Government of Canada provides small business support in Toronto to help boost tourism sector

News release

FedDev Ontario supports Canadian Opera House Corporation as part of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund to help small tourism business and organizations recover and thrive

March 14, 2023 – Toronto, Ontario

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting tourism in southern Ontario by ensuring local businesses, and the organizations that support them, have the tools they need to position themselves for a strong and resilient economic future.

Through this investment, the Canadian Opera House Corporation (Canadian Opera Company) received support to modernize their operations, train staff, provide world classs service to patrons in a safe environment, and add screens for patrons.

Today, on behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, announced that the Canadian Opera Company received $500,000 through the Tourism Relief Fund.

Today’s investment reinforces the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping tourism businesses and communities safely welcome back visitors, create jobs, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

Quotes

“Our government recognizes that tourism is vitally important to the vibrancy and economic health of communities across southern Ontario. I am committed to helping businesses find new and innovative ways to recover and thrive once again. Investments through the Tourism Relief Fund help ensure that the region’s tourism sector will be well-positioned to welcome back visitors today and in the years to come.”
– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will work with businesses and organizations through these challenging times, ensuring they get support to innovate in their products and services as well as to grow and thrive, all while keeping safety as the top priority. The Tourism Relief Fund helps businesses adapt to welcome back guests safely. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector recover from the pandemic and build an economy that works for everyone. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”
– The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

“There’s no doubt that the past years have been very difficult for the tourism and cultural sector, and for the performing arts in particular. That’s why I am proud to have announced this important funding for the Canadian Opera Company which will ensure that art created in Toronto can continue to be recognized and shine not only locally, but also on the world stage.”
– The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence

“Today’s announcement sends a resounding message to arts lovers here at home and internationally: Toronto is open for business and, at the heart of this vibrant city of diverse cultural experiences, is the Canadian Opera Company’s world-class facilities at the Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Canada for its significant investment in the future of this art form, ensuring all visitors can gather safely to experience the enthralling power of opera and live music.”  
– Perryn Leech, General Director, Canadian Opera Company

Quick facts

  • The tourism industry accounts for $39.4 billion of Ontario’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supports more than 820,000 jobs. 

  • The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth, with a minimum of $50 million of the Fund allocated to supporting Indigenous-led projects or Indigenous-focused projects. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario. 

Associated links

Contacts

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

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