FedNor investing more than $2.8 million to strengthen and grow Northern Ontario’s tourism sector 

News release

Federal funding to support 14 tourism projects that will help create and maintain more than 100 jobs

 

April 28, 2023 – Thunder Bay, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario – FedNor

Today, in recognition of the National Tourism Week (April 24-30), the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor, announced federal investments totalling $2,886,971 to protect, strengthen and grow Northern Ontario’s tourism sector. Provided through the FedNor’s core programs and the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), the investments will support 14 tourism initiatives across the region.

To help maximize the social and economic potential of the Northern Ontario’s tourism sector, the funding will support a variety of strategic initiatives such as supporting waterfront development in Thunder Bay and the towns of Smooth Rock Falls and Marathon. It will assist tourism operators such as Lac Seul Resort, Noelville Family Resort and Crawford's Camp as they modernize and grow their operations. Today’s announcement will also support downtown revitalization projects in Thunder Bay and the Manitoulin district, while helping to improve tourism assets in Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, Temiskaming Shores, and the Municipality of French River.

For more details on the projects being funded, please see the associated backgrounder .

Quotes

With over $2.8 million in investments from FedNor to bolster Northern Ontario communities, businesses and operators, there hasn't been a better time to attract people to our beautiful region. If you’re up for an adventure,  join the more than 9.2 million people who visit Northern Ontario each year. Our region is powered by tourism, and visitors are in for a treat!

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

As we move past the acute phase of the pandemic, Canada’s tourism sector is showing strong signs of growth. The Government of Canada’s investments in tourism over the last two years focused on the survival of our visitor economy. As we move to revival and the growth of the sector, we continue to provide targeted support to tourism businesses so they can keep delivering unforgettable experiences. A fully recovered and robust tourism sector is key to our government’s ongoing work in building an economy that works for all Canadians.

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

Quick facts

  • National Tourism Week is an annual invitation for all tourism partners to come together to champion and promote Canada’s destinations, tourism businesses, and employees – from coast to coast to coast. The rebuilding of Canada’s visitor economy is now underway, but there’s a long way to go before tourism reclaims being the $105-billion economic powerhouse it was pre-pandemic. That’s why this year’s theme is CANADA: Powered by Tourism!

  • Launched in July 2021, the Tourism Relief Fund was created to help organizations and businesses in the tourism sector adapt their operations to meet public health requirements, offer innovative products and services to visitors and prepare to welcome back travellers. Canada’s regional development agencies are delivering $485 million in Tourism Relief Fund support.

  • With an overall budget of $500 million, including $485 million for regional priorities administered by Canada’s regional development agencies and $15 million for the National Priorities Stream 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 regional priorities budget has been earmarked for Indigenous tourism projects. Indigenous communities that rely heavily on tourism have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic

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Associated links

Contacts

Zeus Eden

Press Secretary

Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu

Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor

zeus.eden@sac-isc.gc.ca

Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Media Relations

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