Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Results-based Plan 2014-15

Ministry overview

Mandate

The Ontario government is committed to creating a strong, diversified and globally competitive economy that will provide jobs, increase productivity and result in prosperity for all Ontarians.

The Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) and the Ministry of Economic Development Trade and Employment (MEDTE) support a strong, innovative and competitive economy which provides jobs and prosperity for all Ontarians by: supporting regional growth in key priority sectors; implementing research and innovation policies to deliver an agenda which focuses on excellence, performance and results; strengthening Ontario, nationally and internationally as a premier location for investment, trade, research, innovation and commercialization; promoting the modernization of government; and making Ontario more accessible and inclusive.

The Ministries are focused on building an Ontario economy that is forward-looking, agile, accessible and innovative.

Ministry contribution to priorities and results

The Ontario government is committed to building a strong and competitive economy that creates jobs and prosperity today and in the future. Supporting businesses and research to enhance productivity and innovation paves the way to a stronger Ontario. The Ministries are dedicated to this commitment by focusing on six key goals:

1. Attract, expand and retain high-value, quality investment and jobs in target markets and sectors.
   • Lead economic development through attracting and supporting strategic investment opportunities.
   • Enhance and/or disseminate economic sector expertise for priority sectors, development of strategic market intelligence and participation at key conferences/events around the world; and work collaboratively across ministries to help support sector growth and competitiveness.
   • Create jobs and grow the economy through the newly announced 10-year, $2.5 billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund. The fund would help Ontario compete to attract new business and form partnerships to secure investments that would result in economic growth, innovation and jobs.
   • Drive client outreach and stakeholder management through strategic forums/sector roundtables with key stakeholders.
   • Strengthen and broaden Ontario’s international profile as a compelling jurisdiction for foreign investment.
   • Stimulate international commercialization partnerships that benefit Ontario innovators, with the emerging innovations ultimately helping to generate new commercial activity including exports for Ontario.
2. Stimulate foreign investment and attract foreign talent to encourage innovation and business growth in Ontario.
   • Support Ontario businesses, including to export or expand into new markets.
   • Expand Ontario’s exports by increasing the number of new exporters and encouraging export market diversification.
   • Assist in advancing export transactions and projects through in-market advocacy.
   • Identify new market opportunities for Ontario exporters.
   • Lead trade missions with Ontario businesses to access new export opportunities.
   • Increase international awareness of Ontario’s quality goods and services.
   • Build a global mind-set at the local and regional level through Community Export Development initiatives.
3. Provide economic and innovation related policy and research support to the Ontario government.
   • Lead economic development and innovation-related research used to track and measure Ontario’s productivity, competitiveness, and job creation capacity.
   • Undertake economic research and analysis and develop policies to further Ontario’s economic development, innovation, competitiveness and trade interests.
   • Lead the development and coordination of the Ministry’s policy agenda, including providing advice and strategic policy options to strengthen Ontario’s economic development, innovation and competitiveness.
   • Lead and coordinate Ontario’s engagement in Federal-Provincial-Territorial policy deliberations.
   • Represent and advance Ontario’s trade interests in international and inter- provincial trade negotiations and disputes.
   • Support growth, competitiveness and job creation within Ontario’s health technology sector through the Ontario Health Innovation Council (OHIC), a short-term advisory body that brings together experts from various sectors to facilitate the development of health technology innovations, advance strategic procurement in the health system and expand the adoption of innovative new technologies more broadly across the health care system.
4. Lead the government’s Open for Business, Social Enterprise and Accessibility initiatives.
   • Create a streamlined and focused regulatory environment that delivers results for business, while protecting the public interest.
   • Deliver better processes, products and services, including service standards that support the needs of business.
   • Create an open and responsive working relationship between business and government.
   • Continue to develop the Solutions Lab Partnership including collaborating with MaRS to build capacity in the OPS on the use of design thinking and methodologies to tackle social and economic challenges from a systems perspective.
   • Support the Government’s report back to the Jobs and Prosperity Council on progress related to, Advantage Ontario report recommendations.
   • Work with partner ministries, agencies and stakeholders to promote social entrepreneurship in Ontario.
   • The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario (ADO) leads the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) and the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 (ODA). To achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities by 2025, the ADO develops, reviews and enforces accessibility standards; forges strategic partnerships to promote accessibility initiatives; and provides public education and guidance, tools and resources for accessibility planning and programming.
5. Support leading edge research and innovation in Ontario and promote Ontario’s excellence in this area to the world.
   • Through the Ministry’s research programs, fund leading-edge research in Ontario to develop talent, build infrastructure and cultivate new ideas.
   • Foster continued research and innovation through support of dedicated research institutes.
   • Support internationally recognized institutes that harness Ontario’s strength in health research and focus on commercialization and improved patient and health outcomes
   • Oversee Ontario’s efforts to promote innovation and facilitate a robust venture capital industry.
6. Provide supports to Ontario entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including focused supports for innovative and high growth firms.
   • Assist entrepreneurs, including youth in the process of start-up and early-stage business development through partnerships with municipalities, private sector and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
   • Support enhancement of productivity and increased sustainability among Ontario’s high growth firms and small and medium enterprises on key clusters in order to encourage their competitiveness on a global scale.
   • Support stimulation of a constructive business environment, including infrastructure, which encourages the development of high growth firms and e- business supports to assist companies in the global economy.
   • Provide information, advice and services to Ontario’s high growth firms, communities, business networks and other regional development stakeholders.
   • Support the integration of local service networks that deliver important programs and services to entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, including Small Business Enterprise Centres, Regional Innovation Centres and Business Advisory Services offices.
7. Deliver and support a comprehensive Youth Jobs Strategy to create employment and mentorship opportunities for Ontario youth.
   • Promote entrepreneurship and improve job prospects for youth, including vulnerable youth by providing them with the opportunity to become job creators.
   • Provide business training and mentorship for youth to assist young entrepreneurs starting or expanding “Main Street” companies.
   • Translating innovative knowledge generated in post-secondary institutions into economic growth through entrepreneurship, research and development and experiential learning opportunities.
   • Supporting partnerships that provide training that addresses skills gaps and leads to long-term employment.

Ministry programs and activities

The following are the major programs and services delivered by the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment and Research and Innovation:

Global competitiveness and investment attraction

The Ministry works with companies in key sectors to attract and encourage strategic investments in the province. This includes proactively targeting investment opportunities, ensuring early engagement, building strong relationships, tailoring value propositions and promoting the many strengths of doing business in Ontario.

