Summary

The Ministry supports economic growth and job creation focussed on delivering value for money, enhanced accountability and improved transparency for all Ontarians. It does that by helping companies launch, grow, scale up and harness the right talent; providing programs and services that help increase Ontario's overall productivity and competitiveness; and, in these unprecedented times, helping to build domestic capacity to produce products and services needed to help Ontarians stay safe.

The Ministry also ensures Ontario's interests are represented during federally led international trade negotiations. It promotes Ontario as a top-tier investment destination, showing the world how we are making it easier to invest and do business here. And it helps Ontario companies build capacity and sell their products and services worldwide.

The Office of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction works with stakeholders and regulatory ministries to modernize and streamline outdated, duplicative, unclear or inflexible regulations in order to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses while upholding high environmental, workplace, health and public safety standards.

Ministry Program Summary

Vote Program

Estimates
2021-22

Estimates
2020-21

Difference
between
2021-22
and
2020-21

Actual
2019-20
  Operating expense        
901 Ministry Administration Program $23,118,500 $23,447,200 ($328,700) $21,670,007
902 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program $862,985,100 $553,064,400 $309,920,700 $581,855,540
  Total operating expense to be voted $886,103,600 $576,511,600 $309,592,000 $603,525,547
  Statutory appropriations $529,565 $529,565 - $279,227
  Ministry total operating expense $886,633,165 $577,041,165 $309,592,000 $603,804,774
  Consolidation adjustment - Ontario Capital Growth Corporation ($1,335,000) ($1,551,900) $216,900 ($16,932,177)
  Consolidation adjustment - General Real Estate Portfolio - - - ($8,098,837)
  Total including consolidation & other adjustments $885,298,165 $575,489,265 $309,808,900 $578,773,760
  Operating assets        
901 Ministry Administration Program - $1,000 ($1,000) -
902 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program $65,000,000 $50,000,000 $15,000,000 $8,307,026
  Total operating assets to be voted $65,000,000 $50,001,000 $14,999,000 $8,307,026
  Ministry total operating assets $65,000,000 $50,001,000 $14,999,000 $8,307,026
  Capital expense        
902 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program $3,000 $3,000 - -
  Total capital expense to be voted $3,000 $3,000 - -
  Statutory appropriations $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Ministry total capital expense $4,000 $4,000 - -
  Total including consolidation & other adjustments $4,000 $4,000 - -
  Capital assets        
902 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Total capital assets to be voted $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Ministry total capital assets $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) $885,302,165 $575,493,265 $309,808,900 $578,773,760

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense

2020-21
Estimates

2019-20
Actual
Total operating expense previously published footnote 1 $579,361,365 $705,188,074
Government reorganization    

Transfer of functions to other Ministries

 ($2,320,200) ($101,383,300)
Restated total operating expense $577,041,165 $603,804,774
Capital expense

2020-21
Estimates

2019-20
Actual
Total capital expense previously published footnote 2 $4,000 $83,400,000
Government reorganization    

Transfer of functions to other Ministries

 - ($83,400,000)
Restated total capital expense $4,000 -

Ministry Administration Program - vote 901

This program provides financial, human resources, planning, legal, and other corporate services for the operational programs and certain agencies of the Ministry.

Vote summary

Item number Item

Estimates
2021-22

Estimates
2020-21

Difference
between
2021-22
and
2020-21

Actual
2019-20
  Operating expense        
1 Ministry Administration $23,118,500 $23,447,200 ($328,700) $21,670,007
  Total operating expense to be voted $23,118,500 $23,447,200 ($328,700) $21,670,007
S Minister's Salary, the Executive Council Act $47,841 $47,841 - $66,768
S Minister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act $22,378 $22,378 - -
S Parliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act $32,346 $32,346 - $33,334
S Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total statutory appropriations $103,565 $103,565 - $100,102
  Total operating expense $23,222,065 $23,550,765 ($328,700) $21,770,109
  Operating assets        
- Accounts Receivable - $1,000 ($1,000) -
  Total operating assets to be voted - $1,000 ($1,000) -
  Total operating assets - $1,000 ($1,000) -

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number		 Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount
  Operating expense    
901-1 Ministry Administration    
 

Salaries and wages

   $14,014,400
 

Employee benefits

   $1,430,000
 

Transportation and communication

   $630,000
 

Services

   $6,590,000
 

Supplies and equipment

   $454,100
 

Other transactions

   $100,000
  Subtotal   $23,218,500
  Less: recoveries   $100,000
  Total operating expense to be voted   $23,118,500
  Sub-items:    
  Main Office    
 

