Raison d'être
The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) was created to work with communities, businesses, not-for-profit organizations and other levels of government in southern Ontario to strengthen the region's capacity for innovation, economic development and growth. The Minister of Economic Development and Official languages is responsible for all Regional Development Agencies including FedDev Ontario.
Mandate and role
FedDev Ontario's core mandate is to strengthen southern Ontario's economic capacity for innovation, economic development and growth, and to promote a dynamic, inclusive and globally competitive southern Ontario.
As an established and permanent agency, FedDev Ontario is a reliable, long-term and trusted partner to southern Ontario's dynamic businesses and communities, and to effectively support the Government's overall economic agenda in a manner that responds to the needs of Canadians in southern Ontario.
FedDev Ontario is a key platform in delivering on the Government's economic agenda in southern Ontario. The Agency's investments target opportunities created by the innovation economy and position the region to become a leader in the emerging digital and sustainable economy. FedDev Ontario delivers three core streams of funding that are designed to be responsive to business needs and can readily adapt to address evolving opportunities to support clean and sustainable growth, the commercialization of new technologies, business scale-up and expansion, technology adoption and adaptation, and community diversification and development.
In addition to its core programming, FedDev Ontario plays an important role as a federal delivery agent for national programs including the Community Futures Program that supports rural communities to develop and sustain their local economies, and the Economic Development Initiative that supports Francophone and bilingual organizations in Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs). The Agency also delivers targeted and temporary national initiatives (e.g., Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, Canadian Experiences Fund) that respond to government priorities and needs within a broader economic context.
FedDev Ontario's Small Business Services (SBS) team delivers services to firms and other stakeholders in the region through its contact centre and website, providing government business information, details about funding opportunities, and a secondary market research service. The Agency works with southern Ontario firms to identify opportunities to participate in defence procurement projects in support of the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy. FedDev Ontario supports regional stakeholders to establish foreign trade zone (FTZ) points to facilitate export activity and attract foreign investment. FedDev Ontario also works with federal partners on the Accelerated Growth Service (AGS), helping high-growth firms scale up by providing a coordinated and streamlined approach to accessing federal business support services.
With its headquarters in Waterloo and offices in Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa, FedDev Ontario has a presence across southern Ontario and facilitates collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, including post-secondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, municipal and provincial governments, Indigenous communities and private sector firms. FedDev Ontario plays an important role in convening key regional stakeholders to seek a common vision and encourage the development of coordinated plans. In addition, through ongoing partnerships with other federal departments and agencies, FedDev Ontario ensures that the perspectives of southern Ontario are reflected in decision-making at the federal level.
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental action[s] in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2.
Context: Low-Carbon Government
FedDev Ontario adheres to the principles of the FSDS by implementing the Policy on Green Procurement.
The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada's effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, FedDev Ontario supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision-making process through the actions described in the "FSDS goal: low-carbon government" table.
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve it by 2025 | Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings/operations* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Modernize our fleet* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement |
| Starting point: Continue to utilize Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) standing offers and supply arrangements to select green, sustainable goods and services. Performance indicator: % of materiel management functional specialists trained in green procurement Target: 100% | In 2019-20, 100% of FedDev Ontario's procurement officers had completed the GC Campus Course on Green Procurement. | Green procurement incorporates environmental criteria into purchasing decisions. Procurement agents who are trained to apply such criteria can award contracts to suppliers with a reduced GHG footprint. This is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce GHG emissions associated with their goods, services and supply chains. Related to Sustainable Development Goal 12 | |
| Demonstrate innovative technologies* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Promote sustainable travel practices* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Understand climate change impacts and build resilience* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Improve transparency and accountability† | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Develop policy for lowcarbon government† | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
* This contributing action does not apply to small and micro departments. These departments should insert "Not applicable" in columns three to six.
† This contributing action applies only to the Centre for Greening Government at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS). All other departments should insert "Not applicable" in columns three to six.
Context: Clean Growth
FedDev Ontario contributes to the 2019-22 FSDS "Clean Growth" goal through its investments in clean technology adoption and development. This is Implement the Mission Innovation pledge to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration from 2015 levels of $387 million to $775 million by 2020.