The Investment Ready: Certified Site Program, launched in 2013, provides grants and international marketing assistance to land owners who undertake due diligence work on industrial land. Increased information about a property reduces the risk involved in real estate transactions, and ultimately fosters faster site selection and investment decisions. Currently, approximately 40 applicants across Ontario, including in rural and Northern Ontario, are undertaking the certification process. Once certified, these sites will create an inventory of pre-qualified, industrial properties that will be promoted internationally to site selectors and investors as well as utilized by staff at federal, provincial and local levels in their investment attraction efforts. Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada with a province-wide site certification program.

The newly announced Jobs and Prosperity Fund will support the recommendations of the Jobs and Prosperity Council to bolster innovation, increase productivity and increase Ontario’s reach in the global market. Support would target key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence, automotive, and communications technology.

The Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund and Strategic Investments provide grants and loans to attract investment in leading edge projects that will build strategic capacity and cluster development as well as create new high-value-added jobs. These funds provide flexible strategic investment support for business so that Ontario can successfully compete against other jurisdictions to attract investments in leading edge priority sectors including clean/green technologies; financial services; information and communication technology; and life sciences sectors of Ontario’s economy.

The Ministry provides leadership in strengthening and broadening Ontario’s profile as a compelling jurisdiction for foreign investment and trade; assisting Ontario small and medium-sized enterprises and leading edge innovators to achieve business growth through international market expansion; attracting foreign companies to invest in the province with the goal of creating jobs in key strategic sectors; and forging mutually beneficial research, commercialization and business partnerships.

In 2013-14, the Ministry launched the new Ontario Global Talent Business Advantage Program that supports the high-skilled talent needs of Ontario companies and investments. The program issues work permit support letters so that Ontario companies have access to talent that is not available in Canada but is required for the success of their project or investment in Ontario.

Three of the Ministry’s programs, while no longer open to applications, were part of the government’s economic development strategy to stimulate economic growth and create a sustainable and globally competitive workplace for Ontarians:
Through the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Strategy, repayable loans with an interest incentive were provided to encourage companies to transform processes and adopt leading edge technologies to increase productivity and competitiveness. Although the program was closed to new applications in February of 2010, existing program contracts continue to be actively managed and monitored.

The Next Generation of Jobs Fund supported research, development and commercialization in innovative industries and attracted new investments in strategic areas of Ontario’s economy which included clean automotive and other green technology; health and biotechnology research and development; creative industries (e.g., digital media); and pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. Although the Fund stopped accepting applications in December of 2009, existing program contracts continue to be actively managed and monitored.

The Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy program was launched in April 2004 as a $500 million funding program designed to enhance competitiveness in the automotive sector through investments in transformative processes and the adoption of leading edge technologies. By partnering and leveraging private sector investments, Ontario’s support helped drive innovation and global competitiveness in Ontario’s auto sector. The Ontario Automotive Investment Strategy has been closed to new applications since 2009.

As well, the Ministry uses a highly targeted multifaceted marketing program including advertising, media relations, direct and interactive marketing and social media to increase the awareness of Ontario’s economic business advantages.

Regional economic and small business development

The Ministry leads economic development in Ontario through strategic investment in key regions of the province and managing relationships with stakeholders. Key programs include:

Eastern Ontario Development Fund continues to support projects that create and retain jobs, encourage the introduction of new technologies, assist private sector firms, communities and sector groups to pursue growth in new markets, improve their competitive position, and ultimately, contribute to the diversification of the economy of Eastern Ontario. This includes the 15 geographic areas east of Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes and Muskoka (Muskoka was added as an eligible region in 2013) as well as Ottawa. The Fund provides grants and loans to businesses and not-for-profit organizations to support projects that will attract investment and support job creation in the region.

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund supports projects in the 18 geographic areas of Southwestern Ontario that create and retain jobs, encourage the introduction of new technologies, assist private sector firms, communities and sector groups to pursue growth in new markets and improve their competitive position of the region. Simcoe County was added to the list of eligible areas in 2013. The Fund supports the attraction and retention of employment, investment, and promotes innovation, and cluster development and collaborations in the region.

Communities in Transition supports communities and industry sectors facing economic development challenges, significant job losses and industry-wide restructuring by assisting recipients to set strategies, build capacity and implement new economic development initiatives.

Accessibility

Through the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, the Ministry is at the forefront of the government’s plan to make Ontario accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. Key programs include:

Supporting the government’s appointment of members to the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council/Standards Development Committee (ASAC/SDC), which provides advice to the government on accessibility initiatives, including the development of new accessibility standards and mandatory review of existing standards. A review of the Customer Service Standard began in 2013, and ASAC/SDC will be responsible for reviewing the standards under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation in 2016, and the Design of Public Spaces Standard in 2017.

The Directorate also provides support to Mayo Moran as she conducts the second legislative review of the AODA. Reviews of the act are required every three years.

The Directorate supports government responses to all reviews. In addition, the Directorate supports the Minister’s tabling of the AODA Annual Report in the Legislature.

Through public education and outreach the Directorate raises awareness about Ontario’s accessibility standards and supports businesses and other organizations with implementation and compliance. Activities include: participating in a variety of conferences and speaking engagements, both in person and online, around the province; providing free tools and resources on the Ministry’s website; promoting accessibility and compliance through the Ministry’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook channels; and administering the EnAbling Change Program, which funds umbrella organizations to educate an industry/sector on their obligations under the AODA.

The Directorate uses a modern approach to oversee AODA compliance with accessibility standards by providing a range of compliance and enforcement tools, from public education to audits and inspections. In 2014, the Directorate continues monitoring compliance with accessibility requirements that are in effect and providing assistance to organizations that are found to be non-compliant. Enforcement action is pursued where warranted.

Youth programs and services

The Ministry provides opportunities for Ontario’s youth, ages 15 to 29, to explore entrepreneurship as a viable career option and develop business skills through a range of programs, services, partnerships and grants. Key programs include:

Young Entrepreneurs, Make Your Pitch is a pilot program for high school students to make a two minute video to pitch their winning business idea.

Through Summer Company, students aged 15 to 29, are provided hands on business training, mentoring and up to $3,000 in awards to start up and run their own summer business.

Ontario Global Edge allows postsecondary students aged 19 to 29 to gain international work experience.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships program provides funding to non-profit organizations to deliver projects and activities for Ontario youth aged 12 to 29 to expand the reach of Ministry entrepreneurial programs.

