Ottawa focused on regional innovation and development

As detailed in the recent Trudeau budget FedNor is getting a major funding boost.

At Discovery North Bay this morning, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains announced $25-million in additional funding for FedNor.

He says the government understands the importance of regional economic development agencies and the role they play in creating jobs and improving growth.

He says Fednor is a great example of that because the government is committed to Northern Ontario and that is why they’ve made this commitment.

The money will be used to support communities, businesses and First Nations.

Bains also announced a strategy for prosperity and growth in the north, seizing on new opportunities in clean technology and developing new businesses.

He also says the innovation must support local needs and challenges.

Bains says working together with northerners will help the government increase jobs and grow the economy.

North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce president Peter Chirico says he likes the ministers collaborative approach to finding solutions for the north.

He says that attitude from a senior level of government is essential.

He says the north is on the cusp of a lot of great things.

He says he is a supporter of the Ring of Fire.

North Bay Mayor Al McDonald says the north has a declining birth rate so they need to attract people from Southern Ontario to fill the jobs here and to create jobs for the people who are already here.