MNDM video entices world to GO North.

Greater Sudbury -- Northern Ontario's ambassadors, official or otherwise, now have a new tool to show potential investors some of the best reasons to GO North.

On Feb. 7, Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci and Greater Sudbury Mayor Dave Courtemanche hosted a virtual who's who of Northern VIPs and economic development officials for the launch of Ontario's North, a three-minute promo video aimed at an international audience.

The up-beat video showcases the North's natural advantages in business and quality of life, and highlights this part of the province's sector strengths.

The video will be translated into several languages, mainly aimed at places that have been identified as best bets for Northern investment, Bartolucci told the crowd of about 50 in downtown Sudbury's Rainbow Cinemas before the video was played on the silver screen. It will be part of a larger marketing package.

Said countries include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, France, South Africa and Japan.

"I am glad to say that this video is rated PG for prosperity and growth," Bartolucci said to a wave of chuckles from the crowd. "Our advantages need to be seen to be believed. We need to get the message out that Northern Ontario is a tremendous place to live, work and play."

The video made the connection between the population of the region, roughly 800,000 all told, and its expansive area, about 800,000 square kilometres. It claims that Northern Ontario has one of the best-educated workforces anywhere, features a location close to the heart of North America with all the transportation advantages that come with that, and has all the advantages of any modern locale "minus the stress and congestion of big-city life."

The GO North initiative is a joint venture between MNDM, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade. It focuses on Northern mainstays such as mining and forestry as well as value-added wood products, alternative energy, "customer relationship management centres" and biotechnology.

According to a spokesperson for MNDM, the video has already attracted some attention. The ministry has received inquiries from a professor in North Bay who wants to show the video in his classes and to local businesses.

The video was released in front of an audience of government, education and business VIPs. They included the president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), Austin Hunt, Northeastern Ontario Chamber of Commerce president Steve Kidd, Greater Sudbury Development Corp. (GSDC) business development manager Helen Mulc, College Boreal trades dean Daniel Giroux and GSDC business development officer Paul Reid. Also there were Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) CEO Darryl Lake, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund co vice-chair Murray Scott, accountant, business owner, former Sudbury city councillor and finance chair Austin Davey, Cambrian College marketing director Linda Wilson and Laurentian University president Judith Woodsworth, among many others.

Kidd and Hunt each committed their organization's complete support for the GO North initiative. Courtemanche expressed a similar sentiment.

"I'm just amazed at the ability of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to spearhead a project, get two "other ministries involved and actually get it out the door," Kidd said. "The timing of this initiative is absolutely perfect."

Economic Development and Trade Minister Joseph Cordiano wasn't at the launch, but made similar comments in the MNDM press release.

"This is the first time in more than a decade we have seen such a focused effort from the provincial government to bring new investment and jobs to the North," he said. "We need to be able to tell the world that Northern Ontario is open for business, and this marketing tool will help us do that."

www.2ontario.com/north

www.mndm.gov.on.ca

www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

By CRAIG GILBERT

Northern Ontario Business