Published plans and annual reports 2024–2025: Ministry of Northern Development
Plans for 2024–2025, and results and outcomes of all provincial programs delivered by the Ministry of Northern Development in 2023–2024.
Ministry overview
Ministry’s Vision
The Ministry of Northern Development (MND) strives to make Northern Ontario strong, healthy, and prosperous by contributing responsible economic development support to communities and businesses, and by promoting the region and its assets internationally. The ministry advances economic development in Northern Ontario through collaborative partnerships and solutions that reflect the unique needs of northerners.
Ministry’s Mission
To advance economic and community development in Northern Ontario through collaborative partnerships and solutions that reflect the unique needs of northerners and to deliver safe and efficient transportation infrastructure services to the public and industry.
Ministry Mandate
To build the Northern Ontario economy by incentivizing strategic economic opportunities and fueling transformational change by ensuring northern and Indigenous communities can attract, secure, and maximize long-term economic benefits.
Ministry Programs
The Ministry of Northern Development carries out its mandate under two activities: Ministry Administration and Northern Development.
Ministry Administration Program
The Ministry Administration Program provides executive direction and strategic business and resource planning services, which are integral to effective and efficient ministry operations. Advice and services are provided in the areas of strategic human resources planning and management; fiscal controllership; and financial governance. The program provides core strategic support in the areas of corporate/strategic policy, procurement, records and information management, communications, and the administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act. Professional support services such as legal and audit services are supported by this program.
The program measures success and achievements against performance indicators, including ensuring the ministry is meeting legal obligations to offer services in French, having a complete and updated emergency management program, and implementing opportunities to increase administrative efficiencies.
Northern Development Program
The ministry leads, delivers, and co-ordinates government programs and policies aimed at supporting economic growth and business development, and addresses infrastructure and transportation network needs in Northern Ontario. To support the development and implementation of strategic policies and programs, the ministry undertakes research and collects and analyzes regional information. This analysis focuses on opportunities to support the Northern Ontario economy that will ultimately strengthen and diversify Northern Ontario communities and businesses. To ensure the North’s voice is reflected in the policies and priorities of the government, the ministry works in collaboration with various partners, including all orders of government, industry and business, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and other public and private sector institutions.
The Northern Development Program has several Key Performance Indictors to measure program achievements. Many of the measures apply to one or more of the following program streams that the ministry delivers:
Northern Transportation Networks
The ministry plans and delivers an efficient core transportation network to meet transportation needs in the North, promoting economic development while safely and efficiently moving people and goods. The ministry supports strategic investments in infrastructure through programs such as the Northern Highways Program, Local Roads Boards, and the Winter Roads Program.
Key performance indicators such as percentage of highways and pavements in good conditions with target tied to the lifecycle of pavements and bridges are used to measure the program’s successes and achievements.
Northern Business Development and Support
The Business Development and Support program promotes and delivers programs, services, and funding to assist business start-ups, expansions, inward investment, trade, and innovation efforts. A network of integrated area teams, with offices in 21 communities across the North, serves as the focal point for private sector clients and northern stakeholders/partners for the delivery of programs and services in support of economic development.
In addition, the ministry helps local companies grow and expand their businesses globally by facilitating export and promotes development opportunities in Northern Ontario internationally to help attract new investment in the region.
The ministry builds a stronger northern economy by making strategic investments through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). The NOHFC provides financial assistance to projects that stimulate growth support job creation and retention, and develop a skilled workforce. The NOHFC continues to implement programs that target existing and emerging markets, support more projects in small rural communities, address the skilled labour shortage, and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply.
The Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP) supports Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers to reduce costs, sustain jobs, and maintain global competitiveness. The program has been expanded to allow for the participation of new mining and forestry operations coming into production in the future, and to create an Investor Class Stream that will encourage companies to undertake transformational investments such as reducing greenhouse gasses and transitioning to clean technologies.
