Our government wants to ensure that rural Ontarians have the opportunity to succeed.

I am pleased that the Ontario government's plan for strong rural communities is getting results. Our plan puts people first. We know the best jobs go to places that invest in their people. Through programs and rural partnerships we are investing in health care, education, infrastructure and economic development.

The release of the 2007 edition of Ontario's Rural Plan - Strong Rural Communities: Working Together for Success … And Getting Results - profiles initiatives from across rural and Northern Ontario.

Initiatives include:
• In 2006, the government's Good Places to Learn initiative put $85 million into building projects at rural schools. At the same time, funding was increased by $1,800 per pupil for rural school boards.

• Rural jobs got a big boost from leveraged investments with Toyota, Ferrero Canada, Honda and Linamar. More than 6,000 new jobs will come with expansion at these four companies.

• Eighty-eight communities started work on rural infrastructure worth $341 million in 2006 through the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

• Forty-four Family Health Teams were approved in rural communities in 2006 to expand care. At the same time, the government supported local health initiatives such as building community clinics.

Ontario’s farming and food processing sector is significant to the Ontario economy. With sales over $30 billion and 700,000 jobs, it’s the second largest, goods-producing sector. The Ontario government supports this important sector with investments in food safety, market development, skills training and farm income stabilization.

As part of Ontario's Rural Plan, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowsky recently announced the continuation of the Rural Summer Jobs Service Program. As many as 4,000 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 will gain work experience and skills through this program in rural Ontario.

Application forms are being mailed out to all 2006 participants. The forms will also be posted on the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website in the coming days. Please visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca for more information.

Other Ontario government initiatives that support families in rural Ontario include:

• Investing more than $28.2 million in rural communities through the Rural Economic Development Program. Since October 2003, 94 projects have been approved that will stimulate $158.7 million in new economic activity.

• Recognizing the unique needs of rural schools with $260 million in additional funding.

• Investing $520 million over 12 years in the Ontario Ethanol Growth Fund to expand ethanol production in Ontario.

Ontario's Rural Plan Update 2007 is available at ontario.ca/rural or by calling 1-888-588-4111.