Question Period Note: Ministerial Mandate

Ministerial Mandate

• As the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), my role is to champion businesses of the region, invest in their growth, and support communities to capitalize on economic opportunities.

• FedDev Ontario’s investments reflect the innovative, entrepreneurial and diverse strengths of the region. This support helps drive job creation and growth in communities across southern Ontario.

• We are helping to maximize the region’s economic potential by building a more inclusive and sustainable future through our support and programs.

• On December 16, 2021, the Prime Minister issued mandate letters, including to the Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, with a mandate to:
o Ensure FedDev Ontario continues to promote short- and long-term job creation and economic development in southern Ontario, particularly through the delivery of regionally tailored programs, services, knowledge and expertise, so that all regions, and in particular rural and small communities, have access to place-based programming and support.
o Continue to drive economic growth, innovation and community diversification, with a focus on scaling up businesses, building innovation ecosystems and supporting community development.
o Continue to support diverse and inclusive economic growth, including to increase the participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the southern Ontario economy.
o Continue to support clean economic growth by prioritizing projects that demonstrate clean growth outcomes, and promote the development and adoption of clean technologies, green clusters and job growth, including zero-emissions vehicles and circular economy initiatives.

• In line with the mandate given to the Agency by the Prime Minister, FedDev Ontario prioritizes investments in rural and small communities and supports diverse and inclusive economic growth, including for the underrepresented groups and Indigenous peoples in the region.

• The Agency also builds on the region’s strengths, for example in the automotive sector, by continuing to invest in significant regional opportunities related to the transition to zero-emission vehicles.