Official Languages committee  I'm sorry, I didn't hear the question.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question. It's across the board. We're hearing from businesses across the region and entrepreneurships about the pressures created by our current economic conditions, the impact on the supply chain and the current inflationary times. That said, we had an oppo

Official Languages committee  I agree with my colleague's response.

Official Languages committee  FedDev Ontario provides operating funding to community futures development corporations so that these organizations across southern Ontario are able to have access to business supports, entrepreneurship training, business counselling and loans to support the growth of the busines

Official Languages committee  Thank you for that question. That particular program was a women entrepreneurship fund that provided up to $100,000 in non-repayable contributions to women-owned and women-led businesses. It helped promote companies like L'Orignal Packing so they could grow. I would draw your

Official Languages committee  Yes, of course, we contribute to it. In southern Ontario, we are delivering the economic development initiative, and we have an allocation of contribution value of $4 million over five years. That's $800,000 annually. I can speak to the results of the last five years, as well as

Official Languages committee  Would you please clarify your question?

Official Languages committee  Thank you for that clarification. Let me tell you about FedDev Ontario's budget for the 2023‑24 fiscal year. That's a total of $431.5 million in our main estimates, which includes $390.9 million in grants and contributions funding.

Official Languages committee  There are many programs that can support francophone businesses and communities. The economic development initiative isn't the only initiative providing direct support to francophone communities.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your question on newcomers. Our agency invests in organizations that work with newcomers. We have allocated $3.3 million to the Toronto Business Development Centre. As my colleague explained, it's an organization that helps businesses start up in Canada. Newcomers

Official Languages committee  Thank you for your point of view, but I'll leave it to you to make recommendations. Thank you.

Official Languages committee  Yes, we do both. We support businesses directly through our programs. We also support organizations that provide services to entrepreneurs and other businesses to help them grow.

Official Languages committee  I want to make it clear that we support francophone organizations through all our programs. In the EDI program you refer to—

Official Languages committee  —we have non-profit francophone organizations in the regions to ensure that we maximize results and reach all francophone communities in Ontario.

Official Languages committee  Thank you for that question. FedDev Ontario plays a supporting role with organizations, women and newcomers to Canada. We've also supported a project with the PARO organization in southern Ontario with a contribution of $1.7 million. That organization promotes skills development