January 19, 2007

SMITH FALLS, Ontario, January 19, 2007 – Leeds–Grenville MP, Gord Brown, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, is pleased to announce that Canada’s New Government is investing $67,000 in the Rideau Heritage Route.  This funding is provided through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP).  Announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in August 2006, the EODP is a $10M initiative that will help Eastern Ontario communities thrive.

“The Rideau Heritage Route is a tremendous asset for our region, and this project will help promote it as a premier tourist destination,” said Mr. Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville.  “Canada’s New Government is working to improve tourism in our region and is getting things done for Canadian families and taxpayers.”

The Rideau Heritage Route connects numerous small towns, villages and scenic countryside, following the beautiful and historic Rideau Canal system.  The funding will support the development of maps to identify the natural and cultural assets of the Rideau Heritage Route.  It will also provide for the production of a multi-dimensional brochure to promote the area.

The EOCFDC Network is leading the initiative on behalf of the 15 Eastern Ontario CFDCs.  The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association (RHRTA), a non-profit organization with a mandate to celebrate and capitalize fully on the region’s cultural tourism assets.

“We are proud to partner with the Government of Canada and the Rideau Heritage Route Tourism Association on this important tourism project,” said Brian Todd, Chair of the EOCFDC Network.  “The Rideau Heritage Route offers countless opportunities to stimulate economic development throughout the region which we intend to capitalize on.”

The Eastern Ontario Development Program is being managed by FedNor, the Government’s economic development organization responsible for the Community Futures Program in rural Ontario.

To find out more about Ontario CFDCs, visit http://cfdc-ontario.ic.gc.ca.  To learn more about the Eastern Ontario Development Program, visit FedNor’s Web site at:  http://fednor.ic.gc.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Erik Waddell
Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
613-957-0200

Robert Naud
Senior Communications Officer, FedNor
613-954-3691 or 1-877-333-6673