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) | Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the Mission Innovation pledge to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration from 2015 levels of $387 million to $775 million by 2020 | Work with partners on developing and adopting new technologies to reduce GHG and air pollutant emissions. | In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario plans to strategically invest in projects that:
| In 2018-19, FedDev Ontario invested in 34 projects with clean technology components, for a total expenditure of $71.2 million. $35 million of those expenditures were directly attributable* to the clean technology aspects of those projects. Performance Indicators: Number and value of FedDev Ontario investments in clean technology projects in southern Ontario. Target: Invest $22 million in clean technology. | In 2019-20, FedDev Ontario invested in 50 projects with clean technology components, for a total expenditure of $46.4 million. $12.5 million of these expenditures were directly attributable* to the clean technology aspects of these projects. Due to the multi-year nature of many of FedDev Ontario's investments, and the annual expenditure decisions of project proponents on when to execute the clean technology aspects of their project, there is variability from year to year on the Agency's expenditures directly attributable to the clean technology. For instance in 2018-19, the Agency spent $35 million in the clean technology aspects of 34 projects. *For the Agency's NFP third-party delivery clean tech projects the percentage attributed to clean technology investments was calculated by taking the number of businesses/organizations supported based on the Contribution Agreement and dividing by number of end recipients tagged with clean technology spending within the performance reports for 2019-20 results. | Through these targeted investments, FedDev Ontario is fostering clean growth across southern Ontario, supporting Canada's transition to a low carbon economy and helping deliver on the FSDS clean growth target. Related to Sustainable Development Goal 9 (SDG 9) Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. |
Report on integrating sustainable development
FedDev Ontario will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process. A SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on relevant FSDS goals and targets.
Public statements on the results of FedDev Ontario's assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects of the approved policy, plan or program, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, have been considered during proposal development and decision-making.
Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
| Name of transfer payment program | Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI) - Voted Includes Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) in two streams:
|
|---|---|
| Start date | October 18, 2018 |
| End date | REGI — Ongoing WEF — March 31, 2021 WES Ecosystem Fund — March 31, 2023 |
| Type of transfer payment | Contribution |
| Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through Estimates |
| Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2018–19 |
| Link to the department's Program Inventory |
|
| Description | Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI) consolidates the existing suite of innovation programs offered by the regional development agencies (RDAs) into two nationally consistent and regionally tailored program streams. Under REGI, innovation funding programs across all of Canada's six RDAs will focus on two key streams:
The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) will support women entrepreneurs in starting and growing their business through two program streams:
|
| Results achieved | In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario invested $47.7 million in a portfolio of 59 projects under the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSUP) stream to accelerate business growth, assist businesses in scaling up and enhance business productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets. As of March 31, 2020, BSUP program stream projects leveraged $5.3 for every dollar invested by the Agency, supported 79 businesses, reported over $134 million in sales resulting from innovations commercialized, created 1,059 jobs and maintained 882 jobs. In 2019–20, through the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) stream, FedDev Ontario invested more than $59 million in a portfolio of 46 projects to create, grow and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that supported business needs and fostered an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness. As of March 31, 2020, RIE projects leveraged $1.2 for every dollar invested by the Agency, supported 647 organizations and businesses, resulted in over 300 partnerships/ collaborations, as well as reported creation of 2,072 jobs and maintenance of 1,358 jobs. In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario invested $7.6 million in 101 projects under the WEF, leveraging $2.2 for every dollar invested by the Agency. These investments enabled 101 women entrepreneurs to pursue opportunities in domestic and global markets. The WEF created 367 jobs and maintained 581 jobs. WES also invested $4.2 million in three national and 15 regional projects under the ecosystem fund to support starting new businesses, providing business advisory services, and assisting companies in growing their business abroad. In 2019–20, ecosystem fund projects supported 205 women entrepreneurs in starting a new business, provided business advisory services to over 3,700 women entrepreneur clients, and assisted 164 women entrepreneurs in growing their business abroad. |
| Findings of audits completed in 2019–20 | FedDev Ontario's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including FedDev Ontario, are conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP). No REGI audit was conducted in 2019–20. |
| Findings of evaluations completed in 2019–20 | Not applicable. No REGI evaluation was conducted in 2019–20. |
| Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019–20 | In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario representatives engaged with new prospective clients to discuss potential projects under core programming and undertook due diligence on applications that had been submitted. Agency representatives also attended conferences and trade shows to engage with current recipients and prospective applicants. In addition, the Agency representatives conducted roundtables to engage with a broad range of stakeholders as well as engaged with recipients on monitoring activities. |
| Type of transfer payment | 2017–18 Actual spending | 2018–19 Actual spending | 2019–20 Planned spending | 2019–20 Total authorities available for use | 2019–20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019–20 actual minus 2019–20 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 0 | 20,965,906 | 178,697,260 | 141,515,351 | 141,515,351 | -37,181,909 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 0 | 20,965,906 | 178,697,260 | 141,515,351 | 141,515,351 | -37,181,909 |
Explanation of variances: Variance reported for 2019-20 spending is attributed to the transfer of funding from this program to align with projects approved under the Agency's investment priorities through the Community Economic Development and Diversification stream of the Agency's core programming.
