideas and discover best practices in regional economic planning.
• The first ThinkNorth II session will be in Thunder Bay on June 13-14, 2011 and the second session will be in Sudbury on June 15-16, 2011. Many are also participating through videoconference sites across the North.
• Spanning more than 800,000 square kilometres, Northern Ontario covers an area that is larger than most Canadian provinces. The region includes 144 municipalities, 106 First Nations, several Métis communities and more than 150 unincorporated communities.

LEARN MORE

Read more about regional economic development planning in the Growth Plan for Northern Ontario, 2011 and on the ThinkNorth II website.

Joanne Ghiz, Minister’s Office, 416-327-0655
Lisa Zanetti, Growth Plan Secretariat, 705-564-7016 
ontario.ca/north-news

BACKGROUNDER

Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry
Supporting Training And Infrastructure Projects In Northern Ontario

The Province continues to support infrastructure and training in Northern Ontario to help build a stronger, more sustainable and diverse northern economy. These investments include:

NOHFC – Emerging Technology Program:

• Support for Keewaytinook Okimakanak K-Net Services to purchase and construct local cellular infrastructure and services in 10 remote First Nation communities ($4.7 million).
• Support for NetCentral Community Communications Network ($11.9 million) to install:
o Six cell towers along Highway 64 near Nipissing, Bonfield, Monetville, Shawn and Highway 654/543 ($2.9 million)
o Four cell towers near Spanish, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Highway 108 and Highway 639 ($1.9 million)
o Seven cell towers along Highway 11 (Temagami area) and Highway 63 ($3.4 million)
o Seven cell towers on Manitoulin Island via Highways 542 and 551 and along Highway 6 ($3.4 million).

Northern Training Partnership Fund:

Announced in the 2010 Budget, the Northern Training Partnership Fund is a three-year initiative to support jobs skills development for Aboriginal people in the North and Northern Ontarians. It will also help provide Northern Ontario employers with a skilled work force. Through this fund, the Province is supporting:

• Anishinabek Employment and Training Services infrastructure project to support a skilled workforce in the mining and energy sectors in the Marathon area ($224,996)
• Anishinabek Employment and Training Services project to support a skilled workforce in the tourism, forestry, environment, mining and energy sectors in the Thunder Bay area ($4.7 million)
• Anishinabek Employment and Training Services project to support a skilled workforce in the mining sector in the Gull Bay area ($449,992)
• Kitchenuhmaykoosib First Nation project to support a skilled workforce in the agriculture sector in the KI First Nation community ($150,000)
• Keewaytinook Okimakanak infrastructure project to support a skilled workforce in the environment, mining and tourism sectors in the Kenora area ($600,000)
• Métis Nation of Ontario project to support a trained workforce in the energy sector in the Timmins area ($749,258)
• Iskatewizaagegan No. 39 Independent Nations project to support a skilled workforce in the mining and forestry sectors in the Shoal Lake area ($566,098)
• Bimose Tribal Council project to support a skilled workforce in the environment sector in the Kenora area ($540,000)
• Dumas Contracting Limited project to support a skilled workforce in the mining sector in the Timmins-James Bay area ($879,820).

Community Investment:

• Infrastructure improvements to extend natural gas service to Red Lake, Balmertown and Cochenour, which will create more than 100 jobs and help residents and businesses lower energy costs ($4.9 million).
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) – Infrastructure and Community Development Program:
• Support for the Town of Kapuskasing to establish an industrial airside/groundside park at the Kapuskasing airport to support expansion of two businesses, create two new jobs and provide sustainable employment for Northern Ontario residents ($997,625).

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