Northern Look at Provinical Budget

The 96-billion-dollar Ontario budget includes more than 508-million
dollars over 4-years in northern investments.
There is 302-million dollars for northern highways and tax cuts for
area businesses
Northern Ontario residents will also benefit from 13-million dollars in
increased travel grants to help them access health-care services.
the government also plans to speed up a cut in the business education
tax rate in the north.
The province will also help establish two centres in Thunder Bay,
allocating millions for a bio-economy research centre and a molecular
research centre.
This year’s budget gives the new Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs a
budget of nearly 56-million dollars in fiscal 2008.
That’s a 21-million dollar boost over 2007 when the portfolio was
lumped in with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The new stand-alone ministry will help guide more than 600-million
dollars in social, health, justice and job training programs across the
province.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says his government is committed
to expanding economic development opportunities and improving the
quality of life for aboriginals in the province.