InCanada, theRegional Development Agencies (RDA) are the sevenfederal government agencies responsible for addressing key economic challenges and furtheringeconomic development,diversification, andjob creation specific to their respective regions.[1][2]
The seven agencies and their individual regions are:[1]
PacifiCan and PrairiesCan are the two newest RDAs, which were announced by the Government of Canada on 5 August 2021 as the result of splittingWestern Economic Diversification Canada (WD), which covered British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.[3][4]
The regional development agencies were brought under theInnovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio by theMulroney government.[5] RDAs were administered by theMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages with a Deputy Minister and Parliamentary Secretary assigned to each agency. However, in the cabinet announced by Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau following the2021 Canadian federal election, the RDAs were placed back under control of individual cabinet ministers.[6]
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1987 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Headquarters | Blue Cross Centre,Moncton, NB |
| Employees | 575FTEs (2019–20)[7] |
| Annual budget | $346.8 mCAD (2021–22)[7] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Key document | |
| Website | www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
TheAtlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA;French:Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique) is theGovernment of Canada's agency responsible for helping to create opportunities for economic growth in theAtlantic Provinces by working with the people of the region. ACOA encompasses the provinces ofNew Brunswick,Newfoundland and Labrador,Nova Scotia, andPrince Edward Island.[1][7] ACOA offers non-repayable and repayable financial aid. Loans are unsecure and interest-free. Information on funded projects is public but specific information such as how much has been repaid is confidential.[8]
From the 1980s to 2021, ACOA was overseen by theMinister of Economic Development and Official Languages.[9] Historically, ACOA reported to theMinister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, but this role was combined with other ministerial roles for regional development agencies to report to one position. In 2021, ACOA and the other RDAs returned to have a dedicated Cabinet minister, theMinister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
In 2014, ACOA assumed responsibility for the direct delivery of economic development programs, services and advocacy in Cape Breton.[10] Prior to 2014, a federalCrown corporation namedEnterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC), had a similar function to ACOA with a specific jurisdictional mandate for the whole ofCape Breton Island and a portion ofmainland Nova Scotia.
Planned spending for 2015-2016 consisted of $171 million forenterprise development, $89 million forcommunity development, $25 million for internal services, and $11 million for policy, advocacy, and coordination.
TheAtlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) is a funding program run by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to help Canadian organizations inAtlantic Canada to develop innovative products and services. This program is highly competitive. Project proposals go through an extensive external review process.
To be eligible for this program, the project must be based inAtlantic Canada, have a potential commercial value and include a largeR&D component. The average funding level is about $2 million per project. Average project duration is about two years.
ACOA encompasses the provinces ofNew Brunswick,Newfoundland and Labrador,Nova Scotia, andPrince Edward Island.[1] Its head office is located at theBlue Cross Centre inMoncton, NB, along with aliaison office inOttawa.
Other offices of ACOA are located in:[11]
| Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2005 (2005) |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Type | regional development agency |
| Jurisdiction | Quebec |
| Employees | 320FTEs (2020)[12] |
| Annual budget | $366.5 mCAD (2021–22)[12] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Key document |
|
| Website | dec.canada.ca/ |
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED;French:Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec;legal name:Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)[12] is the regional development agency responsible for promoting economic expansion inQuebec by promotingsmall and medium-sized enterprises andnon-profit economic organizations.[13][14]
Before 1998, CED was called theFederal Office of Regional Development - Quebec. The agency is under the supervision of theMinister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Under its Act, which came into effect on 5 October 2005, the object of the Agency is to promote the long-term economic development of the regions of Quebec by giving special attention to those where slow economic growth is prevalent or opportunities for productive employment are inadequate.[15]
CED works with anetwork of partners, which includes:Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC),Canada Business Network,Investissement Québec, Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation Québec (MEI),National Research Council Canada (NRC), and others.[16]
The agency has offices throughout the province. Theadministrative regions served by CED include:Abitibi-Témiscamingue,Bas-Saint-Laurent,Centre-du-Québec,Chaudière-Appalaches,Côte-Nord,Estrie,Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine,Lanaudière,Laurentides,Laval,Mauricie,Montérégie,Montréal,Nord-du-Québec,Outaouais,Québec, andSaguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.[17]
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2009 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | cannor.gc.ca |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1987 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | fednor.gc.ca |
TheFederal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) is a Regional Development Agency whose mission is to address the economic development, diversification and job creation inNorthern Ontario.
This is a federal administrative region that extends not only south of theFrench andMattawa Rivers, but all the way toMuskoka which is just south of Ontario's administrative North. FedNor especially aids women,Franco-Ontarians, youth, andAboriginal peoples in Ontario. While a lot of progress has been made in achieving FedNor's objectives, communities in Northern Ontario continue to face the ongoing economic challenges that necessitate a stable, long-termregional development effort.
