KO team participates in regional education, health and research planning events
The week of November 3-7, 2008 had Keewaytinook Okimakanak team members participating in different planning and development events across the region ...
Ontario gov't press release
Experts Share Ideas to Boost Northern Growth Plan - McGuinty Government Helps Foster Northern Prosperity
November 07, 2008
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
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Anne-Marie Flanagan, MNDM Minister’s Office, 416-327-0655 Amy Tang, MEI Minister’s Office, 416-327-6747
Backgrounder
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From CKPR.com
Researchers, First Nations discuss potential partnerships
From looking at populations, entire communities, molecules and genes, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine conducts research all across Northern Ontario. Now the medical school wants to partner with area First Nations for new research opportunities.
A three-day conference at the Da Vinci Centre concluded Thursday, which discussed how to best conduct medical research in remote communities.
Founding NOSM dean Roger Strasser said the conference brought researchers and people from First Nation communities and organizations together to help develop new research initiatives and partnerships.
More than a hundred people participated in the sessions to learn about research being conducted and to give input on how research should be conducted in First Nation communities.
'One of the important things I keep hearing is to build that relationship with the First Nation communities,' said Matawa First Nation health director Francine Pellerin. 'It’s really important to have community involvement, community engagement.'
NOSM Aboriginal Research Coordinator John Gagnon said the conference is a significant one, and that it allows the people to get to know one another and develop new opportunities.