Question Period Note: Ministerial Summer Tour

Ministerial Summer Tour

• As Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), I am proud of the investments we have made and the partnerships we have forged to support the people, businesses and communities in this region to reach their full potential.

• Across southern Ontario, there is no shortage of possibilities. From next generation vehicles, aerospace, food processing, clean technologies, life sciences – this region’s industries continue to grow, innovate and compete on a global scale.

• This summer, I visited 20 urban, rural and Indigenous communities across southern Ontario to hear directly from over 170 people about local strengths and their vision and their best ideas for unlocking the potential within their communities.

• In July 2023, Minister Tassi launched a tour that included a series of community economic development dialogues with the theme: People, Potential and Possibilities. The tour also included funding announcements and site visits to FedDev Ontario funding recipients.

• During this tour, the Minister visited 20 communities: Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Brantford, Ohsweken, Woodstock, Ingersoll, London, Windsor, Toronto, Whitby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Owen Sound, Alliston, Orillia, Barrie, Innisfil and Newmarket.

• In total, the Minister met with over 170 people through 11 roundtables and meetings with 7 local community leaders. One of the roundtables took place virtually with business members of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Businesses.
o Through these community economic development dialogues, the Minister spoke with a range of stakeholders on the top economic development priorities facing urban, rural and Indigenous communities and their vision for economic growth and competitiveness.
o Stakeholders that participated included small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accelerators and incubators, post-secondary institutions, not-for-profit organizations, regional/municipal economic development organizations, industry associations, and municipal and regional governments. This also includes over 25 Indigenous representatives and community leaders.

• In addition, Minister Tassi met with representatives from 31 businesses and organizations during her funding announcements and site visits. During these events, the Minister:
o Announced $33.5 million for 18 businesses and organizations that will help create over 536 jobs across the region. This includes critical investments like the combined investment of $800,000 for pilot projects in Windsor-Essex, London Region and Niagara Region to support long-term growth in their respective electric vehicle (EV) sectors.
o Visited with 13 other businesses and organizations, spanning a range of sectors, to learn more about the impacts of FedDev Ontario funding, and their plans for growth. This includes a tour of The Grove at Western Fair Association where the Minister had a chance to hear about how FedDev Ontario’s investment of $7.2 million was helping the region to diversify and accelerate the growth of scalable and innovative food companies.

• During these visits, I also announced over $33 million supporting 18 projects that will create over 530 jobs across the region. I also met with 13 businesses and organizations that FedDev Ontario has supported to learn more about their growth and impact on their communities and local economies.

• These investments will have a lasting impact that will extend beyond southern Ontario with benefits throughout the Canadian economy.