Key Performance Indicators are used to measure jobs created and sustained and investments and opportunities in the North.
Northern Community Support
The Community Support program promotes and delivers programs, services, and funding to build community infrastructure and assist communities in undertaking economic development projects. Advice and funding to support services in unincorporated areas without municipal structure are also provided.
The Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund provides support to municipalities in Northern Ontario to help invest in municipal infrastructure impacted by resource development.
Key Performance indicators measure community economic development in Northern Ontario.
2024-25 strategic plan
The ministry’s strategic plan contains clearly focused goals and desired strategic outcomes that will guide MND and will focus efforts to advance the achievement of our mission and priorities.
MND is committed to economic development, job creation, responsive customer service, and fiscally responsible service delivery. MND continues to use evidence-based decision-making throughout its strategic planning and priority setting. As a result of these efforts, the ministry is improving its ability to measure its performance more accurately in achieving outcomes and value-for-money.
The ministry is undertaking several initiatives throughout 2024-25 to advance the government’s priorities in Building a Better Ontario.
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is a Board-governed agency, chaired by the Minister of Northern Development, that provides financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify, and foster economic growth in Northern Ontario. Annually, $100 million in funding is provided for the delivery of programs that support the advancement of emerging economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.
Northern Highways Program
With approved funding of $50.3 million over three years, Section 1 (six kilometres) of the Highway 17 four-laning from the Manitoba border to just west of Highway 673 will be completed in Fall 2024. On behalf of the ministry, project delivery and oversight are undertaken by the Ministry of Transportation.
Winter Roads Program
The Winter Roads Program provides $6 million annually to 32 First Nation communities and the Town of Moosonee for the construction and operation of winter roads. In addition, the ministry provides an $5 million annually to communities and tribal councils for improved water crossing infrastructure such as bridges and culverts.
The winter roads season has been getting increasingly shorter due to the adverse effects of climate change. Ice bridges, timber crossings, and bailey bridges are the most vulnerable components of the winter roads network. The replacement of these water-crossings with more permanent structures will lengthen the winter roads season, improve road safety, and mitigate environmental and wildlife impacts.
Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)
To provide for continuing support to eligible large facilities in the North, the government is increasing NEAP funding by an additional $86 million over three years, resulting in a total annual program amount of $167 million in 2024–25, and $206 million for 2025–26 and 2026–27.
Ministry performance measures (new)
| New KPIs | Indicator | Target value | Current value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ensure government capacity to meet the government’s legal obligation to offer services in French. | Ratio of the proportion of vacant designated bilingual positions to proportion of vacant non-designated positions. | 1.04 | 1.45 |
Ministry core commitments and key deliverables
As the regional ministry for Northern Ontario, MND supports provincial initiatives in the North and addresses unique regional needs. The ministry leads government programs aimed at growing the economy, building strong northern communities, and creating sustainable job opportunities in the North.
Through a network of regional offices and strategic program and policy development, MND ensures northerners have access to government programs and services, as well as a voice in government decisions affecting the North. To address northern infrastructure needs, MND works with partner ministries, municipalities, and Indigenous communities to expand and maintain the northern highways system, roads in unincorporated areas, resource access roads, and winter roads to remote First Nation communities.
Key Northern Development Program initiatives in 2024-25 include:
- Lead, deliver, and co-ordinate government programs and policies aimed at supporting economic growth and business development, and address infrastructure and transportation network needs in Northern Ontario.
- Support the development and implementation of strategic policies and programs by undertaking research to support the Northern Ontario economy that will ultimately strengthen and diversify Northern Ontario communities and businesses.
- Ensure the North’s voice is reflected in the policies and priorities of the government, by working in collaboration with various partners, including all orders of government, industry and business, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and other public and private sector institutions.
- Planning and delivering an efficient transportation network to meet transportation needs in the North, promoting economic development while safely and efficiently moving people and goods.
