Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced FedNor investments totalling $1.7 million for 10 projects in the Kenora region funded through the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF).

“We are deeply focused on supporting the tourism sector through their economic rebuild. Today’s funding will champion jobs, businesses and regional recovery efforts, and encourage visitors to discover Kenora and Northwestern Ontario’s fantastic tourist destinations.

- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor

“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting businesses and organizations through these challenging times, keeping safety as the top priority while ensuring they get support to quickly recover, innovate their products and services, and thrive. The Tourism Relief Fund will help businesses adapt, make improvements, and be ready to welcome back guests. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector survive the pandemic, recover and grow. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”

- The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to highlight the importance of safe and inclusive outdoor spaces within Northern Ontario communities. More so in the Kenora region where tourism is a major driving force for our economy. Today’s announcement will help illuminate five-kilometres of our Nordic ski trail system, allowing us to extend operating hours, enhance the user experience and attract more tourists and regional sporting events to the area.”

- Tom Mosindy, Chair, Kenora Nordic and Biathlon Club

• The tourism sector is a key contributor to the Canadian economy. In 2019, tourism generated over
  $104 billion in revenue and directly employed 692,000 people, including those in underrepresented groups like women, students, racialized people, and Indigenous populations.

• With a national budget of $500 million, including $485 million for regional priorities administered by Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and $15 million for national priorities administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the Tourism Relief Fund is part of the billion dollars in tourism support announced in Budget 2021.

• A minimum of $50 million of the fund’s budget has been earmarked for Indigenous tourism projects. Indigenous communities that rely heavily on tourism have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

Related products

• Backgrounder: FedNor invests more than $1.7 million in support of tourism to promote a strong recovery and future growth across the Kenora region

Associated links

• To find out more about our programs and services, please visit: fednor.gc.ca
• Follow us on Twitter @FedNor
• Tourism Relief Fund
• Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP)
• Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP)
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Alison Murphy, Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
Alison.Murphy@sac-isc.gc.ca

Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Media Relations