Tools developed and promoted through programs include:

• Future Entrepreneurs is a curriculum support toolkit introducing Grade 7 to 10 students to entrepreneurship through role models, case studies and activities.
• The Business Plan Wizard is an e-learning application that teaches Grade 7 to 12 students how to develop a business plan in a fun and interactive way.

The Youth Jobs Strategy (YJS) announced in the 2013 Ontario Budget is a government initiative that promotes employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and innovation for youth in Ontario. Delivered by both Ministries, the YJS supports outreach, training, mentorship, experiential learning, access to capital and hiring incentives to engage youth along a full spectrum of employment, internship and entrepreneurship opportunities. Programs include the following:

• High School Entrepreneurship Outreach sparks an interest in entrepreneurship as a viable career option and lets students engage with entrepreneurial ideas and opportunities.
• Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects support youth facing multiple barriers to employment to gain the skills necessary to implement a self-employment venture or small scale business.
• Starter Company helps youth to launch “Main Street” businesses in their communities.
• Youth Business Acceleration Program supports the development of technology companies by young entrepreneurs.
• SmartStart Seed Fund provides initial investment seed stage grants of up to $35,000 to enable promising youth-led ventures to reach early milestones in creating and growing their start-ups.
• Youth Investment Acceleration Fund supports the growth of emerging technology companies led by young entrepreneurs by providing investment capital of up to $250,000.
• Campus-Linked Accelerators (CLA), On-Campus Entrepreneurship Activities (OCEA), and TalentEdge are newly launched innovation and technology commercialization focused initiatives designed to harness Ontario’s youth (students) as a means to convert knowledge and discovery into economic impact through cultivating their entrepreneurial and business skills, and providing them with the real world experience they need to develop into Ontario’s next generation of innovators.
• The Youth Skills Connections (YSC) program promotes partnerships among business, labour, educators, not-for-profit organizations and youth to identify and solve skills development issues. The fund is delivered through two distinct streams:
  • Industry Stream trains youth to respond to skill gaps identified by industry with priority on certifiable, industry-recognized and transferable skills.
  • Community Stream trains vulnerable youth to build their capability and capacity to find jobs. Training provided through partnerships led by not- for-profit organizations with attention to addressing niche requirements of vulnerable populations.

Innovation

The Ministry promotes innovation in Ontario through initiatives that help entrepreneurs and companies with high-growth potential transform leading ideas and discoveries into tomorrow’s technologies, products and services. Some key programs include:

Commercialization and Innovation Network Support (CINS) provides funding for a suite of commercialization support services delivered through MaRS, the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), the Regional Innovation Centres (RICs), and other members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE). The programming provided is a vital component in the delivery of Ontario’s innovation agenda and helps ensure that Ontario innovators have every opportunity to generate new business, companies and jobs within the province. CINS also provides educational and funding programs which focus on strengthening entrepreneurial talent, creating globally competitive businesses and support innovators throughout their process.

Funding under CINS also includes continued Ministry support for The Communitech Hub, an accelerator for digital media and mobile companies that serves as the physical focal point for the Waterloo region’s innovation and technology commercialization eco-system.

The Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) is a provincial initiative to transform the forest products industry in Northern Ontario. The Centre is an independent, not-for-profit research corporation that partners closely with other relevant organizations to provide support to turn research and innovative business opportunities into operational realities.

The Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund (NVCF) is a venture capital partnership between Ontario, the federal government and institutional investors that will help companies access the capital they need to grow and create jobs. Using a fund-of-funds model, similar to the Ministry’s successful Ontario Venture Capital Fund, NVCF had its first closing with a total value of over $217 million in commitments in January 2014. The Fund’s value could rise to $300 million as additional private sector partners invest in the fund. NVCF has already made commitments to three venture capital funds and invested directly in one Ontario company.

Entrepreneurship

The Ministry leads entrepreneurship and small business development by providing information, expertise and support to entrepreneurs and early stage businesses. Key programs include:

• The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) - a collaborative initiative that brings together centres/personnel whose primary purpose is to support Ontario’s entrepreneurial community. The ONE is comprised of:
  • Regional Innovation Centres (RICs) provide support to innovation-based entrepreneurs to help them reach new levels of success and ensure success in the new, knowledge-based economy;
  • Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) work in partnership with municipal governments to accelerate the start-up and growth of local “main street’ businesses; and
  • Business Advisory Services (BAS) - focused on helping existing and aspiring high-growth firms grow their businesses in the province and abroad.
• Each of these centres/personnel offer tailored programs, services and resources to assist the entire range of business clients – from “main street” businesses to technology-based innovators and from local to global operations.

The Ministry also supports inter-ministerial initiatives to improve access to affordable high-speed broadband for all Ontarians and promotes the adoption of e-Business by small and medium enterprises through training and resource materials to increase their competitiveness and success in the digital economy.

High growth small and medium enterprises

The Ministry provides support for Ontario’s existing and aspiring high growth firms through “hands on” business development expertise and services.

Business Advisory Services – Through its twenty-six senior business advisors in twelve offices across Southern Ontario, the Ministry works directly with existing and aspiring high growth firms producing tradable goods or services. Through in-depth consultations and potential application of a range of public and private sector resources, business advisors help companies grow their domestic and export sales, enhance their competitiveness and productivity, source capital for expansion and develop plans for continued advancement.

Business Development - Energy Connections, Wisdom Exchange, Leading Growth Firm Reports and Probe for Sustainability and Manufacturing provide help by linking growing small and medium enterprises to information on accessing new markets, tools to enhance productivity and sustainability and resources for executive development.

Research

The Ministry supports and promotes research in Ontario by leading key strategies and programs that ensure Ontario is globally competitive in the creation and adoption of new ideas and technology. Key programs include:

The Ontario Research Fund – A  Research Excellence provides researchers with the support to undertake cutting-edge research and promotes research excellence in Ontario by supporting transformative, internationally significant research of strategic value to the province. The Fund focuses on scientific excellence and strong commercialization potential and targets new, leading edge, transformational research initiatives while fostering and celebrating innovation through its outreach activities.

The Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure -supports the modernization, development and acquisition of new research infrastructure. The Fund ensures researchers have the funds to invest in state-of-the art equipment and facilities which enable research institutions to attract the best talent and create essential capacity to conduct world-leading research. Promising new areas of research and technology development are supported through the Small and Large Infrastructure Funds and the College Industry Innovation Fund.

Through the Early Researcher Awards, the Ministry helps promising, recently- appointed Ontario researchers build their research teams of undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, associates, and technicians. The program encourages applications from a diverse range of disciplines including math, physics, life sciences, social sciences and arts and humanities. It helps Ontario research institutions attract and retain leading edge researchers.

