Preparing Eastern Ontario for the Future
The Long-Term Report on the Economy identifies demographic, economic and employment trends in Ontario that will present future challenges and opportunities. In response, Ontario is building inclusive growth provincewide that will create prosperity for years to come by developing a highly skilled workforce, making health care more accessible, building modern infrastructure and supporting business innovation and growth.
Regional economic growth is affected by many factors, including natural resources, the mix of business and industry, and demographics. According to the report, by 2040 Eastern Ontario's population is projected to rise by 23.2 per cent to 2.22 million, with all major age groups projected to grow.
Ontario is committed to making long-term investments in services and infrastructure to address the challenges and improve the economic conditions of Eastern Ontario, while preparing for the jobs and economy of tomorrow. According to a forthcoming study by the Centre for Spatial Economics, every dollar invested in infrastructure results in an increase of nearly $6 in real GDP over the long-term.
Education and Skills Development
By supporting a highly educated labour force, Ontario is preparing for tomorrow's economic opportunities.
- Providing Ottawa students with more research and development opportunities by funding new interdisciplinary creativity incubators at La Cité Collégiale.
- Helping Indigenous students develop their job skills through the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program at Ottawa's Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology.
- Building Kemptville Public School to accommodate 400 students in North Grenville.
Transit and Transportation
By providing faster, more convenient transit service, Ontario is managing congestion and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Supporting the expansion of Ottawa's light rail transit system, including building approximately 30 kilometres of new rail and 19 new stations to reduce travel times and help connect people to more jobs.
- Replacing the Cataraqui River Bridge and widening Highway 401 outside of Kingston to six lanes from four, improving traffic flow and the daily commute for those in the region.
Health Care
By providing faster access to care and increasing capacity, Ontario is putting patients first.
- Building Kingston's Providence Care Hospital, a new 270-bed, state-of-the-art facility, consolidating local services and providing enhanced patient care.
- Expanding the University of Ottawa Heart Institute to help patients access high-quality, specialized cardiac services closer to home.
- Increasing the base funding of Ottawa-area hospitals by at least two per cent -- to expand access to complex clinical services -- including:
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
- Hôpital Montfort
- Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
- The Ottawa Hospital
- Redeveloping Quinte West's Crown Ridge Place, a long-term care home providing up to 59 residents with a secure and comfortable place to live.