Southern Ontario Spotlight - April 2022

The development and growth of Canada’s green technology sector remains a priority for the Government of Canada, and southern Ontario has the ability to position Canada as a global leader in green technology and manufacturing.

On April 29, FedDev Ontario announced a non-repayable contribution of $10 million for Innovation Guelph to lead the delivery of the i.d.e.a. Fund, an initiative aimed at helping Canadian businesses focused on green technology and clean innovation succeed through access to capital and mentoring opportunities. Led by Innovation Guelph, in partnership with five southwestern Ontario Regional Innovation Centres (RICs): Haltech (Halton Region), Innovate Niagara, Innovation Factory (Hamilton), TechAlliance (London) and WEtech Alliance (Windsor and Chatham-Kent), the i.d.e.a. Fund will target companies with a focus on agri-innovation, cleantech and advanced manufacturing in urban and rural communities.

The project will support 240 businesses, create and maintain 840 jobs, and result in the commercialization of 135 new products, services, processes and technologies. To foster a more diverse and inclusive economy, the RICs will work together to ensure 50 percent of the businesses are owned or led by women and 30 percent are owned or led by Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Black communities, racialized communities and members of the LGBTQ2+. Additional details related to the Fund and application process can be found at www.idea-fund.ca.

On April 21, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced an investment of $1 million for Windsor’s Dimachem Inc. to expand its production capabilities and create 27 skilled jobs in the region. Dimachem Inc. is a leading manufacturer of industrial chemicals for the automotive and cleaning industries. This investment will support an expansion of its production facility and the adoption of leading-edge, energy-efficient equipment to reduce production waste, while increasing Canadian-made manufacturing of Pine-Sol® products and packaging—meeting Canadian market demands for the cleaner-disinfectant products.

“The Government of Canada is making smart investments to ensure that Canadian manufacturers have the support they need to produce made-in-Canada solutions and seize new opportunities for economic growth. Today’s investment in Dimachem Inc. will create jobs, drive economic growth and protect Canadian manufacturing and supply chains.”

– The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

The Minister also announced an investment of over $2 million to enhance nine Windsor-area community spaces under the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF). With this investment, recipients will build or enhance community infrastructure, and adapt public spaces to encourage the safe return of locals and visitors. With its close proximity to the United States and an educated and skilled workforce, Windsor-Essex offers prime conditions for communities to thrive and do business, and infrastructure improvements funded through the CCRF bring together residents and visitors alike, while supporting local businesses, jobs and economies.

“On behalf of City Council, local stakeholders, and the thousands of Windsor residents who will enjoy these installations for many years to come, thank you to FedDev Ontario for the injection into active lifestyle activities in Windsor’s West End. These two applications to the Canada Community Revitalization Fund were the work of passionate City administrators, government partners, and community members.”

– Mayor Drew Dilkens, City of Windsor

As part of the tour, Minister Jaczek and FedDev Ontario President Nancy Gardiner also participated in a roundtable discussion at Invest WindsorEssex’s Automobility & Innovation Centre (AIC) to discuss growth plans, needs and challenges faced by businesses and organizations in the region, and Minister Jaczek visited Invest WindsorEssex’s new virtual testing tunnel for autonomous vehicles (read more in the article below).

Many Canadian businesses in critical sectors are striving for sustainability while at the same time increasing their efficiency, and the Government of Canada is making investments in these innovative strategies to grow a stronger, greener and more resilient economy for all Canadians.

That is why Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Streetsville on behalf of FedDev Ontario, announced an investment of up to $2 million for Lorama Group Inc. to commercialize and scale up production of its sustainable, bio-adhesive products. Lorama Group, located in Mississauga, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of colourants and additives in the paints and coatings sector, and this investment aims to create up to 20 new jobs in the region.

"The funding from FedDev Ontario further strengthens our commitment to provide innovative, sustainable solutions to the market, as well as accelerating Lorama Group's vision of a clean, greener future. This support aids in the building of advanced manufacturing capabilities critical in developing a competitive advantage needed to commercialize new bio-based solutions."

– Andrew Burnett, CEO, Lorama Group Inc.

The Government of Canada is committed to positioning our country as a global leader in clean technology and innovation, providing support to firms that are advancing cleantech solutions to help meet Canada’s climate goals. In line with Earth Day on April 22, several new initiatives and investments have been announced in recent weeks.

Canada’s Budget 2022 – A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable was announced on April 7 by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minster of Finance. The comprehensive plan includes new initiatives aimed at strengthening and improving the sustainability of the economy, including new provisions to encourage adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), investments in ZEV component supply chains, and funding for research into low carbon energy solutions.

Also in line with these measures, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the release of the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy plan, a sector-by-sector approach for Canada to reach its new climate target of cutting emissions by 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, and putting the country on track towards its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The plan includes $9.1 billion in new investments, including funding for electric vehicle infrastructure and affordability, green building initiatives, cleantech, electricity grid improvements, oil and gas emission reduction, sustainable farming, and continued action to fight climate change.

FedDev Ontario also announced a Government of Canada investment of over $5.7 million for woman-led artificial intelligence (AI) company Canvass Analytics Inc. (Canvass AI). Established by Founder and CEO Humera Malik in 2016, Canvass AI’s software platform is used by large industrial companies in the oil and gas, automotive, chemicals, energy, food and beverage, and metals and mining sectors, and allows manufacturers to monitor and predict future output so that engineers can optimize their processes, reduce water consumption and CO2 emissions. This investment, through the Jobs and Growth Fund, will allow Canvass AI to expand and accelerate the commercialization of their AI software platform, create 45 new jobs and help position Canvass AI for future growth.

As Canada continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada is investing in innovative technologies and businesses that grow a cleaner economy for the future.

Tourism is a vital part of the regional identities of many communities across southern Ontario, and tourism operators continue to demonstrate tenacity and resilience as Canada recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous tourism in particular offers unique opportunities to experience the rich heritage and cultural expression of many communities across the region for visitors from around the world.

That is why FedDev Ontario announced a total investment of $68.5 million through the Tourism Relief Fund for Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO) and 11 Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs) across southern Ontario. With an investment of $3.5 million, ITO will provide non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 to Indigenous businesses, not-for-profit organizations, Band Councils, and Indigenous communities to invest in new or enhanced tourism experiences and upgrades to attract domestic and international tourists. ITO will also deliver the Renew Indigenous Tourism program to support Indigenous organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs as they work to recover from the pandemic.

In addition, 11 RTOs across southern Ontario will receive a combined investment of $65 million to distribute funding through non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 to tourism-oriented businesses and organizations to innovate and invest in new and enhanced tourism experiences to attract visitors from within Canada and around the world. This investment will support up to 1,300 tourism entities and create or maintain up to 4,100 jobs.

Applications for the Tourism Relief Fund are now open. For more information on how to apply, visit your local RTO or ITO’s website, or for projects exceeding $100,000 in support, please apply directly on FedDev Ontario's website.