Application wait times for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) are being put under the microscope by Kenora MP, Eric Melillo.
Melillo took to the House of Commons last week to ask what specific measures the Minister of FedNor is doing to resolve wait times.
“It’s clear that small businesses, municipalities, First Nations, and communities across Northwestern Ontario rely on this department for support and they really need clarity on the status of their applications,” Melillo said.
Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, said the ministry shares Melillo’s view on the importance of efficient delivery of FedNor applications.
“With more than $123 million allocated for Northern Ontario through the COVID-19 Regional Relief and Recovery Fund, and the Regional Air Transportation Initiative, FedNor has efficiently and effectively delivered support to key sectors,” Badawey explained.
“In delivering the RRF program FedNor mobilized quickly to provide decisions on applications in half the time of its current service standard of 80 working days.”
Melillo outlined that these wait times have caused rural, and isolated communities to delay much-need projects.
“Remote communities such as Fort Severn or Kasabonika Lake in my riding only have a small window of winter road access each year, which can limit their ability to deliver equipment and materials. If they don’t hear back from the department in a timely manner, they may have to wait as much as another year,” Melillo says.
The Kenora MP currently serves as the Conservative Shadow Minister for FedNor that is tasked to hold cabinet ministers and their ministries to account.
FedNor is the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and aims to support projects that lead to job creation and economic growth in northern Ontario. It became a standalone agency in August 2021.
Patty Hajdu was named the new Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister of FedNor after a major cabinet shakeup at the end of October, which Melillo supported.