Question Period Note: 2025-26 Main Estimate

FedNor’s Main Estimate for 2025-26

• FedNor’s Main Estimates for 2025-26 total $71.8 million.
• FedNor’s approved authorities of $71.8 million for the fiscal year 2025-26 represent an increase of $16.7 million compared to the 2024-25 Main Estimates.
• Temporary top-up funding from Budget 2024 for the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative and the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative for Northern Ontario accounts for the majority of the 16.7 million increase.

When preparing the Main Estimates for 2025-26, the government required departments and agencies to explain the variance between 2024-25 Main Estimates and 2025-26 Main Estimates to improve the context for Parliament’s consideration of the 2025-26 amounts.
FedNor’s approved authorities of $71.8 million for the fiscal year 2025-26 represent an increase of $16.7 million compared to the 2024-25 Main Estimates. Increases are mainly due to temporary and top-up funding from Budget 2024 as well as the termination of an internal transfer from FedNor to the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED).
Highlights of FedNor’s 2025-26 authorities are as follows:
• $27.4 million for the Northern Ontario Development Program which includes $20.8 million in core funding, $4.6 million in top-up funding, and $2.0 million for the Tourism Growth Program;
• $17.5 million for the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program which includes $11.0 million in core funding, $4.1 million in top-up funding, $2.2 million in temporary funding for the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, and $0.2 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Program;
• $8.4 million for the Community Futures Program in support of 24 Community Future Organizations in Northern Ontario;
• $0.8 million for the Economic Development Initiative in continued support of Official Language minority communities; and,
• $17.7 million in total operating expenditures including $2.1 million for Employee Benefits.

The increases of $16.7 million in the Main Estimates for 2025-26 compared to the Main Estimates for 2024-25 consist of the following:
• $4.1 million in temporary funding announced in Budget 2024 related to the renewal of top-up funding for the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program;
• $5.0 million in temporary funding announced in Budget 2024 related to the renewal of top-up funding for the Northern Ontario Development Program;
• $2.4 million in temporary funding announced in Budget 2024 related to the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative;
• $5.0 million related to the termination of an internal transfer from FedNor to the Department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED); and,
• $0.2 million in other adjustments