The Ontario Brain Institute provides strategic direction for brain research in Ontario and is helping raise Ontario’s international profile and role in neuroscience scholarship and the global marketplace. The Ontario Brain Institute plays a catalytic role by bringing together multi-disciplinary, patient-centered research teams and ensuring standardization of clinical data to accelerate discovery, improve patient care and foster healthcare efficiencies. They have made significant progress in harnessing the province’s leading edge brain research expertise in a collaborative infrastructure to translate discoveries made in the lab into products in the marketplace and services in Ontario hospitals.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research is an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to research on the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Discoveries at the Institute have the potential to significantly transform Ontario’s health care delivery. OICR is the first collaborative institute in Canada to focus on the entire spectrum of cancer issues; it is translating research results into prevention, better patient care, and the commercialization of new technologies and therapies. The Institute has helped build an exceptional community of innovation and research excellence in Ontario and nationally.

The Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is a Waterloo-based research centre for scientific research, training and educational outreach in foundational theoretical physics. The Perimeter Institute is one of the largest and most prominent research centres of its kind in the world. Ministry funding enables the institute to continue to attract the top minds in the field of theoretical physics, continue its outreach programs to the scientific community and the general public and cement its global reputation as a leading research centre.

Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) is a component of an Ontario Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research Support for People and Patient-Oriented Research and Trials Unit project. The 2014 Ontario Budget committed $10 million over five years for PHRI to support this Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care led initiative. PHRI's contribution to the unit includes supporting new cutting edge and innovative clinical trials and creating a health studies platform.

The Institute for Quantum Computing is a scientific research institute of the University of Waterloo and is the world’s largest concentration of quantum information research. The 2014 Ontario Budget committed $25 million over five years to support research and commercialization activities at the institute starting in 2014-15.

The Neurotrauma Foundation and Rick Hansen Foundation are charitable, non-profit organizations coordinating efforts to support both new and ongoing research and knowledge translation exchange activities in the areas of Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, and Injury Prevention.

Highlights of 2013-2014 achievements

The Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment are committed to creating a strong, vibrant and innovative economy. The following highlights the achievements of the Ministries for the 2013-14 fiscal year (for more detailed results, please refer to the Annual Report on page 26):

1. Attract, expand and retain high-value, quality investment and jobs in target markets and sectors.
   • The Ministry attracted over $6 billion of direct investment which will result in the creation of over 22,000 jobs; including the province’s partnership with Cisco Canada to embark on the largest job-creating co-investment ever in the history of the province’s tech sector, including up to 5,000 jobs over 10 years and $4 billion of investment. Ontario will become one of a handful of global R&D hubs for Cisco’s next generation network technologies (for further details on strategic investments please refer to the Annual Report).
   • The Ministry, in collaboration with Centennial College, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) and the aerospace industry, supported the Government’s $26 million investment in Centennial College’s aerospace campus relocation to Downsview Park.
   • Developed, consulted on and published the Going Global Trade Strategy focused on diversifying markets, increasing the number of exporters, building Ontario’s brand internationally and streamlining resources so that small and medium-sized enterprises can access programs and services to foster growth.

     As part of the Strategy, Ontario announced a new International Marketing Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

   • The Investment Ready: Certified Site Program was officially announced by the Premier in Fall 2013 at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference. The inaugural intake round for pre-screening applications opened on December 2, 2013 and resulted in the submission of 37 applications by over 25 communities. The Program certified its first site, in London, Ontario, on March 28, 2014.
2. Support Ontario businesses, including to export or expand into new markets.
   • Companies participating in international trade programs reported identifying over $625.8 million in export sales opportunities.
   • Produced the inaugural Asia Pacific Global Export Forum on September 23, 2013. The forum brought together over 400 attendees representing small and medium-sized Ontario businesses, manufacturers and high-tech firms, to learn about export opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, including China, India, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia.
   • Consulted and collaborated across ministries of the Government of Ontario in relation to achieving a successful outcome related to the agreement in principle on the Canada-European Union Economic and Trade Agreement.
3. Provide economic and innovation related policy and research support to the Ontario government.
   • Managed funding agreements with stakeholders that resulted in the publication of high profile research reports on innovation, productivity, commercialization, skills, and entrepreneurship, including the Centre for Business Innovation (Conference Board of Canada) publications on firm-level innovation strategies.
   • Led research and policy / program development activities on potential social procurement models and improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities working collaboratively with key partner ministries.
4. Lead the government’s Open for Business, Social Enterprise and Accessibility Initiatives.
   • Advanced the government of Ontario’s capacity to undertake Regulatory Impact Analysis by raising awareness, promoting information exchange, and strengthening skills for evidenced-based approaches in regulatory and policy decision-making processes.
   • An Open for Business Roundtable with the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) took place, allowing the sector to obtain results onfive key priorities through a 60-day, one-window access to government processes.
   • In January 2014, the Ministry released the Fewer Burdens, Greater Growth publication highlighting $6 million and 150,000 hours in estimated savings to business stakeholders from five initiatives collaborating with five ministries to determine the impact from efforts to reduce or eliminate burdens.
   • In September 2013, the Ministry released a three-year, $25 million Social Enterprise Strategy to help make Ontario the best jurisdiction in North America to start-up or scale-up a social purpose business. The Strategy will create 1,600 sustainable new jobs by 2016, particularly for persons with disabilities, Aboriginals, newcomers to Canada, youth-at-risk and other vulnerable populations.
   • In 2013, the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario established nine new partnerships through the EnAbling Change Program and took part in 135 days of outreach activities, such as speaking engagements and conferences, to promote accessibility standards and awareness.
   • In September 2013, Mayo Moran was appointed by Order-in-Council to lead the second legislative review of the AODA and ASAC/SDC began a review of the Customer Service Standard. Public feedback and consultation processes for both reviews began in March 2014.
5. Support leading edge research and innovation in Ontario and promote Ontario’s excellence in this area to the world.
   • The Ministry committed to investing $190 million through the Ontario Research Fund over the next six years to help attract and retain top scientists, develop cutting-edge technologies, increase investment and create jobs. These investments will be made through the Research Excellence and Research Infrastructure competitions that will be adjudicated in 2014-15.
   • Through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence Fund, the Ministry committed $5.7 million toward three Personalized Health round projects.
   • Through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure Fund, the Ministry committed $29.9 million toward 158 small infrastructure projects.
   • Through the Early Researcher Awards, the Ministry committed $13.9 million toward 99 awards.
6. Provide supports to Ontario entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises, including focused supports for innovative and high growth firms.
   • Accelerated Ontario’s shift towards a knowledge-based economy by helping technology-based entrepreneurs and companies to start and grow, and accelerate the commercialization process (i.e. bringing an idea-to-market).
   • Advanced “main street” businesses by working with Small Business Enterprise Centres.
   • Provided consultations with high growth firms or aspiring high growth firms resulting in over 2,900 new / retained jobs, over $339 million in total new investment projects and over $190 million in international and inter-provincial export sales (detailed results included the Annual Report).
   • Supported five sector associations to develop e-business resources to support small and medium-sized businesses in their respective industries.
7. Deliver and support a comprehensive Youth Jobs Strategy to create employment and mentorship opportunities for Ontario youth.
   • Led 18 Idea Forums with over 1,500 participants across the province to help regions across Ontario cultivate local and practical solutions to increase rates of employment, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
   • Worked with over 275 stakeholders across the province to co-develop programming.
   • Inspired post-secondary institutions to kick-start and expand on-campus entrepreneurship activities.
   • Worked with the Ministry of Community and Social Services to successfully attain “Income and Assets” regulatory exemption for Youth Jobs Strategy funding programs to ensure social assistance recipient benefits would not be compromised as a result of participation in Youth Jobs Strategy programs.
   • Encouraged all members of the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) to identify unique models / opportunities to positively impact youth from the broader community including youth with no post-secondary affiliation, youth facing multiple barriers and/or youth from a high-needs community.

