FAQs

1. What is the EDI?
2. How is the EDI being delivered?
3. How much funding will be available through the EDI?
4. How does EDI fit within the Government of Canada's priorities?
5. Who can apply for EDI funding?
6. What type of projects would be approved under the EDI?
7. What is the EDI review and approval process?
8. What are the anticipated results of the EDI?

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Q1. What is the EDI?

A. The Economic Development Initiative (EDI) is a Government of Canada initiative that seeks to address the specific economic development circumstances and needs of each region to facilitate sustainable growth in official language minority communities (OLMCs). EDI will promote the development of new expertise through innovation, diversification of economic activities, partnerships, and increased support of small- and medium-sized businesses.

Q2. How is the EDI being delivered?

A. In Ontario, the EDI is being delivered through Industry Canada/FedNor for Northern Ontario and FedDev Ontario for Southern Ontario. In the rest of Canada, the responsibility is shared regionally among the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (CED), Western Economic Diversification Canada (WED) and Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).

Industry Canada will have responsibility for the coordination and evaluation of the EDI on a national level.

Q3. How much funding will be available through the EDI?

A. Across Canada, the Government of Canada is providing $30.5 million to the EDI for the period ending March 31, 2013. Ontario has been allocated $8.9 million. FedDev Ontario will invest $4 million in southern Ontario.

Q4. How does EDI fit within the Government of Canada's priorities?

A. In June 2008, Minister for La Francophonie, the Honourable Josée Verner, announced the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future, a government-wide investment of $1.1 billion across 15 federal departments and agencies to encourage linguistic duality among Canadians. The Roadmap offers support to official language minority communities in five priority areas: health, justice, immigration, economic development, and arts and culture. The EDI is the Roadmap’s key economic development component.

Q5. Who can apply for EDI funding?

A. Eligible recipients would normally include Francophone or bilingual organizations that provide programs or services in French to the Francophone community. For example, this could include community economic development corporations, not-for-profit organizations and sector associations, post-secondary institutions that offer full-time programs in French and municipalities that service the Francophone community.

Q6. What type of projects would be approved under the EDI?

A. Eligible activities include incremental, project-based business and economic development activities that enhance the economic base and competitiveness of Southern Ontario’s Francophone communities, foster sustainable economic growth and respond to the needs of Francophone communities. This would normally include activities undertaken in French by, or for the benefit of, a Francophone client group.

Q7. What is the EDI review and approval process?

A. Intake deadlines of June 17, 2009, and September 16, 2009 are now closed. Projects in southern Ontario have been assessed and reviewed based on their own merit and according to the EDI’s objectives and priorities. Approved projects will be announced over the coming weeks.

Q8. What are the anticipated results of the EDI?

A. The EDI is expected to result in a number of advancements for Ontario’s OLM communities, including the development of new or improved tools and services for entrepreneurs and SMEs, improved strategic planning leadership for communities, improved growth and competitiveness of the small business sector, and the development of innovative and diversified SMEs led by young entrepreneurs.