Thinknorth summit.

• Author: Ontario, Northern
• Position: Ontario. Ministry of Northern Development and Mines - Conference news

Delegates at the THINKNORTH SUMMIT in Thunder Bay returned to their home communities with their heads swimming with ideas on how to build a stronger, greener, sustainable and more prosperous future for the North.

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The Feb. 2-3 event at the Valhalla Inn, co-hosted by Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle and Energy and Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman, was the premiere event of the provincial government's Growth Plan for Northern Ontario. "We have now reached our Think North Summit," said Gravelle in his introductory remarks, adding, "This event is a critical step that will help us bring together many elements of our draft Growth Plan." Ten technical tables and 13 regional dialogue sessions were previously held across the North, covering many socio-economic issues. Three more technical sessions are scheduled for March.

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The Think North Summit was also an opportunity for over 400 leaders from business, education, First Nations, health, research and government to mix and mingle, and share ideas in a large forum in formulating a 25-year economic blueprint for the region. The Summit was also provided via webcast to major northern cities and remote communities across the North.

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The entertaining and intellectually stimulating event featured Canadian and international speakers from the United States, Finland and Australia with presentations on how to succeed in the global economy by building a sustainable regional economy.

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Ministers Smitherman and Gravelle expressed gratitude to northerners for their enthusiasm, energy and passion in making a contribution to this planning process.

The government has promised the Growth Plan will be legislated into action under the province's Places to Grow Act. Based on northerners' input, a draft plan will be released this spring for public review. The final plan will be released later this year.

The Growth Plan for Northern Ontario will chart a new economic direction for the North. It will be an action-oriented blueprint for developing a more innovative economy. It will strengthen northern communities and First Nations, and it will provide northerners and our youth with an exciting, vibrant place to live, to work and to raise our families.

Gravelle, Smitherman and the keynote speakers cautioned against falling into the trap of copying the winning formula or best practices of a successful region...