Fednor’s Defence Announcement
Government of Canada invests to empower local companies better compete for defence industry contracts
July 29, 2019 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON — Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario — FedNor
Northern Ontario businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of opportunities in the defence industry supply chain thanks to a Government of Canada investment of $785,740. The FedNor funding will enable the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation (SSMEDC), on behalf of Ontario North Economic Development Corporation (ONEDC), to undertake a three-year pilot project to assist companies and SMEs compete for lucrative defence-related contracts and work.
The announcement was made today by Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Minister responsible for FedNor.
As part of the project, the SSMEDC will hire a project manager and a coordinator to provide technical support to companies in their bid preparation and certification efforts, as well as to develop and host workshops to raise awareness of opportunities, and develop a recruitment and retention strategy for businesses and innovation stakeholders in the defence industry. This project dovetails with the Government of Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, which encourages companies to establish or grow their presence in Canada, strengthen Canadian supply chains, and develop Canadian industrial capabilities in areas such as innovation, research and development, supplier development, and exports.