Department Structure

Regional Operations (RO)

• Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)
• Policy, Analysis and Intelligence (PAI) Branch
• Sector Programs and Operations Branch (SPOB)
  • National Access Programs Directorate (NAPD)
  • Corporate Planning and Sector Strategy (CPSS) Directorate
  • FedNor Liaison and Infrastructure Programs Directorate
  • Infrastructure Operations Directorate
    • Canada–Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF)
    • Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP)
    • Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) in Ontario
• Industry Canada Regional Offices

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FedNor (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)

FedNor is the lead federal economic driver in northern and rural Ontario. Working with community partners, business leaders and other organizations, FedNor acts as both a facilitator and a catalyst to promote economic growth, diversification and job creation and to help build diversified and self-reliant communities.

FedNor provides strategic investment through three funding programs.

The Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) promotes economic growth in the large and diverse geographic area that stretches from Muskoka to James Bay and from the Manitoba border to western Quebec. The NODP focuses on three priorities:

• community economic development
• business growth and competitiveness
• innovation

Through the Community Futures Program, FedNor supports 24 Community Futures Development Corporations in northern Ontario. These corporations offer a wide variety of programs and services supporting community economic development and small business growth.

In addition, FedNor administers the northern Ontario component of the Government of Canada's five-year Economic Development Initiative (EDI). The EDI supports economic development and business growth in official language minority communities.

Policy, Analysis and Intelligence (PAI) Branch

The PAI Branch is responsible for providing strategic advice and support to the Assistant Deputy Minister on regional issues, initiatives and governance and on existing and potential partnerships; coordinating horizontal policy initiatives across the Regional Operations Sector; enhancing the contribution of regions in policy development; and integrating the regional voice and regional intelligence into department-wide initiatives. The PAI Branch is responsible for coordinating briefing materials for ministerial regional visits — Minister of Industry, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) and Minister of State (Science and Technology) — and the Department's senior officials.

The PAI Branch also includes the Official Language Minority Communities Directorate, which coordinates departmental plans and activities in support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act.

Sector Programs and Operations Branch (SPOB)

The SPOB provides business and financial planning management services to the Regional Operations Sector. It is also responsible for providing strategic support to the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor), as well as for the development and delivery of infrastructure programs in Ontario. The SPOB also delivers national connectivity programs.

National Access Programs Directorate (NAPD)

NAPD helps people and communities use information technology to improve their quality of life and promotes the effective use of information technology for learning.

Community Access Program (CAP) offers affordable access to the Internet through a national network of sites that are located in facilities such as public libraries, schools and community centres. CAP ensures that Canadians have access to the Internet and to the economic and social benefits that this access brings. CAP is delivered in partnership with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.

The Computers for Schools program collects and refurbishes donated computers from government and business and distributes them to schools, public libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations.

Corporate Planning and Sector Strategy (CPSS) Directorate

The CPSS Directorate provides analysis, advice and coordination services to Sector management on corporate planning and reporting activities. In addition, the CPSS Directorate is responsible for all aspects of financial management, including budget allocation, the development of financial strategies and the provision of information and advice to the Sector Assistant Deputy Minister and Business Units on financial planning and reporting.

FedNor Liaison and Infrastructure Programs Directorate

The FedNor Liaison and Infrastructure Programs Directorate is responsible for providing policy support, advice and recommendations to the Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor) and for infrastructure programs in Ontario on behalf of the Minister of Industry.

Infrastructure Operations Directorate

The Infrastructure Operations Directorate is responsible for the delivery of the Canada–Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), the Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP), as well as the operational delivery of certain projects under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) in Ontario. These programs are delivered on behalf of Infrastructure Canada, which has the policy lead for national infrastructure programs.

Canada–Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF)

The COMRIF is a federal-provincial-municipal program aimed at improving and renewing the infrastructure of small urban centres and rural municipalities across Ontario. COMRIF helps Ontario communities provide safe and clean drinking water, better sewage systems, improved waste management, and safer local roads and bridges. The overall aim is to support “green” projects that meet Canada's and Ontario's environmental objectives, while improving the health and safety of Ontario residents.

Canada–Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP)

The COIP began October 20, 2000, and is scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2008. The program represents a $680.7-million federal investment in partnership with Ontario, its local governments and the private sector. The program's purpose is to invest in urban and rural municipal infrastructure in Ontario. It is expected to stimulate more than $2 billion in capital investment.

Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) in Ontario

The CSIF is directed at projects of major federal and regional significance in areas that are vital to sustaining economic growth and enhancing the quality of life of Canadians. Industry Canada is responsible for the operational delivery of select CSIF projects in Ontario.

Industry Canada Regional Offices

In support of Industry Canada's mandate, the Regional Offices serve the needs of clients across Canada through the delivery of programs and services that contribute to the competitiveness of Canadian industry and the creation of fair and efficient marketplace practices. They also provide regional intelligence for the development and implementation of national policies, programs, services and regulations, as well as supporting the Minister of Industry, the Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) and the Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) in carrying out the departmental mandate in all regions of the country.