Launch of Second Intake of the Community Adjustment Fund in Southern Ontario

The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

St. Catharines, Ontario
December 15, 2009

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Welcome ladies and gentlemen, friends and honoured guests.

It’s a privilege for me to be here in St. Catharines today to share some good news with you. This city, like many other communities in southern Ontario, has undergone significant change in recent months.

Despite the solid and diverse business base that has thrived here for years, the economy of St. Catharines and the Niagara Region has experienced challenges due to the global economic recession.

That is why the residents of this city – like all Canadians – are concerned first and foremost about jobs and the state of the economy. Canadians understand this must be the government’s top priority.

And I want to assure you that our government has heard the concerns of southern Ontario and is taking action to strengthen its economy.

We unveiled our Economic Action Plan, which has helped support our economy through this downturn. And through our plan, we have invested in vital infrastructure projects from coast to coast to coast.

Roads, bridges, waterways, arenas and community centres are being renewed right across this country. These important projects are putting Canadians and Ontarians back to work.

Our government has also cut taxes for businesses and families and extended employment insurance benefits for jobseekers. In every corner of this country, we are getting the job done.

The good news is our efforts are paying off. We have all heard that Canada is poised to emerge from this recession ahead of all other G-8 nations.

Closer to home, I was heartened to see home sales hitting record levels throughout Ontario recently. We have also seen workers recalled along production lines, from CAMI in Ingersoll to auto workers in Oshawa.

Here in St. Catharines, General Motors plans to build a new transmission product, which will provide needed security for local auto workers.

All of this is great news for southern Ontario, but there is more work to be done. That is why we created the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, or FedDev Ontario, as we like to call it.

FedDev Ontario’s mandate is to deliver economic development programs that build on the strengths of communities in this part of the province. And the Agency is investing in new opportunities for the people and businesses in those communities.

I was honoured when Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked me to take on the role as Minister of State responsible for this agency. As a life-long resident of southern Ontario, I have seen firsthand how innovation and partnership can transform a community.

Since FedDev Ontario was created, we have worked hard to deliver development programs throughout the region and build on the strengths of communities such as St. Catharines.

Our government is committed to bolstering the economy of southern Ontario and driving forward economic development, innovation and diversification.

In October, I was in London to launch the Agency’s core economic development initiative, the $100-million Southern Ontario Development Program. Since its launch, we have committed more than $90 million toward a number of projects aimed at strengthening the economy.

FedDev Ontario has also administered southern Ontario’s portion of our government’s Community Adjustment Fund. To date, we have funded 90 projects worth more than $101 million.

As I said, there is much still to be done. That is why I am pleased to announce today that Canada’s government is launching the second phase of the Community Adjustment Fund. Another $127.8 million is now available for southern Ontario organizations and businesses.

That’s right ladies and gentleman, businesses.

Over the past few months, FedDev Ontario has been talking to stakeholders about their challenges and how the Agency’s programs can help. We have incorporated some of that feedback into this intake process. The most notable example is that small- and medium-sized enterprises are now eligible under the Community Adjustment Fund.

CAF is another piece of our Government’s Economic Action Plan that aims to help those communities that have been hard-hit by the effects of the economic downturn.

Beginning today, FedDev Ontario will accept applications for eligible CAF projects.

This means any established eligible business or organization looking to expand or grow, or to commercialize an innovative idea or technology is welcome to submit an application.

Applications will be assessed based on merit and degree to which they create jobs; expand and strengthen businesses; and enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of communities. 

As you can see, we are moving quickly to stimulate the economy in southern Ontario.

With your help, we will continue to support the people, businesses and communities in the region and pave the way toward a brighter future.

Thank you. Merci.