Community Futures Program
| Name of transfer payment program | Community Futures Program |
|---|---|
| Start date | 1986 |
| End date | Ongoing |
| Type of transfer payment | Contribution |
| Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through Estimates |
| Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2010–11 |
| Link to the department's Program Inventory | Community Economic Development and Diversification |
| Description | The Community Futures Program (CFP) supports Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in southern Ontario, which assist rural communities in developing and implementing local solutions to support community economic development and the growth of small businesses. |
| Results achieved | There are 37 CFDCs supported by CFP. These CFDCs provided access to business counselling and loan services. In 2019–20, southern Ontario CFDCs provided $61.0 million through 809 loans to rural businesses that leveraged an additional $97.7 million. CFDCs reported these investments created 1,493 jobs and maintained an additional 2,967 jobs. The CFDCs also provided business services in the form of business counselling and support to 5,225 clients over the course of the year. |
| Findings of audits completed in 2019–20 | FedDev Ontario's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including FedDev Ontario, are conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP). No CFP audit was conducted in 2019–20. |
| Findings of evaluations completed in 2019–20 | FedDev Ontario completed an evaluation of the Community Futures (CF) program in 2019–20, which found a strong need for continued federal economic development programming in the communities served by CFDCs, particularly smaller and more remote communities. The evaluation found that the CF program achieved many of its intended outcomes, especially those related to its loans and business support services. These include strengthened business practices, economic stability, growth, job creation, and diversification of rural economies. The evaluation recommended that RDAs should continue their efforts to provide a comprehensive national picture of the results and build on existing good practices to develop strategies to address federal requirements for inclusiveness. The Agency has developed a management response action plan (MRAP) to address these recommendations. |
| Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019–20 | FedDev Ontario engages with southern Ontario's 37 CFDCs through active project monitoring by program officers and regular meetings with individual CFDCs, Community Futures Ontario (the provincial CFDC association), and two regional CFDC networks. |
| Type of transfer payment | 2017–18 Actual spending | 2018–19 Actual spending | 2019–20 Planned spending | 2019–20 Total authorities available for use | 2019–20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019–20 actual minus 2019–20 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 0 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 11,285,992 | 0 |
Explanation of variances N/A
Southern Ontario Prosperity Program
| Name of transfer payment program | Southern Ontario Prosperity Program |
|---|---|
| Start date | April 1, 2014 |
| End date | Ongoing |
| Type of transfer payment | Contribution |
| Type of appropriation | Appropriated annually through Estimates |
| Fiscal year for terms and conditions | 2014–15 |
| Link to the department's Program Inventory |
|
| Description | The Southern Ontario Prosperity Program (SOPP) supports economic development, diversification, job creation, and economically strong communities in southern Ontario. Community Economic Development and Diversification: To generate sustainable, inclusive growth and help small and rural communities in southern Ontario to fully participate in, and benefit from economic opportunities Economic Development Initiative: To strengthen the region's Official Language Minority Communities by promoting innovation, diversification of economic activities and partnerships, and through increased support to small businesses Canadian Experiences Fund: To help the tourism sector to innovate and grow by supporting the creation and enhancement of tourism products, facilities and experiences. This is a two year program that will be completed in 2020-21 |
