• Introduction
• Jobs and Prosperity
• Better Health
• Success for Students
• Conclusion
  

Introduction

The Ontario government's Rural Plan reflects the aspirations of rural Ontarians. The goal of the plan is to ensure rural Ontarians have the opportunity to succeed.

That's why the Ontario government is investing in our economy, education and health care. For Ontario to be at its best, we need every Ontarian to be at their best.

Every Ontarian has a stake in developing a strong economy, promoting better health and enabling success for students. These are shared aspirations. They contribute to strong communities. They cross rural and city boundaries.

The solutions, however, often need to be tailored to local circumstances. That's why the Ontario government has a specific plan --- The Rural Plan --- to build prosperous opportunities for rural Ontario --- because rural Ontario is important.

Through a combination of province-wide programs, regional initiatives and community projects, rural Ontario has accomplishments to be proud of. This annual report - The Rural Plan Update '07 -- is a summary of what was done in 2006.

Ontario is competing in a global economy. We know that the best jobs go to the places that invest in their people. That's why Ontario took major steps to help students achieve better results at school and make more places available at colleges, universities and in apprenticeship programs.

Investing in people also means investing in health. In 2006, we supported innovative, community-based efforts to attract more health-care professionals to train, live and work in rural Ontario. We expanded our medical schools to train more Ontarians for careers in medicine and we initiated strategies that will help us certify more foreign-trained doctors.

We know that jobs and prosperity are essential to attracting people to rural Ontario and building healthy communities. We also know that our rural economy can be invigorated through diversification and innovation.

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.

Ontario also expanded its manufacturing base in rural Ontario. Toyota and Linamar, for example, announced total investments of more than $1.1 billion to build automotive facilities, which will create 5,000 new jobs in rural areas. The Ontario government is a financial partner in these and other plans for rural economic diversification.

The foundation of rural prosperity is the infrastructure that supports communities and businesses. The Ontario government's five-year plan is investing $3.3 billion in rural roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.

Since 2004, under the five-year $900-million COMRIF program, the governments of Canada and Ontario have been working together with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and local partners to enhance and renew Ontario's public infrastructure. Our provincial commitment through COMRIF is not only to improve the quality of the environment and protect the health and safety of citizens, but also to ensure that the projects support long-term economic growth and build prosperous, sustainable rural communities.

We've also made a commitment to safer communities and taken steps to ensure this outcome is available to all Ontarians.

The Rural Plan sets out specific goals. It's a comprehensive vision for rural Ontario that sees communities that are strong, healthy and prosperous. It identifies strategies to reach our goals and it supports the principle that rural development is a partnership that brings people, government, business and educators together.

Throughout this update, the strength of teamwork and co-operation is evident. Municipal governments are partners in this progress. Rural communities are working hard and working togetherwith us to create opportunities and fulfill aspirations. We have made progress and we will continue to do so together.

Quick Rural Plan Links

• Jobs and Prosperity
• Better Health
• Success for Students
• Conclusion

 

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