Published plans and annual reports 2025–2026: Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth

Ministry overview

Ministry’s vision

The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth (MNEDG) strives to make Northern Ontario strong, healthy, and prosperous by contributing responsible economic development support to communities and businesses, and by promoting the region and its assets internationally. The ministry advances economic development in Northern Ontario through collaborative partnerships and solutions that reflect the unique needs of northerners.

Ministry mandate

To build the Northern Ontario economy by incentivizing strategic economic opportunities and fueling transformational change by ensuring northern and Indigenous communities can attract, secure, and maximize long-term economic benefits.

Ministry programs

The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth carries out its mandate under two activities: Ministry Administration and Northern Development.

Ministry Administration Program

The Ministry Administration Program which includes the Offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister, provides executive direction and strategic business and resource planning services to enable the ministry to achieve government objectives and fiscal priorities. The program provides leadership and advice in the areas of strategic human resources planning and management; controllership management; and financial governance. The program provides core strategic support in the areas of corporate/strategic policy, procurement, records and information management, communications, and the administration of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act. Professional support services such as legal and audit services are supported by this program.

The program measures success and achievements against performance indicators, including ensuring the ministry is meeting legal obligations to offer services in French, having a complete and updated emergency management program, and implementing opportunities to increase administrative efficiencies.

Northern Development Program

The ministry leads, delivers, and co-ordinates government programs and policies aimed at supporting economic growth and business development, and addresses infrastructure and transportation network needs in Northern Ontario. To support the development and implementation of strategic policies and programs, the ministry undertakes research and collects and analyzes regional information. This analysis focuses on opportunities to support the Northern Ontario economy that will ultimately strengthen and diversify Northern Ontario communities and businesses. To ensure the North’s voice is reflected in the policies and priorities of the government, the ministry works in collaboration with various partners, including all orders of government, industry and business, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and other public and private sector institutions.

The Northern Development Program has several Key Performance Indictors to measure program achievements. Many of the measures apply to one or more of the following program streams that the ministry delivers:

Northern transportation networks

The ministry plans and delivers an efficient core transportation network to meet transportation needs in the North, promoting economic development while safely and efficiently moving people and goods. The ministry supports strategic investments in infrastructure through programs such as the Northern Highways Program, Local Roads Boards, and the Winter Roads Program.

Key performance indicators such as percentage of highways and pavements in good conditions with targets tied to the lifecycle of pavements and bridges are used to measure the program’s successes and achievements.

Northern Business Development and Support

The Business Development and Support program promotes and delivers programs, services, and funding to assist business start-ups, expansions, inward investment, trade, and innovation efforts. A network of integrated area teams, with offices in 21 communities across the North, serves as the focal point for private sector clients and northern stakeholders/partners for the delivery of programs and services in support of economic development.

In addition, the ministry helps local companies grow and expand their businesses globally by facilitating export and promotes development opportunities in Northern Ontario internationally to help attract new investment in the region.

The ministry builds a stronger northern economy by making strategic investments through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). The NOHFC provides financial assistance to projects that stimulate growth, support job creation and retention, and develop a skilled workforce. The NOHFC continues to implement programs that target existing and emerging markets, support more projects in small rural communities, address the skilled labour shortage, and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply.

The Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP) supports Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers to reduce costs, sustain jobs, and maintain global competitiveness. The program has been expanded to allow for the participation of new mining and forestry operations coming into production in the future, and to create an Investor Class Stream that will encourage companies to undertake transformational investments such as reducing greenhouse gasses and transitioning to clean technologies.

Key Performance Indicators are used to measure jobs created and sustained and investments and opportunities in the North.

Northern Community Support

The Community Support program promotes and delivers programs, services, and funding to build community infrastructure and assist communities in undertaking economic development projects. Advice and funding to support services in unincorporated areas without municipal structure are also provided.

The Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund provides support to municipalities in Northern Ontario to help invest in municipal infrastructure impacted by resource development.

Key Performance Indicators measure community economic development in Northern Ontario.

2025-2026 strategic plan

The ministry’s strategic plan contains clearly focused goals and desired strategic outcomes that will guide MNEDG and will focus efforts to advance the achievement of our mission and priorities.

MNEDG is committed to economic development, job creation, responsive customer service, and fiscally responsible service delivery. MNEDG continues to use evidence-based decision-making throughout its strategic planning and priority setting. As a result of these efforts, the ministry is continuously improving its ability to measure performance more accurately in achieving outcomes and value-for-money.

The ministry is undertaking several initiatives throughout 2025-26 to advance the government’s priorities in Building a Better Ontario.

