The last meeting of the Advocacy Committee included a discussion with Aime Dimatteo, Director General of FedNor. There has been controversy for quite some time around the structure of FedNor and whether or not FedNor should become a stand-alone economic development agency. We invited Mr. Dimatteo to our committee to learn more about the structure, funding model and administration of FedNor. He explained that FedNor exists as a program under the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. Mr. Dimatteo also stated that with the new federal government all economic development agencies/programs across Canada now report to the same Minister, the Honourable Navdeep Bains. He also outlined some of the current programming FedNor offers to serve the North.
What are your thoughts on FedNor and the “program” versus “agency” debate? Email us at [email protected].
At the same meeting, the Advocacy Committee was provided with an update on the current status of the City’s Industrial Lands Strategy by Jean-Mathieu Chénier, Business Development Officer, Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.