| Results achieved | In 2019-20, FedDev Ontario invested $57.9 million in 29 projects under the Community Economic Development and Diversification to develop, diversify and transform local communities by promoting small business development, creating and retaining employment in rural communities, enhancing the access smaller and mid-size cities have to innovation supports through investments in new commercialization projects, facilitating participation of under-represented groups in local economies, and supporting community innovation and strategic collaborations. As of March 31, 2020, CEDD program stream projects leveraged $2.1 for every dollar invested by the Agency, supported 146 businesses and organizations, created 470 jobs and maintained 771 jobs. FedDev Ontario supported Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) through delivery of the Economic Development Initiative (EDI). In 2019–20, the Agency invested $0.8 million in five projects that leveraged $2.5 for every dollar invested by the Agency, created 25 jobs and maintained 21 jobs, and delivered 253 training/networking sessions with 1,349 people receiving training/mentorship over the course of the year. In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario launched the Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF) to assist Canada's tourism sector to innovate, grow and drive visitors into smaller, tourism-dependent communities. The Agency invested $4.8 million in 64 diverse CEF projects. As of March 31, 2020, CEF leveraged $1.42 for every dollar invested by the Agency, created 419 jobs and maintained 157 jobs, and supported 78 businesses and organizations. CEF also provided LGBTQ2+ training to 364 businesses and organizations and market readiness training to 226 Indigenous businesses. |
| Findings of audits completed in 2019–20 | FedDev Ontario's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including FedDev Ontario, are conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP). No SOPP audit was conducted in 2019–20. |
| Findings of evaluations completed in 2019–20 | A final evaluation of the Southern Ontario Prosperity Program, including the SOPIs (Investing in Business Innovation, Investing in Business Growth and Prosperity, Investing in Commercialization Partnerships, and Investing in Regional Diversification) was commenced and is expected to be completed in 2020–21. |
| Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2019–20 | In 2019–20, FedDev Ontario representatives engaged with new prospective clients to discuss potential projects under core programming and undertook due diligence on applications that had been submitted. Agency representatives also attended conferences and trade shows to engage with current recipients and prospective applicants. In addition, the Agency representatives conducted roundtables to engage with a broad range of stakeholders as well as engaged with recipients on monitoring activities. |
| Type of transfer payment | 2017–18 Actual spending | 2018–19 Actual spending | 2019–20 Planned spending | 2019–20 Total authorities available for use | 2019–20 Actual spending (authorities used) | Variance (2019–20 actual minus 2019–20 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 97,773,898 | 133,286,684 | 34,417,000 | 79,698,447 | 79,698,447 | 45,281,447 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 97,773,898 | 133,286,684 | 34,417,000 | 79,698,447 | 79,698,447 | 45,281,447 |
Explanation of variances: Variance reported for 2019-20 spending is attributed to the launch of the Canadian Experiences Fund and the transfer of funding from The Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation program to align with projects approved under the Agency's investment priorities through the Community Economic Development and Diversification stream of the Agency's core programming.
Gender-based analysis plus
Institutional GBA+ Capacity
FedDev Ontario continued to leverage the Agency's Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) strategy to inform departmental decision-making. This plan was finalized and presented to the Agency's Executive Committee and includes short, medium and long-term actions to implement GBA+ across all functions of the Agency. As part of this plan, the GBA+ Responsibility Centre, which is composed of nine GBA+ focal points, continued to support the GBA+ Champion to implement GBA+ across key functions of the Agency. FedDev Ontario also developed a draft policy statement to articulate the Agency's commitment and accountability to implementing GBA+.
During 2019-20, FedDev Ontario also held a successful Agency-wide training event to encourage staff to complete the Department of Women and Gender Equality's (WAGE's) introductory GBA+ training. This introductory online training was also made mandatory for the Agency's GBA+ focal points. In addition, some of FedDev Ontario's GBA+ focal points undertook specialized training offered by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) that enhanced the skills and competencies of focal points, enabling a more consistent application of GBA+ across the Agency.
| Business Scale-up and Productivity, Regional Innovation Ecosystem and Community Economic Development and Diversification |
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