Canada’s New Government Announces Support To Benefit Rural And Northern Ontario Communities

CORNWALL, Ontario, June 26, 2006 — Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MP, Guy Lauzon, on behalf of the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for FedNor, today announced an investment of $674,728 in support of the Ontario Association of Community Futures Development Corporations (OACFDC). Mr. Lauzon made the announcement during the OACFDC annual conference held this week in Cornwall, Ontario.

“Small and medium-sized businesses are the economic lifeblood of our rural communities,” said Mr. Lauzon. “Through their business services and investment activities, CFDCs ensure the vitality of this important sector of our economy.”

“Canada’s new government is proud of its partnership with Ontario’s network of 61 CFDCs serving Northern and rural Ontario,” commented Minister Clement. “CFDCs play an important role in our efforts to foster economic development, create jobs, and build diverse and self-reliant communities.”

Funded by Industry Canada’s Community Futures Program through FedNor, Ontario CFDCs deliver a wide variety of programs and services to support community economic development and small business growth. CFDCs employ local staff and are each governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of local residents representative of the community.

The OACFDC is a not-for-profit membership organization that offers a variety of activities and services to help Ontario’s 61 CFDCs deliver their economic development mandate.

“This investment by the Government of Canada ensures that our organization can continue to support Ontario CFDCs in their efforts to build and strengthen the economy of rural and Northern communities,” said Elaine McGregor-Morris, Chair of the OACFDC.

To find out more about Ontario CFDCs, visit: http://cfdc-ontario.ic.gc.ca

- 30 -

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