Since the beginning of FedNor in 1987, the role in business and economic development throughout the North has grown substantially. As a result, the programs and services that FedNor offers to the communities of Northern Ontario have evolved and improved. The Minister responsible for this agency was originally called the "Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario"
In 2020, FedNor invested overCA$122 million in 294 initiatives led by local businesses, organizations, and communities, helping to support over 7,300 jobs in Northern Ontario.[18]
FedNor has its main offices inSudbury,Sault Ste. Marie, andThunder Bay; as well as offices located inNorth Bay,Timmins, andKenora.
Under prior ministerAndy Mitchell, FedNor's service area was expanded to include many rural areas inSouthern Ontario, including much of theCentral Ontario region. In 2007, a group of politicians from Northern Ontario, includingTony Martin,Claude Gravelle andFrance Gélinas, called for the program to be refocused exclusively on the Northern Ontario administrative region.[19]
Additionally there had been many calls from politicians and organizations to make FedNor an agency, separate from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, like the other regional development agencies across Canada.[20] In 2021, FedNor and the other RDAs were removed from ISED and placed under the control of dedicated cabinet ministers.
FedNor supports regionaleconomic development, which it does through the delivery of three programs:
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2009 (2009) |
| Jurisdiction | Southern Ontario |
| Headquarters | Waterloo, ON |
| Employees | 238 averageFTEs (2016–20)[21] |
| Annual budget | $239.5 mCAD (2020–21)[22] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | feddevontario.gc.ca/ |
TheFederal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) is the federal government agency responsible for fostering innovation and business growth in Canada'ssouthern Ontario region, the mostpopulous region in Canada.[24]
Since its creation in 2009 to October 1, 2021, FedDev Ontario has invested more than $3.5 billion in over 5,000 projects working with over 63,000 organizations and businesses that have generated strong results, such as supporting nearly 190,000 jobs in the region.[2]
With its headquarter office inWaterloo, FedDev Ontario has regional offices inToronto,Peterborough, andOttawa. Its area of operations is in the 37census divisions ofStatistics Canada, fromCornwall in the east toOwen Sound in the west, and fromPembroke in the north toWindsor in the south.[2]
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2021 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | canada.ca/pacific-economic-development |
Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) is the federaleconomic development agency of the province ofBritish Columbia.[25]
Canada'sMinister of International Development, currentlyHarjit Sajjan, holds the title ofMinister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.[26]
The agency has offices inVancouver, and is set to establish headquarters inSurrey with additional service locations inVictoria,Kelowna,Prince George,Cranbrook,Fort St. John,Prince Rupert, andCampbell River, as well as an office inOttawa, Ontario.[26]
It was created in August 2021 from splitting the Western Economic Diversification Canada into two separate agencies, the other encompassing theCanadian Prairies.[4][27]
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2021 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Website | canada.ca/prairies-economic-development |
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is the federaleconomic development agency of theCanadian Prairies, which encompassesAlberta,Manitoba, andSaskatchewan.[28][29][27] Its main priorities focus oncommunity economic development, trade and investment, innovation, and business development.[27]
It is headquartered inEdmonton, Alberta, with offices inSaskatoon andWinnipeg, a regional satellite office inCalgary, and a liaison office inOttawa at theThomas D'Arcy McGee Building.[27][30] It will also be establishing new service locations inLethbridge,Fort McMurray, andGrande Prairie, Alberta;Regina andPrince Albert, Saskatchewan; andBrandon andThompson, Manitoba.[4]
Canada'sMinister of Northern Affairs, currentlyDaniel Vandal, holds the title ofMinister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, along withMinister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.[31]
PrairiesCan was created in August 2021 from splitting the Western Economic Diversification Canada into two separate agencies, the other encompassingBritish Columbia.[4][27]
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1988 (1988) |
| Dissolved | August 5, 2021 (2021-08-05) |
| Jurisdiction | Western Canada |
| Headquarters | Canada Place,Edmonton, AB T5J 4H7 |
| Employees | 320FTEs (2020)[32] |
| Annual budget | $343.8 mCAD (2021–22)[32] |
| Key document |
|
| Website | wd-deo.gc.ca/ |
TheWestern Economic Diversification Canada (WD;legal name: Department of Western Economic Diversification)[32] was a Canadian federalministerial department concerned with the economy and economic development ofWestern Canada, which encompassesAlberta,British Columbia,Manitoba, andSaskatchewan.[29][27]
On 5 August 2021, theGovernment of Canada announced that WD would be divided into two new agencies—PacifiCan for BC; and PrairiesCan for Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.[3][4]
WD operated under the provision of theWestern Economic Diversification Act, which came into force on 28 June 1988.[27] Formerly, WD was led by theMinister of Western Economic Diversification.
WD was headquartered inEdmonton, AB, and had regional offices in each of the other western provinces:Winnipeg, MB;Saskatoon, SK; andVancouver, BC.[27][30] The Edmonton office has now become the headquarters of PrairiesCan.
TheWestern Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) is a group of independent organizations that receive funding from WD in order to help people in Western Canada start, grow, and expand their businesses.[33]
The agency also released aquarterly economic publication calledWest at a Glance (ISSN 2561-3863).[34][35]