Question Period Note: FedDev Ontario’s Delivery of the Tourism Growth Program

FedDev Ontario’s Delivery of the Tourism Growth Program

• Tourism is an important driver of economic activity in communities across southern Ontario.

• In fall 2023, the Government of Canada announced an important investment of $108 million across Canada to help drive growth in the tourism sector through a new Tourism Growth Program (TGP).

• Delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) in southern Ontario, the TGP is supporting communities, small- and medium-sized businesses, and not-for-profit organizations to develop and enhance local tourism products and experiences.

• Indigenous tourism is vital to our communities and to the development and growth of Canada's tourism industry. That is why funding Indigenous tourism-led initiatives across the country is a priority for the TGP.

• TGP is an important component of the Government’s new Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, which builds on Canada's strengths and unique qualities to reach the full potential of the tourism industry.

• With $108 million in federal funding, the Tourism Growth Program (TGP) is being delivered by regional development agencies (RDAs) over three years, starting in 2023–24. The program is designed to support Indigenous organizations, small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations to develop and enhance local, community-level tourism products and experiences to help more domestic and international visitors discover Canada’s regions.

• FedDev Ontario is delivering over $30 million of TGP funding over three years. The initial intake for the program accepted applications between November 20, 2023, and February 29, 2024. A second TGP intake accepted applications from August 6, 2024 to September 17, 2024; projects submitted for this intake are currently under assessment. Project examples include:

o Announced on May 8, 2024, TreeTop Eco-Adventure Park in Oshawa is receiving a repayable investment of $125,000 to expand its high ropes and zipline park to include two new outdoor trampoline park areas, interconnected with walkways and slides, to increase the number of visitors from urban areas looking for active outdoor experiences.
o Announced on August 7, 2024, Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston is receiving an investment of $250,000 to restore the 1907 steamship, SS Keewatin, creating a tourism experience with guided tours, experiential on-board programs, and unique spaces to attract domestic and international tourists to the region.

• The TGP is expected to enhance Canada’s competitiveness as an international destination by investing in tourism offerings that will entice high-value visitation to and within Canada, de-risk private investment in the sector, promote a more sustainable sector through investments in products that can extend the tourism season and incentivize geographic dispersion.

• Investments that support Indigenous tourism development are a priority, and RDAs have collectively committed to targeting approximately 15 percent of the contributions towards projects with recipients that are either Indigenous owned or led.

• The TGP will help leverage tourism opportunities in communities, including those that are rural and remote, and complement support for the tourism industry provided through other federal, provincial and territorial programs.

• The TGP is an important component of the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy that was launched in 2023 by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada. The Strategy establishes a vision to generate economic growth across the country and drive the tourism sector to the next level of international success. Its priority areas are:
o Investing in tourism assets;
o Embracing recreation and the great outdoors;
o Partnering to grow Indigenous tourism;
o Attracting more international events; and
o Improving coordination through a Federal Ministerial Council.

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