February 19, 2014 – Strathroy, Ontario – Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear today spoke to members of the Lambton—Kent—Middlesex area chambers of commerce to highlight the Government of Canada's latest initiatives in Economic Action Plan 2014 to support jobs and growth, while returning to balanced budgets in 2015.
Minister Goodyear outlined a number of targeted and affordable measures proposed in Economic Action Plan 2014 to spur job creation and economic growth in an uncertain global economy, including:
- Launching the Canada Job Grant and an enhanced Job Matching Service to help connect Canadians with available jobs.
- Introducing a new Canada Apprentice Loan to help apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with the cost of training by offering over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.
- Investing in programs to help older workers and persons with disabilities access the labour market.
- Creating thousands of new paid internships for young Canadians entering the job market.
- Providing $1.5 billion over the next decade for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund for post-secondary research.
- Further enhancing the Canada Accelerator and Incubator Program to provide entrepreneurs with intensive mentoring and other resources to develop their business.
Supporting the Government's priorities, FedDev Ontario launched a series of funding initiatives in December 2013. More than $530 million is available through the Southern Ontario Prosperity Initiatives, aimed at retaining, attracting and growing businesses in southern Ontario to increase the region's global competitiveness. Also, $200 million over five years is available through the Advanced Manufacturing Fund in Ontario, aimed at the development of transformative products and technologies to help Ontario manufacturers create jobs and compete with the rest of the world.
Stephanie Thomas
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear
613-943-7599
Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
416-954-6652
FedDevMedia@FedDevOntario.gc.ca
Toll Free: 1-866-593-5505
Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca
Subscribe to our news updates and follow us on Twitter @FedDevOntario
