The province outlined a five-year plan to help grow the Ontario government in its throne speech Monday.

From pledging more seats for colleges and universities to creating almost one million jobs over the next decade, MPP Michael Gravelle said the speech had numerous references that could benefit Northwestern Ontario.

He said he was excited and encouraged by references to mining in particular.

"We do know that the Ring of Fire presents the most promising mining opportunity in Canada in the last century and it’s right there in Northwestern Ontario" Gravelle said. "We’re talking about thousands and thousands of job opportunities that could be presented."

Gravelle said the government’s pledge to cash in on the upcoming global demand for clean water could also help stimulate job creation in the region.

"I can see the North benefiting from that in a very significant way," Gravelle said.

While the speech is general in nature, MPP Bill Mauro said he was glad to hear references to health care.

"Certainly it won’t be at the levels that it has been at for the last six years," Mauro said. "It’s still going to remain a priority."

Mauro said he is also excited to see what kind of opportunities mining activity will bring to Northwestern Ontario.