PICKLE LAKE, ONTARIO – Residents of Pickle Lake and the surrounding area will benefit from federal and provincial infrastructure funding of over $3 million to construct a Community Multi-plex. This facility will amalgamate the Court House, Town Office, Community Hall and Library, announced today by Greg Rickford, MP-Kenora, and Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.
 
Greg is committed to working hard throughout the riding, but also certainly pays particular attention to smaller communities that have been hit hard by this economic recession.
 
“I’m pleased to see our government acknowledge this northern community with funding for such an important facility,” said Rickford. “Thanks to the strong relationship between our two governments, we are working together to help Northern Ontario communities and the economy thrive now and in the future.”
 
“This is great news for the residents of Pickle Lake.  Investments such as these are important for community growth and economic development,” said Gravelle.
 
“Greg promised at our NOMA meeting that he would work hard for Pickle Lake. We appreciate what he has done to help make this happen. Having lived here he knows firsthand the community and its needs. This is a great announcement, it puts Pickle Lake on the map,” said Mayor Mike Shewan.
 
This project includes constructing a modern energy efficient facility with full accessibility for the disabled. The new complex will amalgamate several existing sources of Municipal, Provincial and Federal services into one new facility. Total costs for this project are over $5 Million.
 
Pickle Lake serves as the central location for the Regional Court service encompassing the surrounding area and 22 First Nation Reserves north of Pickle Lake. A modern, secure facility is imperative to comply with the requests of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Court system. A publicly accessible, energy efficient building incorporating all the legally mandated retention and interview areas will ensure the long-term viability of Pickle Lake as the Court location for this region.
 
This project is one of nearly 1,200 across the province that will break ground thanks to $1.84 billion in joint federal and provincial funding under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
 
This past Monday Minister Michael Gravelle also shared good news for Pickle Lake and the north. He announced that Ontario is asking Hydro One to immediately proceed with planning and implementing major transmission projects across the province, including Northern Ontario; of special significance to this area is a core regional transmission line that will go between Nipigon and Pickle Lake.
 
In addition to bringing more renewable power online, these significant upgrades will strengthen the reliability of Ontario’s transmission system, increase energy trade across the province and beyond our borders and could one day lead to a national East-West grid.
 
See full news release at: http://www.michaelgravelle.ca/CentralNews.aspx?id=258
 
Map Transmission Plan Expansion
 
“I am pleased both personally and professionally to see funding for this new facility realized and the hydro upgrades that will be coming. These announcements combined put Pickle Lake on the map and on the move,” said a delighted Rickford.