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'Blueprint for action' for north released

The province has released a 61-page report which contains a proposed growth plan for northern Ontario.
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Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman speaking at the launch of the proposed growth plan for northern Ontario Oct. 23. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

The province has released a 61-page report which contains a proposed growth plan for northern Ontario.

The proposed growth plan “creates a blueprint for action” to allow for “economic transformation” of the region over the next 25 years, according to Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure George Smitherman.

The plan, an initiative of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, was developed in consultation with northerners over a three-year period.

Another round of public consultations will be held in 10 communities in the north between Nov. 9 and Dec. 3, and the plan will be finalized early in 2010.

“It's a 25-year plan. When you're talking about something that's long-term like that, it's crucial to be able to have worked at it, and have so many people invest in it, to make it sustainable,” said Smitherman, who attended the launch of the report Oct. 23 at the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology building on Maley Drive

The growth plan “establishes a strategic framework and sets out policies and actions for how the Ontario government will engage, support and work with northern communities, businesses, aboriginal communities and public sector partners over the next 25 years,” the report states.

Among the key initiatives in the growth plan are benefitting more from mineral exploration and production, strengthening partnerships among colleges and universities, increasing aboriginal participation in economic initiatives, developing better inter-regional transportation and enhanced broadband service, creating regional economic zones and encouraging development and use of green technologies.

Smitherman said the fact that the province will end this year with a $24.7 billion deficit will not affect the chances of the plan being implemented. The deficit is a short-term situation which is being caused by global economic factors, he said.

Smitherman said money is already being spent to bring the proposals into reality.

“Already, we've got the infrastructure piece well in place. We've got a substantial investment coming in terms of the renewable energy and the electricity transmission investments,” he said.

“There's already concrete investments in place to give life to this plan that are about billions of dollars of investments in northern Ontario. Of course, there are many more things that have to be enunciated.”

Smitherman said the fact that the north now has a clear plan for the next 25 years means that it won't be so vulnerable to the whims of whatever political party happens to be in power in the province.

Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle, who also attended the press conference, said the plan ties in nicely with newly-passed revisions to the province's mining act.

“The fact is that we are positioned - with the modernization of the mining act having passed third reading - to bring more opportunities to people in the mining sector. It ties in very nicely with the development of the growth plan.”

Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez said he “had some skepticism” when the development of the plan was first announced three years ago about "whether we could do this thing."

“I know, dealing with governments in the past, whenever they said 'Well, we're going to do a plan,' it was always to get you through the next two or three elections,” he said.

“Well I've got to tell you that I'm pleasantly, pleasantly delighted to know we've done this in three years. We've got a blueprint. And now we're going to go out and get input to make this blueprint even better.”

Opposition members are criticizing the plan.

Kenora-Rainy River NDP MPP Howard Hampton, who serves as his party's economic development critic, said in a press release that the plan does nothing to bring back forestry jobs which have been lost over the last few years as a result of “disastrous hydro and trade policies.”

“Previous McGuinty government announcements had done little to stem job losses in the forestry sector. Less than half – 48 per cent – of the money through the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund and related loan guarantees has found its way to protecting and creating jobs. Today’s announcement is yet another charade to make it seem as if the government is actually doing something.”

Randy Hillier, the Progressive Conservative critic for Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and MP for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (located in eastern Ontario) said there is “no substance” in the plan.

“In order for anybody to be held to account, you have to set some expectations. That requires some tangible, concrete benchmarks. There's nothing like that in this plan whatsoever. There's no dollar figures, and there's no mention of one new road or rail-line, or one new anything.”

 

Give your input on the proposed growth plan:

  • Public meetings will be taking place in November and December.
    • The meeting schedule will be posed soon on www.placestogrow.ca.
  • Send your comments on the plan by Feb. 1, 2010 to
    • Proposed Growth Plan for Northern Ontario
    • Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry
    • 159 Cedar Street, Suite 601
    • Sudbury ON P3E 6A5
  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Phone:1-866-479-9781
  • Fax: 1-877-465-4411


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