FedNor contributes $8.7M to Northern Ontario tourism projects
In recognition of National Tourism Week, and in support of businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has committed more than $8.7 million in supports to several northern Ontario businesses.
Patty Hajdu, the federal minister responsible for FedNor, announced the funding for 58 projects on June 4. Some of the money will go directly to support businesses. Other agencies will use the funding to support a variety of construction projects.
“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tourism Minister Randy Moussonnault. “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 Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission will receive $500,000 in funding, and has earmarked the money to help revitalize the city’s waterfront. The project will include trail development and paving, site restoration, rubble removal and processing, expansion of the existing electrical grid, and the development of lighting, fencing and cameras.
The Town of Blind River will also receive a non-repayable contribution of $500,000 to replace existing infrastructure and create a fully accessible dock area with electrical and potable water access at each of its 24 transient boat slips.
The project will also establish an emergency docking area to provide boats in distress a safe harbour and create an area for private-sector businesses to work on boats that are too large to be trailered to a land-based workshop.
Once complete, the project will connect visitors to the community’s downtown area and public beach.
“We are grateful for the assistance from FedNor to enable us to do these important upgrades and make our new dock area safe and fully accessible for all who visit our area,” said Mayor Sally Hagman. “By offering modern service hook-ups and stable, comfortable, and secure boat slips at the marina, we will encourage boaters to leave their boats and come visit downtown Blind River. This final phase of the Town’s waterfront regeneration initiative will help maximize the tourism and economic potential of our waterfront development area.”
Tamarack Island Wilderness Lodge, meanwhile, will receive $100,000 to winterize its facilities, while Obabikon Bay Camp will also receive $100,000 to develop an events venue at its location on Lake of the Woods.
A complete list of projects is available on the Government of Canada’s website. Funding is being provided through the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), and will help to create and maintain more than 578 jobs across the region.
Launched in July 2021, the TRF 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 welcome back travellers. The fund is administered by Canada’s regional development agencies and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s tourism sector generated $102 billion in annual economic activity, 1.8 million jobs and accounted for over two percent of GDP.