Ontario is providing the most support to northern Ontario on record with energy rebates to northern families and industry to help reduce electricity prices and boost economic activity.

The new Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program is providing industry electricity price rebates of two cents per kilowatt-hour, averaging a total of $150 million per year for three years. Through the program, qualifying large industrial facilities can reduce electricity costs by up to 25 per cent, based on 2009 levels.

Low- to-middle income northern Ontario residents will also receive help for their home energy costs through the new Northern Ontario Energy Credit. This credit will provide up to $200 per family and up to $130 for single people - totalling about $35 million. It will be available to a quarter of a million families and single people, which is more than half of all northerners.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan was in Sudbury with MPP Rick Bartolucci to highlight these and other initiatives which are part of the five-year Open Ontario plan to help northern Ontario attract new investments, boost economic growth and enhance job creation.