Ministry of Research and Innovation / Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Organizational Chart

• Minister Eric Hoskins – Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure
  • Parliamentary Assistant - Economic Development - Monte Kwinter
• Minister Reza Moridi – Research and Innovation
  • Deputy Minister – Wendy Tilford
  • Deputy Minister – Giles Gherson
    • Executive Assistant – Trish Dyl
    • CIO, Justice Technology Service Cluster – Rob Devries
    • Legal Services Director – Andrew Macdonald
    • Communications Director – Clare Barnett
    • Assistant Deputy Minister(Acting) - John Marshall, Open for Business
      • Ryan Lock, (Acting) Director, Social Enterprise
      • Angela Faienza, Director, Open for Business
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-Victor Sverino, Policy and Strategy
      • Elaine Leung, Director, Sector Strategy
      • Steve Romanyshyn, Director, Strategic Policy
      • Guy Poirier, Research and Analysis
      • Hugo Cameron, Director, Trade Policy
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-Anthony LaMantia, Investment and Industry
      • Richard Kikuta, Director, Science, Tech and Services
      • Brian Love, Director, Business Advisory Services
      • Joe Veloce (Acting) Director, Advanced Manufacturing
      • Ramneet Aujla, Director, Business Immigration
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-Cameron Sinclair, Trade and Marketing
      • Margaret Steeves, Director, Marketing
      • Roshan Mohan, (Acting) Director, International Trade
      • Trisha Grant, Director, International Representation
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-David Clifford, CAO, Corporate Services
      • Isolina Kuzminski, Director, Service Management and Facilities
      • Dan Keating, Director, Human Resources
      • Lawrence Wagner, Director, Business Planning and Finance
      • Reed Barrett, Director, Investment Funding and Coordination
      • Greg Wooton, Executive Lead, Transfer Payment Transformation Project
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-Ann Hoy, Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
      • Glen Padassery, Director, Standards Policy and Coordination
      • Alfred Spencer, Director, Outreach and Strategic Initiatives
    • Assistant Deputy Minister-Bill Mantel, Research, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship
      • Allison Barr, Director, Research Branch
      • Rachel Simeon, (Acting) Director, Entrepreneurship
      • George Cadete, Director, Commercialization
      • John Marshall, President and CEO, Ontario Capital Growth Corporation

Ministry of Research and Innovation / Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Organizational Chart

Agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs)

Advisory agencies

Accessibility Standards Advisory Council/Standards Development Committee (ASAC/SDC)

On January 21, 2013, the government announced the creation of the new ASAC/SDC. The ASAC/SDC advises government on improving accessibility for people with disabilities and will have responsibility for reviewing existing accessibility standards.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council/Standards Development Committee

Ontario Investment and Trade Advisory Council

The Council was established to provide strategic advice and support to the government on promoting Ontario to the world as a preferred location for investment, and helping Ontario firms to begin exporting to new markets or to expand their exports to existing markets.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Ontario Investment and Trade Advisory Council.

Ontario Research Fund Advisory Board (ORFAB)

The ORFAB reviews and assesses Ontario Research Fund and Early Researcher Award funding proposals, and makes recommendations to the Minister. The Board also provides strategic advice to the Minister on the research agenda to keep Ontario competitive and prosperous.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Ontario Research fund Advisory Board.

Small Business Agency of Ontario (SBAO)

The SBAO was established to help improve interactions between government and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to serve as a sounding board and provide high level and strategic advice to the government on key issues affecting the growth and competitiveness of SMEs in Ontario.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Small Business Agency of Ontario.

Ontario Manufacturing Council (OMC)

The OMC was established to advise the government on the challenges and opportunities that Ontario manufacturers face as they compete in a globally competitive marketplace.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Ontario Manufacturing Council

Operational enterprise agencies

Ontario Capital Growth Corporation (OCGC)

The Ontario Capital Growth Corporation was established to:

• Receive, hold, administer and otherwise deal with the interest of the Government of Ontario in the limited partnership known as the Ontario Venture Capital Fund LP;
• Acquire, manage and otherwise deal with a portfolio of investments in businesses that the Corporation considers constitute emerging technology businesses, which portfolio is known as the Ontario Emerging Technologies Fund;
• Participate in the formation of, and receive, hold, administer and otherwise deal with the interest of the Government of Ontario in, privately managed venture capital partnerships that promote a globally competitive venture capital industry and the effective deployment of early-stage investment in Ontario, such as the Northleaf Venture Catalyst Fund LP (NVCF); and
• Perform any additional objects specified by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Ontario Capital Growth Corporation.

Ontario Immigrant Investor Corporation (OIIC)

OIIC was established in 1999 to invest the funds received under the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) to support economic development and job creation. The primary obligation of the OIIC is to invest the money from immigrant investors and to return the investment in five years. The program was created to provide permanent residency to individuals who meet eligibility criteria and invest $800k for a period of five years which is distributed to participating provinces and territories.

