Southern Ontario Spotlight

In June, Canada recognizes National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate and honour the rich heritage and invaluable contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples in Canada. On June 21, we recognize the historical and spiritual significance of the summer solstice in Indigenous culture for National Indigenous People’s Day.

FedDev Ontario is here to help Indigenous-owned businesses, organizations and not-for-profits achieve their goals and support the increased participation of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples in the southern Ontario economy. Our dedicated team can help guide Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations in southern Ontario on programming and services available. Indigenous-led businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs are encouraged to visit FedDev Ontario’s new webpage for more information, and contact us at 1-877-553-5507 or email us to learn more about government funding and support available.

“Diversity is our strength. The Government of Canada knows that when we invest in Indigenous business owners, everybody wins. This dedicated  approach will help connect Indigenous entrepreneurs in southern Ontario with the resources, skills training, mentorship, and access to funding needed to reach their full potential. We are here to support Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders to achieve their goals and help increase the participation of First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples in the southern Ontario economy.”

– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Minister Tassi made several new funding announcements as part of Canada’s Economic Development Week to celebrate the important work businesses and the federal government are doing to invest in and build a strong, growing economy that will create jobs. Visiting businesses from a variety of sectors, Minister Tassi highlighted government priorities such as the move to a net-zero economy, the development of green technologies, clean energy projects and sustainable practices, advanced digital technologies, as well as investing to build made-in-Canada supply and value chains, increasing Canadian research and development spending, and leveraging free trade deals that represent access to two-thirds of the global economy.

Minister Tassi announced a $5-million FedDev Ontario investment for ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks Americas Limited (AMTB), a leading steel manufacturer of lightweight parts used in cars, electric vehicles, appliances and buildings, made with innovative processes that use less energy, and reduce carbon footprint and cost. The investment will help AMTB modernize its equipment and technologies to fully transition from manufacturing fuel powered components to Electric Vehicle (EV) components for the automotive industry, while also creating 65 new jobs in Concord.

In Mississauga, Minister Tassi announced a $4.8-million investment for Stromcore Energy Inc. to add new advanced manufacturing equipment and launch two new products. With this support, Stromcore, a manufacturer of intelligent lithium-ion batteries for forklifts, will launch new highly innovative energy-efficient products: Turbo Bank, an advanced AI-powered charger with improved efficiency, and Electric Cart, a zero-emission e-forklift developed in collaboration with Amazon to lift goods. These new products have a fast-charging capability and the ability to operate in colder environments, helping improve productivity.

Canada’s tourism sector is an integral part of our country’s economy, cultural identity and heritage. The diverse, rugged landscapes and natural beauty of southern Ontario draws visitors from around the world, and the Government of Canada is committed to supporting communities and tourism operators throughout the region. Launched in 2021 in response to the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism operators across the country, the $500-million Tourism Relief Fund provided support to the tourism sector to help welcome back domestic travelers and reposition Canada as a world-class destination.

FedDev Ontario highlighted several important investments that have been made across Ontario to support the tourism industry. In the GTA, the Beaches International Jazz Festival received $100,000 to enhance the visitor experience at its popular two-week music festival in Toronto. In Mississauga, the Muslim Womenpreneurs Network received more than $95,000 to deliver the Ramadan Expo 2023 featuring over 200 businesses, various products and services, live performances, a kids’ zone and virtual reality experiences.

Caldwell First Nation received a contribution of $500,000 to revitalize its Indigenous-owned marina on Lake Erie, 3 kms from Point Pelee National Park. The marina is a hub for sport fishing, community events, canoe excursions into Sturgeon Creek and adventures onto the adjacent conservation boardwalk. The project supported the expansion of the marina, creating an enhanced fishing and tourism destination for visitors looking to connect with nature and learn about the cultural significance of local flora and fauna.

The Guelph Black Heritage Society received $45,000 to develop and produce accessible educational resources and promote its Heritage Hall as a culturally and historically significant, inclusive and dynamic tourist destination. As part of this project, the Guelph Black Heritage Society developed educational videos, interactive guides and programming and events that share and celebrate untold stories of Guelph-Wellington's Black community. TRF support also made a difference in St. Jacobs, where the Town of Woolwich and St. Jacobs Business Improvement Area received more than $100,000 to add seasonal outdoor recreational facilities in St. Jacobs Village, to enhance the experience for visitors during the winter months.

In Bruce, Grey and Simcoe, more than $11.2 million was delivered to 118 tourism businesses and organizations across the region, providing memorable experiences for visitors and positioning the region for success.

Between 2022 and 2023, FedDev Ontario delivered nearly $140 million through the Tourism Relief Fund  to help tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the impacts of the pandemic and safely welcome back visitors.

On June 14, Minister Tassi and representatives from FedDev Ontario attended the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Summit, an event bringing together business leaders, thought leaders and entrepreneurs from across Canada to discuss and share insights on current challenges women in business face. Panel discussion topics included the representation of women in senior management roles in high-growth sectors, gender parity in the financial services and retail industries, and strategies to disrupt the status quo in male-dominated sectors. Minister Tassi provided remarks highlighting the importance of events that bring together women leaders to ensure equal access and opportunity in the economy, and for a future that is inclusive and thriving. She also highlighted Government of Canada support for women entrepreneurs such as the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy that has provided support to 19 women-led not-for-profit organizations in southern Ontario, and has benefited more than 27,000 women entrepreneurs across the country, including 2,600 Indigenous women-led businesses.

Minister Tassi also attended the Canada SynBio Conference, a three-day event bringing together leaders in the field of engineering biology to facilitate discussions and partnerships around biomanufacturing, ethics, the circular economy and health innovations. Minister Tassi delivered opening remarks for the conference, where she highlighted FedDev Ontario’s recent $5.6 million in support for Ontario Genomics, a not-for-profit organization leading the application of genomics-based solutions in the health, agri-food and cleantech sectors, and congratulated the first eight companies supported through Ontario Genomics’ BioCreate program, an $11.6-million initiative providing financial and business support to Ontario start-ups in the health, food and agriculture and clean-tech sectors.