Dear Minister,
Congratulations on your appointment as Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). On behalf of the executive team and staff of dedicated public servants, I would like to welcome you and your team to the Agency. We are at a decisive moment in Canadian history, and we look forward to helping you successfully execute your mandate and priorities, and to turn commitments into tangible results for Canadians.
As one of seven Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) located across the country, FedDev Ontario is positioned to deliver the Government’s plan to protect, sustain and strengthen southern Ontario’s globally competitive economy - a region that anchors Canada’s national prosperity.
Southern Ontario is home to more than a third of Canada’s population, jobs, and economic output, with goods exports totalling over $250 billion in 2024. The region spans from Cornwall in the east to Sarnia/Windsor in the west, with a northern boundary that includes the census divisions of Simcoe, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton and Renfrew County. Its 37 census divisions are made up of 289 distinct and diverse communities, including a mix of large urban centres (e.g., Toronto, Ottawa), mid-sized cities (e.g., Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Kingston), and small rural communities (e.g., Kincardine, Hawkesbury). In addition, the region is home to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, who collectively make up a population of nearly 253,000 in the region, which represents nearly fifteen per cent of Canada’s total Indigenous population.
The region’s rich industrial heritage includes world-leading strengths in globally integrated manufacturing sectors such as automotive, defence and aerospace, and agri-food. The region also boasts global leadership in several knowledge-intensive sectors that are the driving innovation across the country, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, life sciences, clean technology, and finance, supported by a strong network of cutting-edge research institutions and clusters of expertise. Altogether, southern Ontario’s sectoral advantages contribute to a strong, resilient, and sovereign Canadian economy.
FedDev Ontario provides a strong federal presence in the region. With headquarters in Waterloo and regional offices in Toronto, Peterborough and Ottawa, the Agency is positioned to provide targeted support that encourages SME investment in innovation and productivity, and to connect stakeholders and communities to help address their challenges and maximize their economic growth opportunities across the region.
FedDev Ontario’s flexible, responsive, and regionally-tailored programs help innovative SMEs to build and grow in the region, positioning them to compete globally. The Agency is also well-equipped to help address the Government’s key economic priorities, such as scaling up more innovative housing solutions to build more homes faster, strengthening Canada’s AI advantage, investing in community growth, and supporting the growth of Indigenous businesses. The Agency is agile and responsive to the Government’s economic priorities and the current economic climate facing industries in the region. Under your leadership, we will continue to be an important partner for delivering on the Government’s priorities.
My executive team and I look forward to working with you and your staff. We are prepared to provide additional briefings and materials on the Agency’s operations, programming and activities at your convenience. We can also work with you and your team to identify potential opportunities for engagement with regional stakeholders that support your mandate and priorities.
I am impressed every day by the work of our dedicated and talented staff, and the results we have achieved in southern Ontario. Together, with your team, we will build on our accomplishments, and continue to promote southern Ontario’s capacity for innovation, economic development and growth — driving prosperity not just in the region, but across the Canadian economy.
Yours sincerely,
Nancy Gardiner
President