Kathleen Wynne talks economic recovery in southwestern Ontario

The province could act fasterand be more efficient in helping businesses open or expand in the southwestern Ontario region, says Ontario's Premier.

Kathleen Wynne is spending the day in Windsor, starting witha roundtable discussion with auto parts makers, a tour of theWalkervilleBrewery to mark Ontario Craft Beer Week and drop by the Greek Village as Carrousel of the Nations kicks off.

"Southwestern Ontario was hit very hard by the economic downturn," Wynne told Bob Steele,host of CBC's Afternoon Drive Friday."We see the region coming back, we know there are good things happening here, but it's not coming back as quickly as we would like."

Windsor recently lost an investment by Jaguar, Ford isn't expanding its engine plant in the city and Fiat Chrysler walked away from negotiations with the province.

"Some of the projects...we weren't on top of them," said Wynne. "We didn't have the information early enough. That's the kind of process that we're trying to change."

Wynne, who met with a group of mayors from the regionincluding Windsor's Drew Dilkens, said there are some provincial regulations that could change that would make it easier for companies to openinOntario.

Though she mentioned the small decline in Windsor's unemployment rate from 11.5 per cent in April to 11 per cent in May, Wynne said more needs to be done.

"I acknowledge that this is not the rate of improvement that we're looking for, we want it to be better," she said. "There are some things we need to do. We've appointed an auto Tzar, who's going to help coordinate the outreach in the auto sector, I think that's a good thing."

While some experts say manufacturing is on its way out of the Ontario market, Wynne said that's not completely true.

"Manufacturing in general is changing," she said. "We're looking increased technology, we're looking at advanced manufacturing. That's what our niche has to be. We've got to use our highly educated workforce to be the innovators."

New Pelee Island Ferry bid'fair process'

Wynne said Andy Stanton of Hike Metal will get an explanation from the Ministry of Transportation as to why his company did not get a contract to build a new $40 million ferry to service Pelee Island.

• New Pelee Island Ferry controversy continues
• Pelee Island to get new $40 million ferry

"It was an open an transparent process, and they're getting a better understanding now from MTO of why they didn't qualify."

The Wheately, Ont. shipbuilder said he didn't actually get a chance to bid on the project.

ASENAV, a ship-building company located in Valdivia,Chilewon the bid.

"It goes both ways, if you look our aerospace industry for example, every passenger plane in the world pretty much has got Canadian, Ontario built part on it," said Wynne. "We export, we import expertise, we have an open procurement process and the qualifying company got the bid."

Stanton is meeting with the ministry next week.

Province to consider 60's scoop apology

The premier said Ontario will consider issuing an apology for the 60's scoop a process that involved Aboriginal children being taken from their families and adopted out to non-First Nations families.

"I'm very impressed at what has happened in Manitoba, it's very important to me that we chance the relationship with First Nations people, and so that may be something we look at in the future," said Wynne.