- Promote and deliver programs, services, and funding to assist business start-ups, expansions, inward investment, trade, and innovation efforts aimed at achieving sustainable success.
- Promote and facilitate opportunities for Northern Ontario companies to grow and expand globally and to attract new investment in the region.
- Promote and deliver programs, services, and funding to build community infrastructure and assist communities in undertaking economic development projects.
- Provide advice and funding to support services in unincorporated areas without municipal structure as described under the Northern Services Board Act.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Operating | $251.5 |
| Capital | $510.8 |
| Total | $762.3 |
| Item | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidation Adjustment (NOHFC & GREP) | $13.6 | 2% |
| Ministry Administration Program | $6.7 | 1% |
| Northern Development Program | $742.0 | 97% |
| Item | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Assets | $618.7 | 45% |
| Capital Expense | $510.8 | 37% |
| Operating Assets | $0.0 | 0% |
| Operating Expense | $251.5 | 18% |
Detailed financial information
Combined operating and capital summary by vote
| Votes/Programs | Estimates 2024–2025 $ | Change from Estimates 2023–2024 $ | % | Estimates 2023–2024 | Interim Actuals 2023–2024 | Actuals 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Administration Program | 6,593,900 | 80,100 | 12 | 6,513,800 | 7,155,800 | 6,358,049 |
| Northern Development Program | 231,928,300 | 25,798,100 | 12.5 | 206,130,200 | 206,130,200 | 193,249,389 |
| Total Operating Expense to be Voted | 238,522,200 | 25,878,200 | 12.2 | 212,644,000 | 209,280,000 | 199,607,438 |
| Statutory Appropriations | 66,014 | (100,000) | (60.2) | 166,014 | 66,014 | 62,108 |
| Ministry Total Operating Expense | 238,588,214 | 25,778,200 | 12.1 | 212,810,014 | 209,346,014 | 199,669,546 |
| Consolidation & Other Adjustments - Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation | 13,029,900 | (1,228,800) | (8.6) | 14,258,700 | 13,039,600 | 31,033,039 |
| Consolidation & Other Adjustments - General Real Estate Portfolio | (148,300) | 42,000 | (22.1) | (190,300) | (170,000) | (172,366) |
| Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments | 251,469,814 | 24,591,400 | 10.8 | 226,878,414 | 222,215,614 | 230,530,219 |
| Votes/Programs | Estimates 2023–2024 $ | Change from Estimates 2022–2023 $ | % | Estimates 2023–2024 | Interim Actuals 2023–2024 | Actuals 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Administration Program | 1,000 | N/A | N/A | 1,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Northern Development Program | 2,000 | N/A | N/A | 2,000 | 2,000 | N/A |
| Total Operating Assets to be Voted | 3,000 | N/A | N/A | 3,000 | 3,000 | N/A |
| Ministry Total Operating Assets | 3,000 | N/A | N/A | 3,000 | 3,000 | N/A |
| Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments | 3,000 | N/A | N/A | 3,000 | 3,000 | N/A |
| Votes/Programs | Estimates 2024–2025 $ | Change from Estimates 2023–2024 $ | % | Estimates 2023–2024 | Interim Actuals 2023–2024 | Actuals 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Administration Program | 2,000 | N/A | 0 | 2,000 | 2,000 | N/A |
| Northern Development Program | 108,503,000 | 2,000,000 | 1.9 | 106,503,000 | 104,754,100 | 91,498,608 |
| Total Capital Expense to be Voted | 108,505,000 | 2,000,000 | 1.9 | 106,505,000 | 104,756,100 | 91,498,608 |
| Statutory Appropriations | 401,556,300 | 9,484,500 | 2.4 | 392,071,800 | 392,071,800 | 378,784,247 |
| Ministry Total Capital Expense | 510,061,300 | 11,484,500 | 2.3 | 498,576,800 | 496,827,900 | 470,282,855 |
| Consolidation & Other Adjustments - Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation | 750,900 | 897,200 | (613.3) | (146,300) | N/A | (40,000,000) |
| Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments | 510,812,200 | 12,381,700 | 2.5 | 498,430,500 | 496,827,900 | 430,282,855 |
