Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford says he’s launching a new funding program that the government thinks will work much better for the people of northern Ontario.
Rickford is overhauling the current Heritage Fund to make it easier for more people and businesses to apply for money to spur economic growth, especially in rural and northern communities.
“Target both existing and emerging opportunities and provide more opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses. And to address the skilled labour shortage in the north and aid the continued recovery from COVID-19.”
Rickford says the changes were based on the feedback they received from municipalities in the region and local businesses.
He stresses “NOHFC is going to be bigger, better, stronger and more responsive to a broader set of constituents.”
The Kenora-Rainy River MPP says the new program will launch in January.
Rickford notes applications to the current fund will end today (Wednesday), but they will still process those and will be handing out funding for projects that have been approved.
