The provincial government remains committed to the Ring of Fire.

So says Premier Kathleen Wynne, who was in North Bay on Thursday.

“We have set aside a billion dollars to invest in infrastructure that will allow us to open up the communities that surround the Ring Of Fire and allow companies to have access,” she says.

She also disputed claims the government has reduced funding at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines by $70-million.

“That is not happening, the fact is that we’re actually putting $30-million more into the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines,” she added.

Wynne made the remarks at One Kids Place where she discussed the new government program, OHIP-plus, which will offer free prescription medication to those 24 and younger as of January 1st of next year.

In terms of healthcare, she says the government is increasing every hospital budget by at least two percent.

“For North Bay, in particular, there’s an $30-million injection of cash because they’re undergoing some restructuring,” she says.

When asked about about helping municipalities manage costs, the Premier says they have tripled their municipal infrastructure funding.

Wynne also says she supports Ontario Northland.

“Make sure that the shop here can continue to function, because I think there is lots of opportunity there, that we have the bus traffic and that where it makes sense that there is rail,” she says.

The Premier also met with municipal leaders at the FONOM Conference in North Bay.

 

Filed under: Kathleen Wynne, One Kids Place