Salaries and wages

 $6,082,200  
 

Employee benefits

 $562,300  
 

Transportation and communication

 $185,000  
 

Services

 $1,761,900  
 

Supplies and equipment

 $75,000 $8,666,400
  Planning and Finance    
 

Salaries and wages

 $3,673,100  
 

Employee benefits

 $428,300  
 

Transportation and communication

 $350,000  
 

Services

 $1,680,100  
 

Supplies and equipment

 $192,500  
 

Other transactions

 $100,000  
 

Subtotal

 $6,424,000  
 

Less: recoveries

 $100,000 $6,324,000
  Human Resources    
 

Salaries and wages

 $1,069,400  
 

Employee benefits

 $105,400  
 

Transportation and communication

 $40,000  
 

Services

 $183,000  
 

Supplies and equipment

 $20,000 $1,417,800
  Communications Services    
 

Salaries and wages

 $3,154,700  
 

Employee benefits

 $332,000  
 

Transportation and communication

 $35,000  
 

Services

 $700,000  
 

Supplies and equipment

 $40,000 $4,261,700
  Legal Services    
 

Salaries and wages

 $35,000  
 

Employee benefits

 $2,000  
 

Transportation and communication

 $20,000  
 

Services

 $2,265,000  
 

Supplies and equipment

 $126,600 $2,448,600
  Total operating expense to be voted   $23,118,500
  Statutory appropriations    
Statutory

Minister's Salary, the Executive Council Act

   $47,841
Statutory

Minister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act

   $22,378
Statutory

Parliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act

   $32,346
  Statutory appropriations    
 

Other transactions

    
Statutory

Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act

   $1,000
  Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program   $23,222,065

Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program - vote 902

This program supports economic growth and job creation in Ontario by attracting and growing investment in key business clusters, regions and sectors; delivering and managing related funding and business support programs; collaborating with partner ministries to develop policies and strategies to improve business competitiveness; ensuring Ontario's interests are well-represented in all trade matters and negotiations; developing investment and trade strategies to increase Ontario's competitiveness domestically and internationally; and providing investment services and valuable connections for investors looking to establish their businesses in the province. Ontario’s new investment attraction agency, Invest Ontario, will play a pivotal role in the province’s economic recovery and growth. It will help secure anchor investments that will create jobs, diversify our economy, create new opportunities across value chains and provide new sources of revenue to support continued investments that help make Ontario a great place to live and work.

The Ministry is also developing strategies for priority industries in Ontario to ensure long-term viability, job growth and investment; advancing Foreign Direct Investment in Ontario; building strategic partnerships with leading companies and stakeholders within key sectors of Ontario's economy; and promoting Ontario as a place where businesses grow and thrive both domestically and internationally.

The Ministry is delivering investment, job creation, entrepreneurship, technology adoption and talent programs; building strong relationships with members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to provide them with access to capital and services to scale up their businesses and create jobs; and assisting in the generation, protection and commercialization of intellectual property to maximize businesses’ success both in Ontario and globally.

The Office of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction supports the development of regulatory compliance modernization initiatives, as well as small business strategy and policy. The aim is to make government work better for businesses, including for-profits, not-for-profits and the broader public sector. Another pillar of the Office’s work is to modernize and reduce regulatory burdens on businesses while upholding high environmental, workplace, health and public safety standards.

Vote summary

Item number Item

Estimates
2021-22

Estimates
2020-21

Difference
between
2021-22
and
2020-21

Actual
2019-20
  Operating expense        
13 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade $862,985,100 $553,064,400 $309,920,700 $581,855,540
  Total operating expense to be voted $862,985,100 $553,064,400 $309,920,700 $581,855,540
S Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act $426,000 $426,000 - $179,125
  Total statutory appropriations $426,000 $426,000 - $179,125
  Total operating expense $863,411,100 $553,490,400 $309,920,700 $582,034,665
  Operating assets        
14 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade $65,000,000 $50,000,000 $15,000,000 $8,307,026
  Total operating assets to be voted $65,000,000 $50,000,000 $15,000,000 $8,307,026
  Total operating assets $65,000,000 $50,000,000 $15,000,000 $8,307,026
  Capital expense        
21 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade $3,000 $3,000 - -
  Total capital expense to be voted $3,000 $3,000 - -
S Amortization, the Financial Administration Act $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total statutory appropriations $1,000 $1,000 - -
  Total capital expense $4,000 $4,000 - -
  Capital assets        
22 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Total capital assets to be voted $2,000 $2,000 - -
  Total capital assets $2,000 $2,000 - -

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number		 Standard account by item and sub-items Amount Amount Amount
  Operating expense      
902-13 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade      
 

Salaries and wages

     $48,291,700
 

Employee benefits

     $5,782,100
 

Transportation and communication

     $4,295,700
 

Services

     $27,694,200
 

Supplies and equipment

     $2,075,400
 

Transfer payments

      
 

Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant

   $100,000,000  
 

Ontario Made Program

   $1,000,000  
 

Auto Assemblers Investments

   $36,100,000  
 

Automotive Plan

   $10,435,000  
 

Business Research Institution Tax Credit

   $19,707,300  
 

Commercialization and Innovation Network Support

   $17,304,200  
 

Communitech Hub

   $3,900,000  
 

Enhanced Digital Mainstreet

   $10,000,000  
 

Invest Ontario Fund

   $100,000,000  
 

Invest Ontario Fund - Operating

   $4,297,000  
 

Investment Ready: Certified Site

   $350,000  
 

Jobs and Prosperity Fund and Other Business Support Programs

   $159,749,700  
 

Ontario Capital Growth Corporation - Operating

   $2,000,000  
 

Ontario Centre of Innovation

   $16,400,000  
 

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

   $157,139,600  
 

Ontario Together Fund

   $44,000,000  
 

Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network

   $3,700,000  
 

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit

   $64,661,100  
 

Sector Support Grants

   $10,404,000  
 

Small Business Enterprise Centres Entrepreneurship Programs

   $10,901,000  
 

Toronto Global

   $2,500,000  
 

Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing

   $500,000 $775,048,900
  Subtotal     $863,188,000
  Less: recoveries     $202,900
  Total operating expense to be voted     $862,985,100
  Sub-items:      
  Economic Development and Investment      
 

Salaries and wages

   $18,840,200  
 

Employee benefits

   $2,403,600  
 

Transportation and communication

   $2,143,000  
 

Services

   $7,817,400  
 

Supplies and equipment

   $1,390,600  
 

Transfer payments

      
 

Ontario Tourism and Hospitality Small Business Support Grant

 $100,000,000    
 

Ontario Made Program

 $1,000,000    
 

Auto Assemblers Investments

 $36,100,000    
 

Automotive Plan

 $10,435,000    
 

Enhanced Digital Mainstreet

 $10,000,000    
 

Invest Ontario Fund

 $100,000,000    
 

Invest Ontario Fund - Operating

 $4,297,000    
 

Investment Ready: Certified Site

 $350,000    
 

Jobs and Prosperity Fund and Other Business Support Programs

 $159,749,700    
 

Ontario Together Fund

 $44,000,000    
 

Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network

 $3,700,000    
 

Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit

 $64,661,100    
 

Sector Support Grants

 $10,404,000    
 

Toronto Global

 $2,500,000    
 

Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing

 $500,000 $547,696,800 $580,291,600
  Strategy and Policy      
 

Salaries and wages

   $7,534,700  
 

Employee benefits

   $916,900  
 

Transportation and communication

   $137,100  
 

Services

   $723,800  
 

Supplies and equipment

   $76,900  
 

Subtotal

   $9,389,400  
 

Less: recoveries

   $202,900 $9,186,500
  Start-ups and Scale-ups      
 

Salaries and wages

   $6,800,000  
 

Employee benefits

   $885,000  
 

Transportation and communication

   $415,600  
 

Services

   $2,502,700  
 

Supplies and equipment

   $229,000  
 

Transfer payments

      
 

Small Business Enterprise Centres Entrepreneurship Programs

   $10,901,000 $21,733,300
  International Trade      
 

Salaries and wages

   $15,116,800  
 

Employee benefits

   $1,576,600  
 

Transportation and communication

   $1,600,000  
 

Services

   $16,650,300  
 

Supplies and equipment

   $378,900 $35,322,600
  Innovation      
 

Transfer payments

      
 

Business Research Institution Tax Credit

 $19,707,300    
 

Commercialization and Innovation Network Support

 $17,304,200    
 

Communitech Hub

 $3,900,000    
 

Ontario Capital Growth Corporation - Operating

 $2,000,000    
 

Ontario Centre of Innovation

 $16,400,000    
 

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

 $157,139,600 $216,451,100 $216,451,100
  Total operating expense to be voted     $862,985,100
  Statutory appropriations      
 

Other transactions

      
Statutory

Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act

     $426,000
  Total operating expense for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program     $863,411,100
  Operating assets      
902-14 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade      
 

Loans and Investments

      
 

Invest Ontario

   $25,000,000  
 

Ontario Together Fund

   $10,000,000  
 

Jobs and Prosperity Fund and Other Business Support Programs

   $30,000,000 $65,000,000
  Total operating assets to be voted     $65,000,000
  Total operating assets for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program     $65,000,000
  Capital expense      
902-21 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade      
 

Other transactions

     $3,000
  Total capital expense to be voted     $3,000
  Statutory appropriations      
 

Other transactions

      
Statutory

Amortization, the Financial Administration Act

     $1,000
  Total capital expense for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program     $4,000
  Capital assets      
902-22 Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade      
 

Investments in Tangible Capital Asset

     $1,000
 

Land and marine fleet - asset costs

     $1,000
  Total capital assets to be voted     $2,000
  Total capital assets for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program     $2,000