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is a Board-governed agency, chaired by the Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, that provides financial assistance to projects that stabilize, diversify, and foster economic growth in Northern Ontario. Annually, $110 million in funding is provided for the delivery of programs that support the advancement of emerging economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.

Northern Highways Program

With approved funding of nearly $136 million, two four-laning projects on Highway 11 / 17 between Nipigon and Thunder Bay (totaling 21 kilometres) are underway. On behalf of the ministry, project delivery and oversight are undertaken by the Ministry of Transportation.

Winter Roads Program

The Winter Roads Program provides $6 million annually to 32 First Nation communities and the Town of Moosonee for the construction and operation of winter roads. In addition, the ministry provides $5 million annually to communities and tribal councils for improved water crossing infrastructure such as bridges and culverts.

The winter roads season has been getting increasingly shorter due to the adverse effects of climate change. Ice bridges, timber crossings, and bailey bridges are the most vulnerable components of the winter roads network. The replacement of these water crossings with more permanent structures will lengthen the winter roads season, improve road safety, and mitigate environmental and wildlife impacts.

Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)

NEAP provides continuing support to eligible large facilities in the North, the government increased NEAP funding by an additional $39 million for a total of $206 million in each of 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Ministry core commitments and key deliverables

As the regional ministry for Northern Ontario, MNEDG supports provincial initiatives in the North and addresses unique regional needs. The ministry leads government programs aimed at growing the economy, building strong northern communities, and creating sustainable job opportunities in the North.

Through a network of regional offices and strategic program and policy development, MNEDG ensures northerners have access to government programs and services, as well as a voice in government decisions affecting the North. To address northern infrastructure needs, MNEDG works with partner ministries, municipalities, and Indigenous communities to expand and maintain the northern highways system, roads in unincorporated areas, resource access roads, and winter roads to remote First Nation communities.

Key Northern Development Program objectives include:

• Lead, deliver, and co-ordinate government programs and policies aimed at supporting economic growth and business development, and address infrastructure and transportation network needs in Northern Ontario.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic policies and programs by undertaking research to support the Northern Ontario economy that will ultimately strengthen and diversify Northern Ontario communities and businesses.
• Ensure the North’s voice is reflected in the policies and priorities of the government by working in collaboration with various partners, including all orders of government, industry and business, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and other public and private sector institutions.
• Plan and deliver an efficient transportation network to meet transportation needs in the North, promoting economic development while safely and efficiently moving people and goods.
• Promote and deliver programs, services, and funding to assist business start-ups, expansions, inward investment, trade, and innovation efforts aimed at achieving sustainable success.
• Promote and facilitate opportunities for Northern Ontario companies to grow and expand globally and to attract new investment in the region.
• Promote and deliver programs, services, and funding to build community infrastructure and assist communities in undertaking economic development projects.
• Provide advice and funding to support services in unincorporated areas without municipal structure as described under the Northern Services Boards Act.

Detailed financial information

Combined operating and capital summary by vote

Historic trend analysis data

The increase to the ministry’s 2025-26 allocation is primarily related to the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, including the extension of programming eligibility to the District of Muskoka, a multi-year initiative for the Berens River Bridge and Roads Project and investments in the Northern Energy Advantage Program.

Additional financial information

• Expenditure Estimates: https://www.ontario.ca/page/expenditure-estimates
• Public Accounts: https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-accounts
• Ontario Budget: https://budget.ontario.ca
• Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-northern-economic-development-and-growth

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

NOHFC programs help to empower business creation and growth, leverage private sector investments, enhance community quality of life, and address the skilled labor shortage across the North. They also help to advance strategic projects that align with other government priorities, such as the Critical Minerals Strategy.

Ministry organization chart

• Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth
  • Deputy Minister    
    Drew Vanderduim
    • Director, Communication Services Branch    
      Nemone Smith
    • CAO/ADM, Corporate Management Division    
      Scott Mantle
      • Director, Business Planning    
        Chetna Maharajh
      • Director, Human Resources Business Branch    
        Jamesene King
      • Director, Strategic Corporate Support    
        Bonnie McCarthy
    • ADM, Northern Development Division    
      Richard Scott
      • Director, Transportation, Trade, and Investment Branch    
        Tracey Dawson-Kinnonen
      • Director, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation    
        John Guerard
      • Director, Regional Economic Development Branch    
        Melanie Muncaster
      • Director, Strategic Initiatives Branch    
        Jamie Brunette
    • ADM, Strategic Policy Division    
      Sharmilla Pathmanathan
      • Director, Ring of Fire Coordination    
        Vacant
      • Director, Sector and Intergovernmental Policy Branch    
        Brianne Novelli

Appendix: 2024-2025 annual report

The Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth (MNEDG) helps make Northern Ontario strong, healthy and prosperous by contributing responsible economic development support to communities and businesses, and by promoting the region and its assets internationally.