| Votes/Programs | Estimates 2023–2024 $ | Change from Estimates 2022–2023 $ | % | Estimates 2023–2024 | Interim Actuals 2023–2024 | Actuals 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Administration Program | 2,000 | N/A | 0.0 | 2,000 | 2,000 | N/A |
| Northern Development Program | 619,731,100 | 26,813,600 | 4.5 | 592,917,500 | 658,361,500 | 540,532,811 |
| Total Capital Assets to be Voted | 619,733,100 | 26,813,600 | 4.5 | 592,919,500 | 658,363,500 | 540,532,811 |
| Ministry Total Capital Assets | 619,733,100 | 26,813,600 | 4.5 | 592,919,500 | 658,363,500 | 540,532,811 |
| Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets) | 762,282,014 | 36,973,100 | 5.1 | 725,308,914 | 719,043,514 | 660,813,074 |
Historic trend analysis data
| Actuals 2021-22 | Actuals 2022–2023 | Estimates 2023–2024 | Estimates 2024–2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets) | 645,601,189 | 660,813,074 | 725,308,914 | 762,282,014 |
| Percent change | N/A | 24% | 9.8% | 5.1% |
The increase to the ministry’s 2024-25 allocation is primarily related to investments in the Northern Energy Advantage Program and increases to the Northern Highways Program amortization expense.
Additional financial information
- Expenditure Estimates: https://www.ontario.ca/page/expenditure-estimates
- Public Accounts: https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts
- Ontario Budget: https://budget.ontario.ca
- Ministry of Northern Development: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-northern-development
Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
NOHFC programs help to empower business creation and growth, leverage private sector investments, enhance community quality of life, and address the skilled labor shortage across the North. They also help to advance strategic projects that align with other government priorities, such as the Critical Minerals Strategy.
| Item | Estimates 2024–2025 | Interim Actuals 2023–2024 | Actuals 2022–2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Expense | 13,029,900 | 13,039,600 | 31,033,039 |
| Capital Expense | 750,900 | N/A | (40,000,000) |
| Total NOHFC Consolidation Adjustments | 13,780,800 | 13,039,600 | (8,966,961) |
Ministry organization chart
- Minister of Northern Development
- Parliamentary Assistant
- Deputy Minister
- Legal Services Branch
- IT Services
- Communications Services Branch
- Corporate Management Division
footnote 3 - Financial Planning & Controllership
- Human Resources Business Branch
- Northern Development Division
- Transportation, Trade and Investment Branch
- Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
- Regional Economic Development Branch
- Strategic Initiatives Branch
- Strategic Policy Division
- Sector and Intergovernmental Policy Branch
footnote 4
- Sector and Intergovernmental Policy Branch
Appendix: 2023-24 annual report
Building a stronger northern economy
Strategic investments through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
The NOHFC is an agency of the Government of Ontario that promotes and supports economic development across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects – big and small, rural and urban – that stimulate growth, job creation, and develop a skilled workforce.
- For 2023-2024, The NOHFC approved over $151 million in funding support, leveraging an estimated additional investment of $447 million, towards nearly 1,200 projects in Northern Ontario.
NOHFC will continue to support municipal, Indigenous, not-for-profit, and business applicants through the programs launched in February 2021, which target existing and emerging markets, support more projects in small rural communities, address the skilled labour shortage, and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply.
Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)
The Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP) supports Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers with competitive, stable, and predictable electricity price rates. The program helps improve their competitiveness and ability to secure investments, while continuing to create and sustain good jobs in Northern Ontario.