In the 2014 Budget, the federal government announced the termination of the IIP. In 2013-14, OIIC supported 41 economic development projects and created 15,015 jobs.

Table detailing revenue and Expenses from 2012 to 2015 for the Ontario Immigrant Investor Corporation.

Detailed financial information

Table 1: Ministry planned expenditures 2014-15

Table 2: Combined operating and capital summary by vote

For additional financial information, see:

Expenditure Estimates

Public Accounts of Ontario 2013-2014

2014 Ontario Budget

or
For information please contact:
Business Planning and Finance Branch Ministry of Research and Innovation
Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment
Tel: 416-325-6421
Fax: 416-327-4239

Appendix: annual report 2013-2014

2013-2014 Achievements

The Ministry of Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment provided leadership in fostering a competitive business climate to attract jobs and investment to Ontario. The Ministries supported the government’s Economic Plan Priority ‘A Strong Economy for a Strong Ontario.’

1. Attract, expand and retain high-value, quality investment and jobs in target markets and sectors.

In 2013-14, the Ministries contributed to economic growth by attracting the following investments:

Strategic jobs and investment fund and strategic investments

Three Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund (SJIF) projects and two Strategic Investments projects were announced in 2013-14, providing $301 million ($294 million in grants and $7 million in loans) to support total industry investment of over $4.89 billion and more than 8,500 highly skilled jobs.

SJIF Announced Projects 2013-14

Table showing Strategic Jobs and Investment Fund announced projects for 2013-14.

Eastern Ontario Development Fund

During 2013-14, the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) announced support to 12 projects with a total investment of $8.3 million. Since the Fund was established in 2008, the government has invested $70 million in 144 projects leveraging a total investment of approximately $683 million. These investments have created 2,987 new jobs.

EODF Announced Projects 2013-14

Table showing the Eastern Ontario Development Fund announced projects for 2013-14

Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

During 2013-14, the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) announced support to 31 projects with a total investment of $24 million. Since the launch of the fund in October 2012, the government has invested almost $42 million to more than 60 projects leveraging a total of over $403 million and creating 1,893 new jobs.

SWODF Announced Projects 2013-14

Table showing the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund announced projects for 2013-14

Communities in Transition Program

The Ministry continued to collaborate with Ontario communities and industry sectors to respond to local, sector or regional economic challenges by creating new opportunities and attracting new investment. During 2013-14, the Communities in Transition (CiT) program announced 2 projects with a total investment of $320,000. Since 2006-07, the government has supported over 70 projects across the province with a total contribution of $18.2 million.

CiT Announced Project 2013-14

Investment attraction

• Ford Canada Inc. (Oakville Assembly Plant) - the Ontario government partnered with the Federal government and Ford of Canada to upgrade the company’s Oakville Assembly plant and secure more than 2,800 jobs. The total anticipated project investment is $709 million, with Ontario providing a grant of up to $70.9 million. The project will anchor new R&D activities in the areas of lightweight vehicles and advanced powertrain technologies. In 2013, Ford’s Ontario production was over 255,000 units, which accounted for 10.9% of Ontario’s automotive vehicle production.
• General Motors - CAMI Assembly Plant, located in Ingersoll, announced that it will invest $250 million to install new equipment and retool its CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll making it a flexible manufacturing facility. This will allow the plant to support future vehicles; however, the company did not announce specific plans for future vehicle production (the plant is currently running at full capacity). The project will retain 2,700 jobs.
• Ontario Global Talent Business Advantage Program - supported 45 high-skilled workers and 14 companies while supporting the creation of 508 jobs and supporting $98.16 million of investments.
• Cisco – the company chose Ontario for an expansion because of Ontario’s talented workforce, research infrastructure, and competitive business climate. Cisco will expand its current workforce to 3,000 by creating up to 1,700 jobs in the next six years with up to $190 million in Provincial support. The agreement also has the potential to expand Cisco’s Ontario workforce up to 5,000 over the next 10 years, for a total investment from Cisco of up to $4 billion, including $2.2 billion in salaries alone and up to a total of $220 million in Provincial support.

Examples of 2013-14 investments attracted to the province

2. Support Ontario businesses, including to export or expand into new markets.

• Companies participating in international trade programs reported identifying over $625.8 million in export sales opportunities.
• Provided 852 assists to experienced exporters expanding their markets and 960 assists to companies new to exporting or accessing new export markets.
• 624 companies brought directly to market on international outbound programs.
• Organized and delivered over 239 export development programs, including 70 outbound missions, 52 domestic seminars, 109 incoming buyer programs and 8 New Exporters to Border States (NEBS)/Reverse NEBS programs, all targeting SMEs in priority sectors.
• 89% client satisfaction rating for trade programs.
• Produced the inaugural Asia Pacific Global Export Forum on September 23, 2013.

  The forum brought together over 400 attendees representing small and medium- sized Ontario businesses, manufacturers and high-tech firms, to learn about export opportunities in the Asia Pacific region, including China, India, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and Australia.

• Provided $11.3 million to support the growth of Ontario’s wine and craft beer industries, including $6 million to 77 Ontario wineries under the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) Wine Support Program; and $1.2 million under the Ontario Microbrewery Strategy Program to support the craft industry. These grants are used for growth strategies including marketing, capital equipment purchases and product development, training and innovation and research and benchmarking.
• Organized or assisted in organizing the six Minister missions to the Paris Air Show and Germany; San Francisco and Japan; London, U.K.; Israel and the West Bank; Brazil; and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
• Organized or assisted in organizing the three Minister missions to BIO 2013 in Chicago; Turkey; and China.
• 42 closed investment deals facilitated through the International Investment Development Representative (IIDR) and International Marketing Centre programs, creating over 2,000 jobs and over $430 million new investment into Ontario.
• More than 1,000 opportunities were triaged and more than 90 opportunities were developed, qualified and transferred over to the Investment and Industry Division for further nurturing through the investment sales funnel.

3. Provide economic and innovation related policy and research support to the Ontario Government.

• Provided strategic policy research and analysis across the ministry in support of key initiatives aimed at strengthening economic development and job creation for example, the Jobs and Prosperity Council report, and the Youth Jobs Strategy.
• As the lead for policy co-ordination and development for the ministries, coordinated monthly inter-ministerial executive committee meetings and policy seminars, and Our Best Advice working group to support evidence-based decision making of economic development and innovation policy across the ministries.
• Organized key stakeholder events (Ontario Economic Summit, Ontario Chamber of Commerce event with Deputy Ministers and Ontario Regional Focus Group).
• Supported the posting of 139 regulatory proposals to the Regulatory Registry to promote regulatory transparency, and monitored and reported on activities under the regulatory cooperation chapter of the Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
• Produced over 200 fact sheets and reports to support the Ministry and supported knowledge management coordination for the Ministry’s use of business and economic databases.
• Completed the Ontario Water Sector Study to benchmark Ontario against key international water technology jurisdictions.

