(NORTH BAY, ON) Pauline Rochefort, Nipissing-Timiskaming MP and Parliamentary Secretary (Rural Affairs) announced a targeted $472,859 Government of Canada investment to help Northern Ontario businesses diversify into the defence industry.
The FedNor funding will enable the City of North Bay to launch a multi-year pilot project to help position Northern Ontario businesses for long-term success in the defence industry.
“This $472,859 investment will support Northern Ontario companies by helping them gain access to compete for lucrative defence sector contracts," said MP Rochefort during the announcement at North Bay City Hall.
"It will help create more good-paying jobs, diversify the regional economy and pave the way for more businesses to enter this critical industry, including businesses here at home in Nipissing-Timiskaming. We have a wealth of companies primed to enter defence industry and I am proud that FedNor funding will help make that happen," she added.
The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor.
As part of the project, the City of North Bay Economic Development Department will coordinate activities and provide support to companies in their certification efforts. This non-repayable funding will also be used to develop and host workshops to raise awareness of opportunities in the defence industry as well as topics such as certifications required for bids, how to prepare bids for the defence industry and how to effectively pitch to prime contractors. This includes helping the City host the Northern Ontario Road to Defence (NORD) Conference and exploring ways to have eligible businesses to join a Northern Ontario delegation at industry events.
The world is changing rapidly. The international rules-based order is fading, and technological change is expanding the fields of conflict. In response, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control to protect Canada’s sovereignty, build our prosperity, and strengthen our strategic autonomy.
Today’s announcement builds on the Government of Canada’s recently announced Buy Canadian plan for supplying the military and growing Canada's domestic defence industry. This $6.6-billion plan promises to prioritize building military equipment at home, hike the share of defence contracts awarded to Canadian firms and add up to 125,000 new jobs over the next decade. It also supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP, or approximately $63 billion, in 2025-26, and to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Quotes
“Canada was built by Canadians, and our defence industry is no different. By supporting domestic efforts to grow our armed forces through the Buy Canada plan for supplying the military, we are investing in Canada and in Northern Ontario. This will create real opportunities for businesses and workers, here at home. When we empower Canadian industries to thrive, we contribute to a safer future for all generations.”
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor
“We’re pleased to see this investment by FedNor, which will help North Bay businesses explore opportunities in the defence sector. We thank FedNor for this support and look forward to seeing the positive impact it can have on local companies, jobs, and our community.”
- Mayor Peter Chirico, City of North Bay
Quick facts
- The funding announced today is provided through FedNor’s Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation Fund (REGI), which supports the growth of Northern Ontario businesses, their expansion into new markets, and their adoption of new technologies and processes.
- The Canadian defence industry is comprised of nearly 600 businesses that contributed over $9.6B in GDP, while supporting more than 80,000 jobs across the country. These companies include large Canadian-owned firms, Canada-based subsidiaries of large multinational companies, and many small and medium-sized businesses in Canada that employ highly skilled workers in high-quality jobs.
Associated links
- To find out more about our programs and services, please visit: canada.ca
- Follow us on X (Twitter): @FedNor
- Follow us on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/fednor
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