With ongoing funding of up to $ 206 million per year by 2025-26, program eligibility has been expanded to include companies that focus on long-term growth activities related to critical minerals and the battery electric vehicle supply chain, and to allow for the participation of new mining and forestry operations coming into production in the future. A new Investor Class Stream has also been created to encourage companies to undertake transformational investments such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean technologies.
- In 2023-24, NEAP is estimated to provide more than $125 million in funding to assist 23 mining, forestry, and manufacturing companies, representing 30 facilities across Northern Ontario.
Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund
In December 2021, the Ministry launched the new NORDS Fund, which will share the benefits of resource development with municipalities in Northern Ontario. Beginning in 2021-22, the NORDS Fund will provide an additional $15 million of annual funding over five years to help support investments in municipal infrastructure impacted by resource development.
Strengthening northern transportation
Northern Highways Program
Through the Northern Highways Program, the ministry continues to strengthen the North’s economy by improving critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This program also aims to make highway travel safer and more efficient. Northern Ontario has more than 11,000 kilometres of provincial highways, about 60 per cent of the provincial highway network.
- For the 2023-24 fiscal year, Ontario committed nearly $592 million towards the Northern Highways Program. This includes $479 million for rehabilitation projects, and nearly $113 million for expansion projects.
Winter Roads Program
Ontario’s investments have supported the construction and operation of an approximately 3,170-kilometre road system connecting the Town of Moosonee and 32 remote First Nation communities without year-round road access to the provincial road and rail system.
These vital connections to all-season roads make it easier to bring in essential goods and services such as food, medical, and construction supplies to remote communities. The winter road network serves a total resident population of about 24,000.
- The government invested $6 million to assist in building winter roads in the Far North in 2023-24. The government also committed an additional $5 million to a new Bridges and Culverts Stream to address dangerous water crossings across the network.
Ministry performance measures
| KPIs | Indicator | Target value | Current value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creating Jobs in Ontario | Annual % change in the number of jobs for the North. | 1% | 3.92% |
| Supporting Business Innovation in Ontario | Annual value of single-factor productivity (Labour). | 69.35 | 65.13 |
| Ontario is prepared for emergencies and natural disasters | Completion of emergency management program legislative requirements. | 100% | 100% |
| Increasing Investments and Economic Opportunities in Ontario | Partner investment dollars leveraged by NOHFC investments to support community economic development. | 3 | 3.4 |
| Increasing Ontario’s Exports | Total Ontario wide exports (Ontario metal-ore, non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying, forestry and forestry by-product exports (millions of Canadian dollars ($)). | 25,000 | 25,659 |
| Increasing administrative Efficiencies | % of staff with LEAN white belt training. | 33% | 24% |
| Ensure government capacity to meet the government’s legal obligation to offer services in French | Percentage of designated bilingual positions filled with incumbents with the right level of French proficiency. | 66% | 58% |
| The northern economy is diversified, sustainable, and competitive | Number of jobs created and sustained by ministry funded projects. | 1,800 | 2,205 |
| Improved overall client satisfaction with client services | % client satisfaction with the services provided by staff in relation to Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) economic development programs. | 85% | 88.5% |
| Northern economic and social development is supported through the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in Northern Ontario | % of highways in good condition in Northern Ontario. | 67% | 77% |
| % of bridges in good condition in Northern Ontario. | 85% | 93% |
| Other Operating | 209.3 |
|---|---|
| Other Capital | 496.8 |
| Staff Strength | 156.0 |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Estimates, Interim Actuals and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2024 Ontario Budget.
- footnote[2] Back to paragraph Estimates and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any changes in ministry organization and/or program structure.
- footnote[3] Back to paragraph CMD supporting the Ministry of Northern Development, the Ministry of Mines, and the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs.
- footnote[4] Back to paragraph Sector and Intergovernmental Policy Branch supporting the ministry of Northern Development and the Ministry of Mines
- footnote[5] Back to paragraph Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2024 Ontario Budget.
- footnote[6] Back to paragraph Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent positions.