4. Lead the government’s Open for Business, Social Enterprise and Accessibility initiatives.

Open for Business

Ontario’s Open for Business (OFB) initiative is aimed at making government faster, smarter and more streamlined for business. Some of the key results achieved include:

• Fewer Burdens, Greater Growth demonstrated a commitment to burden reduction and measuring cost and time savings. The report showcased over $6 million and 150,000 hours in estimated savings to business stakeholders from 5 initiatives from a number of ministries. These initiatives demonstrate government working more efficiently to achieve compliance modernization, regulatory process streamlining and customer service improvements for stakeholders.
• Further to this effort, Bill 176, The Better Business Climate Act, was introduced in March 2014 and requires publishing a report on an annual basis that highlights burden reduction efforts from all ministries across government. OFB has identified a target of $100 million in savings to businesses and other stakeholders by 2016-17 to support a new burden reduction approach.
• An OFB Roundtable with the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) took place, allowing the sector to obtain results on five key priorities through a 60-day, one-window access to government processes.
• OFB advanced a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) strategy, and results include the delivery of 10 two-day introductory and hands-on RIA training to 277 policy and regulatory staff.
• OFB worked to improve external service standards and its reporting process across all ministries including an External Service Standards Technical Guide to provide guidance to all ministries as they review, develop, and create more effective external service standards for the public and business.
• OFB worked closely with 12 provincial and municipal regulatory ministries and agencies to identify areas of collaboration between regulators working with bars, restaurants and convenience stores to support more effective, coordinated, risk- based compliance activities with the goal of reducing burden and unnecessary inspections for compliant businesses. The project team is now working to share learnings with other regulators, and expanding the approach to additional sectors.
• OFB worked with Solutions Lab MaRS and three ministries to apply design thinking to the problem definition phase of the process.

Jobs and Prosperity Council

The Jobs and Prosperity Council (JPC) released its Advantage Ontario report in December 2012. The government has taken action on a significant number of the recommendations and areas of focus in the JPC Report. JPC Secretariat coordinated progress on the implementation of the recommendations across government and the April 2014 progress report to the JPC.

Social enterprise

The Ministry launched a Social Enterprise Strategy for Ontario to help foster an environment where social entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute to economic growth and meaningful jobs while addressing pressing social and environmental challenges.

• The Ministry is partnering with community organizations and private investors to pilot innovative social financing tools, including the Catapult social enterprise microloan fund for early stage social entrepreneurs. Catapult offers loans of $5,000 - $25,000 to early-stage social entrepreneurs, as well as focused business mentorship support. As of March 2014, five Ontario social ventures had received financing under the program. One of these ventures has since gone on to raise over $100,000 in follow- on investment from a California-based investment firm.
• The Ministry also supported the launch of the Social Venture ConneXion (SVX) in September 2013. The SVX is a first-of-its-kind in North America online social finance platform to connect investors with investment-ready social enterprises. The SVX is on target to raise at least $2.5M in its first year of operation to finance at least ten Ontario-based social ventures.
• On March 18, 2014, Ontario launched a call for Social Impact Bond (SIB) ideas, leading towards piloting a SIB in Ontario. The call closed on May 2, 2014. Eighty three (83) proposals were received from charities, not-for-profits, foundations and municipalities from across Ontario. The ideas deal with pressing social policy challenges: (1) affordable housing; (2) youth-at-risk; and (3) employment for persons with disabilities. The submissions received are currently under review.
• A call for proposals for the $4M Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund (SEDF) was initiated in March 2014. The Fund will be deployed in partnership with community- based intermediary organizations (e.g. business incubator and accelerator centres), with matching funding from private investors. The SEDF aims to build new capital pools that will expand financing opportunities for social enterprises, and create jobs. The proposals received are currently under review.
• In March 2014, the Ministry sponsored the “Impact Ontario” deal-making event, in partnership with the MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, RBC and SOCAP. The event drew over 300 participants, including over 120 impact investors (including investors from across Canada, California, the UK and Chile). The one-day event resulted in at least one publicly reported financing deal. The high-profile event, which trended on social media throughout the day, also helped raise domestic and international awareness of Ontario’s fast-growing social enterprise sector.
• There are an estimated 10,000 social enterprises in Ontario, employing over 160,000 people. In 2013-14, the Ministry sponsored a series of community “mapathons” to identify social enterprises and build local networks. The Ministry also sponsored the establishment of a “one-window” Web portal for Ontario social entrepreneurs (SEOntario.org), in part to highlight available services and supports.

Accessibility

Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada with legislation that sets out a clear goal and timeframe for accessibility through the identification, prevention and removal of barriers in key areas of daily living.

• The Directorate continued the implementation of the five accessibility standards enacted under the Act. A number of requirements under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation came into effect in 2013-14.
• Designated public sector organizations were required to submit their second accessibility compliance report in 2013. 99% of broader public sector organizations submitted their reports by the deadline.
• Private and non-profit organizations with 20 or more employees were required to submit their first accessibility report indicating compliance with the Customer Service Standard by December 31, 2012. In 2013, the ministry began enforcement action on organizations that failed to report.
• In 2013, the Directorate established nine new partnerships through the EnAbling Change Program to promote accessibility across the province. For example, the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association produced two guides to help organizations through their public engagement processes. These resources help organizations meet their consultation requirements and bring people with disabilities into important discussions about accessibility. The Directorate also partnered with the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Environments to develop an illustrated technical guide, self-directed learning modules and webinars to help architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers and planners understand and implement the requirements of the Accessibility Standard for the Design of Public Spaces.
• The Directorate took part in 135 days of province-wide outreach during 2013, including participating in a variety of conferences, speaking engagements and other activities to promote accessibility standards among obligated sectors and foster increased awareness of the requirements for and benefits of increased accessibility.

5. Support leading edge research and innovation in Ontario and promote Ontario’s excellence in this area to the world.

The Ontario Research Fund supports research that can be developed into innovative goods and services to boost Ontario’s economy. To date nearly 43,617 highly qualified personnel have been trained, over $1.3 billion in investments has leveraged an additional $2.95 billion, and 625 industrial and institutional partnerships have been created.

