THUNDER BAY, Ontario, November 16, 2007 — The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, announced today the creation of a FedNor Ministerial Advisory Board to provide advice to the Minister on strategic priorities for economic development in Northern Ontario.

Specifically, the Board will draw on the expertise of its members and advise the Minister on economic challenges and opportunities as they relate to economic development in Northern Ontario. The Board members will serve on a voluntary basis and receive no remuneration other than for expenses. The list of Board members see below

"This Board will enhance the excellent work that FedNor has been doing in promoting economic development in Northern Ontario,” said Minister Clement. "By including representation from a variety of sectors and communities across the North, this Board will help me to support the Government's priority of providing effective economic leadership for a prosperous future."

The Board's advice will be of a broad strategic nature. It will not be involved in the assessment or approval of contributions to individual projects. Prospective applicants will continue to deal, as they do now, with FedNor's network of program officers across Northern Ontario.

“The people we have selected for the Board are representative of Northern Ontario and they will bring to the table their specific knowledge about the communities and businesses FedNor serves,” added Minister Clement.

Today’s announcement supports FedNor’s strategic approach of helping Northern communities transition to a knowledge-based economy. Through its programs and services, FedNor is opening doors and building futures for a prosperous Northern Ontario.

 

The Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, speaks to media at a news conference at Confederation College's Aviation Centre of Excellence in Thunder Bay today to announce the creation of an Advisory Board for FedNor. (Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Joe Comuzzi also attended).

 

To find out more about FedNor, visit us at: http://fednor.ic.gc.ca.

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Marc Dubé (Sault Ste. Marie)
Business Manager

• Respected business, community and forest sector leader
  • Business Manager, St. Mary’s Paper
  • Sault College’s nominee for the 2003 Premier’s Awards for outstanding contributions to the economic and social vitality of the province

Don Cloutier (Parry Sound)
Businessperson

• Northern business entrepreneur; economic development experience
  • Owner/Operator, Canadian Tire Parry Sound
  • Chairman of the Georgian Bay Canadian Tire Dealer Association
  • Experience with the economic development team for Parry Sound, as well as the Business Retention and Expansion team

Brian Dykstra (East Ferris Township)
Real Estate/Tourism Specialist

• Respected and well-known Northern Ontario fishing, hunting, tourism specialist
  • Specialized tourism realty practice
  • Former owner/operator of several successful businesses
  • Previous board experience (Ontario Fish & Wildlife Advisory Board)

Lise Poratto-Mason (Sudbury)
Lawyer

• Bilingual legal expert with extensive public and private sector experience
  • Barrister & Solicitor/Partner, Mason, Poratto-Mason Vrbanac
  • Former City Solicitor (Sudbury), General Council (Sudbury Hospital)
  • Director, Chamber of Commerce

Don Paterson (Thunder Bay)
Business Executive

• Community leader with business, board and management experience
  • Chairman of the Board for Paterson GlobalFoods Inc., TBayTel, and The Paterson Foundation
  • Extensive community service involving health care, education, and recreational organizations

Gino Scichilone (Cochrane)
Forestry Manager

• Experienced forestry sector specialist
  • Fibre Control Superintendent, Ontario-East Woodlands, Abitibi Bowater
  • 18 years management experience in various sectors of the forest industry
  • Extensive community involvement

Doug Smith (Thunder Bay)
Businessperson

• Business leader with extensive board involvement and management experience
  • President of Smith and Associates Insurance
  • Past Chair of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of Ambassadors Northwest

Ron Swain (Bruce Mines)
Police Officer

• Community/Aboriginal/Métis leader
  • Thessalon OPP Officer
  • Founding President, former Chair, Métis Nation of Ontario
  • Past President, Ontario Métis and Aboriginal Association

Betty Anne Thib-Jelly (Temiskaming Shores)
Community Volunteer

• Municipal leader, teacher, volunteer
  • Former Mayor of Englehart; on council for 18 years
  • Chair, Boreal East Round Table, ‘Lands for Life’ provincial parks environmental initiative