For Immediate Release
April 13, 2005

Sterling introduces a bill to promote investment in Eastern Ontario’s small towns and cities

Queen’s Park, Toronto – Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling today introduced a private members’ bill that is intended to promote economic development in smaller towns and cities in Eastern Ontario. 

“I have seen many Eastern Ontario communities, ranging from small villages to small cities, suffer as industry, jobs and eventually people move away,” said Sterling. “I hope that if this legislation is passed it can help make these communities more competitive and ensure that they continue to thrive.”

If passed the Bill would create an Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation, similar to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund which invests in communities within Northern Ontario.  The Corporation would consider such factors as average annual income, municipal tax base and population growth in determining where to invest. 

“Eastern Ontario has proven that we are a disadvantaged region,” said Susan Freeman, Warden of Lanark County.  “We need this legislation to help us address our needs and build self sustaining communities.” 

“The Ontario government has long recognized the special needs of Northern Ontario but Eastern Ontario’s needs have gone unnoticed,” said Bob Runciman, MPP for Leeds-Grenville. “I am glad to see Mr. Sterling bring forward a Bill that recognizes the unique challenges facing Eastern Ontario.”

“I know that many of the communities in my riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke would very much appreciate being able to apply for funding from a fund dedicated to Eastern Ontario,” said John Yakabuski, MPP.  “I will be supporting this Bill on behalf of my constituents.”

“Many communities in my riding could benefit from the type of investment that an Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund would bring,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Victoria-Haliburton-Brock. “I am pleased to lend my support to this Bill.”

For the purposes of this legislation Eastern Ontario will include the cities of Kawartha Lakes and Prince Edward County, the counties of Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland, Hastings, Renfrew, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, Leeds & Grenville, Lanark, Prescott & Russell and Stormont Dundas and Glengarry including all cities within that area save the city of Ottawa.  According to the 2001 census the median incomes in these areas are on average almost 15% lower than the median income in Ontario.     

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For more information, please call Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Sterling at: (416) 314-7900

BACKGROUNDER 

Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act

The purpose of the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Act is to create a corporation which would invest in the communities of Eastern Ontario in an effort to promote economic development in the region.

The Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund would be modeled on the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.  Over the past year The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund has invested in a wide variety of projects such as water treatment plants in various communities including Rainy River, Fort Frances, Balmertown, Cochenour, Madsen, Red Lake and Espanola, broadband infrastructure in Pickle Lake and other communities in the North, restoring the Temagami Train Station, developing a game preserve in Chapleau, and the industrial park economic diversification plan for Kirkland Lake.

The Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund Corporation established by this Act if passed would have a board of directors of at least 12 individuals.  The Board would be chaired by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with the remaining members appointed by Lieutenant Governor.  With the exception of the Minister, the members of the Board must be residents of Eastern Ontario as defined by the Act.

Like the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund would be able to invest in public sector and private sector projects.  The board of directors would be asked to consider the average income in the municipality and how it compares to the provincial average, the local tax base and local population growth in an effort to ensure that the funding goes to the communities with the greatest need.

For the purposes of this Bill Eastern Ontario includes all of Ontario east of the Region of Durham excluding the City of Ottawa.  More specifically it will include:

-         the City of Kawartha Lakes

-         County of Peterborough

-         County of Haliburton

-         County of Northumberland

-         County of Hastings

-         The City of Prince Edward County

-         County of Renfrew

-         County of Lennox and Addington

-         County of Frontenac

-         United Counties of Leeds & Grenville

-         County of Lanark

-         United Counties of Prescott & Russell

-         United Counties of Stormont Dundas and Glengarry

and includes all cities within that area that have a population of less than 200,000.