Creating a prosperous and self-sustaining northern economy

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

The NOHFC is an agency of the Government of Ontario that fosters economic growth, job creation and workforce development throughout Northern Ontario, benefiting communities of all sizes, both rural and urban. Through its funding programs, it offers support to public and private sector projects across the region.

• For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the NOHFC approved more than $137 million in funding support, leveraging an estimated additional investment of $360 million, towards 936 projects in Northern Ontario.

Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP)

The Northern Energy Advantage Program (NEAP) supports Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers with competitive, stable, and predictable electricity price rates. The program helps improve their competitiveness and ability to secure investments, while continuing to create and sustain good jobs in Northern Ontario.

With ongoing funding of up to $ 206 million per year by 2025-26, program eligibility has been expanded to include companies that focus on long-term growth activities related to critical minerals and the battery electric vehicle supply chain, allow for the participation of new mining and forestry operations coming into production in the future, and encourage companies to undertake transformational investments such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to clean technologies.

• For the 2024-25 fiscal year, NEAP provided more than $138 million in funding to assist 23 mining, forestry, and manufacturing companies, representing 30 facilities across Northern Ontario.

Veterinary Assistance Program (VAP)

To better support large animal veterinary services in northern and rural communities, the ministry recently began its review of VAP. The program is an essential tool that supports a flourishing northern and rural livestock industry. It covers some costs related to travel expenses, locum assistance, and continuing education.

During the review, the ministry asked program participants and external partners to provide feedback on how it could modernize the program – the first time since 2003. The ministry is currently using the feedback from this engagement to explore potential options for program enhancements that meet the needs of today’s large animal veterinarians.

Supporting healthy and resilient northern communities

Northern Ontario Resource Development Support (NORDS) Fund

NORDS shares the benefits of resource development with municipalities in Northern Ontario. The NORDS Fund provides $15 million annually over five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) to northern municipalities to support investments in local municipal and community infrastructure impacted by resource development.

Northern Services Boards Act (NSBA)

To help reduce burden, streamline processes, cut red tape and promote northern economic and community development, the ministry consulted with northern Local Services Boards (LSBs) on potential legislative and regulatory framework changes to modernize the NSBA. As part of Bill 227, the Cutting Red Tape, Building Ontario Act, 2024, the proposed changes to the NSBA include reducing burdensome administrative processes, improving language clarity, increasing the current Board term from one to three years, allowing LSBs to provide fire protection services outside of their geographical boundaries, and changing the requirement of an annual financial audit to an annual financial review engagement. The bill received Royal Assent on December 4, 2024.

Modernization of the NSBA will reflect the unique needs of unincorporated areas in the North and respond to feedback received from northerners.

Building an efficient and safe northern transportation network

Northern Highways Program

Through NHP, the ministry continues to strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy by improving critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This program makes highway travel safer and more efficient. Northern Ontario has more than 11,000 kilometers of provincial highways, about 60 per cent of the provincial highway network.

• For the 2024-25 fiscal year, Ontario committed $677 million towards the Northern Highways Program. This includes $479 million for rehabilitation projects, and $198 million for expansion projects.

Winter Roads Program

Ontario’s investments have supported the construction and operation of an approximately 3,170-kilometre road system connecting the Town of Moosonee and 32 remote First Nation communities without year-round road access to the provincial road and rail system.

These vital connections to all-season roads make it easier to bring in essential goods and services such as food, medical, and construction supplies to remote communities. The winter road network serves a total resident population of about 24,000.

• For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the ministry invested $6 million to assist in building winter roads in the Far North. The government also committed an additional $5 million to its Bridges and Culverts Stream to address dangerous water crossings across the network.

Little Current Swing Bridge

The Ontario government continues to move forward with the replacement of the Little Current Swing Bridge on Highway 6 in the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, which will result in several access, safety, and economic benefits for the region.

The planning, preliminary design, and environmental assessment have been completed for the replacement of the bridge. The project is now at the detail design stage.

Berens River Bridge

In August 2024, the Ontario government announced a plan to partner with the Whitefeather Forest Community Resource Management Authority and the Government of Canada to build a permanent bridge across the Berens River and an all-season road to Pikangikum First Nation. The project will unleash new economic opportunities, create safer travelling conditions, and improve the quality of life for seven First Nation communities: Pikangikum, Poplar Hill, McDowell Lake, Deer Lake, North Spirit Lake, Sandy Lake, and Keewaywin.

Ministry performance measures