THUNDER BAY, ON - February 4, 2009 - The “Think North Summit” opened with a reception on Monday evening, but it got serious business all day Tuesday. A full house of 370 people attended the conference in person, while even more watched by live video streaming through out Northern Ontario.

Representatives from local and provincial government were much in evidence, as were aboriginal leaders, business leaders, educators, forestry and mining representatives all came to hear an international panel of experts on developing regional economies. Noticeable absent were representatives from the federal government.

In his opening comments, Michael Gravelle noted that ideas developed from this conference will be distilled into a draft plan on how to make our region succeed globally. “Yesterday’s best practice could be to-day’s recipe for disaster” said minister Gravelle. “Our plan must be about us, as we move to become stronger, greener, and successful,” concluded minister Gravelle. George Smitherman said “People are a crucial source of optimism”, he went on to highlight some of the success stories that have already happened in our area. He referred to specifically to the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, which will train hundreds of doctors to serve in the north. Our new regional hospital has made it possible for routine angioplasty procedures to be done locally. Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro worked hard to make this happen. Smitherman went on to point out another of Mauro’s pet causes. The Atikokan Bio-mass Centre of Excellence is conducting studies that may lead to Ontario’s coal fired power plants being converted to bio-mass. This development has important implications for Ontario as it seeks to replace the power that would have been lost had these plants been “Knocked down”. The town of Atikokan will have a new lease on life should the power plant continue to operate. Should this development continue someone will have to make a lot of wood-pellets?

Thunder Bay Mayor Lynn Peterson worked hard as Master of Ceremonies. Introducing each of the panel guests and keeping the whole Summit moving along smoothly. Over the next week a summary of some of these presentations will be presented on LakeSuperiorNews.com, each of the presenters offered expertise that in someway could be reflected in our plans for a new economic future. They are all excellent presentations by some of the best experts available.
When economic change occurs it can happen rapidly and with little warning. Some elements of this initiative began in 2007 with a Key North Committee chaired by Minister Gravelle. When it is completed there should be a plan that will give investors confidence to invest in the North. Many households in the North have not come to grips that their economic situation may be changed for ever. At the same time other northerners will be included in future prosperity for the first time.

This summit shows that government has recognized the challenges facing the northern economy, and it is making a sincere effort to revitalize positive growth for this area. Strangely, it may be Northern Ontario that leads the province to a strong economic future.

Bert Rowson for
LakeSuperiorNews.com