• The Ministry committed to investing $190 million through the Ontario Research Fund over the next six years to help attract and retain top scientists, develop cutting-edge technologies, increase investment and create jobs. These investments will be made through the Research Excellence and Research Infrastructure competitions that will be adjudicated in 2014-15
• The Ministry committed $29.9 million to 158 small infrastructure projects under the Ontario Research Fund – Research Infrastructure program, ensuring that Ontario’s publicly funded research institutions and their researchers continue to have competitive, state-of-the-art infrastructure to engage in world-leading research and technology development. These commitments include:
  • $799,844 at the University of Ottawa to use recent advances in our understanding of the properties of light to develop the technology of tomorrow, including light-based microchips, quantum computing and miniaturized environmental and medical diagnostics tools;
  • $778,366 at the University Health Network to establish an innovative centre of drug design and discovery for multiple neurodegenerative disorders including stroke and epilepsy; and
  • $399,940 at McMaster University for the development of new techniques to directly image the defects in solar cells that limit their efficiency that will provide new tools to improve solar cell manufacturing.
• The Ministry committed $5.7 million through the Ontario Research Fund – Research Excellence program to three Personalized Health Medicine round projects:
  • $2.5 million to the Hospital For Sick Children to study Autism Spectrum Disorders;
  • $2.5 million to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute for research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases; and
  • $748,000 to the University of Ottawa for research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

The Ministry committed $13.86 million towards 99 awards through the Early Researcher Awards program to help promising, recently appointed Ontario researchers build their research teams including:

• Dr. Daria O'Reilly at McMaster University for the development of a diabetes economic model to help health-policy makers with decisions regarding the provision of diabetes care;
• Dr. Marcelo Cypel at the University Health Network for research on a new lung preservation strategy that will improve lung transplant outcomes; and
• Dr. Pedram Fatehi at Lakehead University for the development of a new biorefinery process for producing wood pellets with the superior properties necessary for use as an alternative fuel.

Since 2003, the Ministry has committed $88.3 million to 631 researchers leveraging an additional $31.5 million. Early Researcher Awards winners have trained 12,390 highly qualified personnel.

The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) developed Brain-CODE, a unique, large-scale informatics platform. The OBI is maximizing the data available on neurological disorders by building partnerships and incorporating data from research programs into this cutting-edge platform.

The OBI also created Neurotech Ontario in partnership with the Government of Canada’s Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) with a goal to catalyze partnerships between universities and private sector companies. To date, $22 million in funding has been leveraged to fund 14 projects, which has attracted 12 academic/clinical partners and 16 industry partners. This has resulted in 6 clinical trials, 3 product launches and 7 prototypes.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research was instrumental in the launch of the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, formed to help accelerate the potential of genomic medicine to advance health by creating a common framework of harmonized approaches to enable the responsible, voluntary, and secure sharing of genomic and clinical data. The secretariat for this international effort is being hosted in Ontario.

6. Provide supports to Ontario entrepreneurs and SMEs, including focused supports for innovative and high-growth firms.

The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) helped the province’s entrepreneurs and companies by:

• Assisting existing and aspiring high-growth SMEs to achieve over $219M in sales, $77M of which are export sales.
• Creating/retaining more than 22,800 jobs.
• Helping to launch over 9,500 firms (2,500 innovation/technology-based entrepreneurs and firms; 7,000 “main street” entrepreneurs and firms.
• Training over 4,000 highly qualified personnel.

More specifically, the ONE helped:

• Technology-based entrepreneurs and/or firms through Regional Innovation Centres in 2012-2013 to:
  • Leverage more than $625 million, including over $350 million from the private sector.
  • Create more than 13,000 jobs.
  • Launch more than 2,400 new firms.
  • Obtain 1,100 approved patents on new ideas and technologies.
  • Develop more than 7,600 prototypes.
  • Bring over 16,000 new products and services into the marketplace.
• “Main Street” businesses by working with Small Business Enterprise Centres to produce the following results in 2013-14:
  • Facilitated the start-up of 4,036 businesses and 1,290 business expansions.
  • Handled over 204,840 person-to-person general business inquiries and recording over 2,293,208 online contacts, including social media contacts.
  • Conducted over 24,369 one-on-one consultations of which more than 8,593 were repeat consultations.
  • Delivered over 2,422 seminars and workshops to more than 30,669 business clients.
  • Hosted 140 major small business events including 37 Bridges to Better Business events, 71 e-business events, 23 Women’s events, 7 Aboriginal events and 2 Francophone events.
• Potential high growth and high growth firms through its Business Advisory Services, resulting in:
  • Over 2,300 business consultations.
  • 1,693 new jobs created and over 2,600 jobs retained through over $270 million in new sales, including over $248 million in international and inter- provincial exports.
  • $8 million in cost reductions and over $138 million in new investment projects, including over $133 million in new capitalized spending and over $5.2 million in new non-capitalized spending.
  • Sourced a total of $60.6 million in funding from public-sector debt, tax credits and grants ($33.5 million) and from various private-sector sources ($27.1 million).
  • Supported five sector associations to develop e-business resources to support small and medium-sized businesses in their respective industries.

7. Deliver and support a comprehensive Youth Jobs Strategy to create employment and mentorship opportunities for Ontario youth.

• Youth Skills Connections program invested over $13M in over 50 organizations, which will provide youth with skills training and employment opportunities.
• High School Entrepreneurship Outreach invested $2.1M in over 20 initiatives to spark an interest in entrepreneurship and its viability as a career solution to high school students.
• Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects invested $3.4M in 18 non-profit organizations to enable youth facing multiple barriers to employment gain the skills necessary to enter self-employment or small scale business.
• Held 18 Ideas Forums across Ontario and engaged over 1600 participants in discussion, and brought regional ecosystem stakeholders together to create partnerships, identify needs and opportunities, and develop fundable ideas to support the Youth Jobs Strategy in Ontario.
• Through an inter-Ministry working group developed and implemented an outreach strategy for promoting the YJS programs call for proposals and for reaching front-line staff and key stakeholders at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Rural Affairs.
• In partnership with the Ministry of Community and Social Services, facilitated an “Income and Asset Exemption” regulatory change for all the YJS programs. This enables social assistance recipients (OW and ODSP recipients) to take advantage of the YJS programs benefits (e.g. training completion awards) without being penalized with clawbacks to their social assistance and thereby encouraging social assistance recipients to move away from the cycle of dependency by developing new skills and competencies.

Table 3: Ministry interim actual expenditures 2013–14