Empire Club summit may help boost northern Ont. investment

Superior Morning7:13The Empire Club of Canada - Northern Ontario

Selling Northern Ontario to Canada's movers and shakers. Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield talks about the first "State of the North Summit" at the Empire Club of Canada.Today some of Canada's most influential businesspeople will get to hear about the economic challenges and opportunities of northern Ontario.

The Empire Speakers Club will host its first State of the North summit in Toronto.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield, who is the president of the Northern Ontario Municipal Association, is one of the panelists for the event.

He said it's an opportunity to encourage investment in northern infrastructure and development.

"I think this is a really good way of shaking up ... people in Toronto to make them understand that ... we're a very sustainable economy up here," he said.

"We know what we're talking about and we can be the answer to some of the financial woes that this province is in right now."

Canfield added the rest of the country is starting to recognize the value of this region's natural resources.

The reinvigoration of the forest industry and the mining boom are drawing attention to the potential, he noted, but investments in infrastructure are needed. The summit will provide an opportunity to pitch the region to potential investors, Canfield said.

The Kenora mayor's panel discussion, which takes place at noon on Thursday, also includes Ontario Forest Industry Association president Jamie Lim, and Grand Chief of Mushkegowuk Council Lawrence Martin.