Summary

The Ministry supports economic growth and job creation focussed on delivering value for money, enhanced accountability, and improved transparency for all Ontarians 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
  • Developing and implementing cross-cutting policies and strategies to reduce burdens on Ontario businesses in the areas of regulatory innovation, compliance modernization and regulatory reform
  • Partnering with ministries and other levels of government to develop policies, strategies, and solutions in support of small and medium-sized businesses
  • Developing and implementing strategies, policies and programs that help small businesses to start, grow and drive the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry also ensures Ontario's interests are represented in domestic and federally led international trade negotiations and disputes, and in the implementation of trade agreements. It promotes Ontario as a top-tier investment destination, showing the world how we are making it easier to invest and do business in the province.

Ministry Program Summary

VoteProgram

Estimates
2022-23

Estimates
2021-22

Difference
between
2022-23
and
2021-22

Actual
2020-21

Operating expense

901Ministry Administration Program$23,118,500$23,118,500-$18,432,699
902Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program$919,453,100$862,985,100$56,468,000$3,663,722,064
 Total operating expense to be voted$942,571,600$886,103,600$56,468,000$3,682,154,763
 Statutory appropriations$829,565$529,565$300,000$211,324,236
 Ministry total operating expense$943,401,165$886,633,165$56,768,000$3,893,478,999
 Consolidation Adjustment - Venture Ontario($1,278,800)($1,335,000)$56,200$2,162,915
 Consolidation Adjustment - General Real Estate Portfolio---($116,388)
 Total including consolidation & other adjustments$942,122,365$885,298,165$56,824,200$3,895,525,526

Operating assets

902Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923
 Total operating assets to be voted$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923
 Ministry total operating assets$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923

Capital expense

902Economic 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

902Economic 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)$942,126,365$885,302,165$56,824,200$3,895,525,526

Reconciliation to Previously Published Data

Operating expense

2021-22
Estimates

2020-21
Actual

Total operating expense previously publishedfootnote 1$886,633,165$3,894,721,399
Government reorganization  
Transfer of functions to other ministries-($1,242,400)
Restated total operating expense$886,633,165$3,893,478,999

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 numberItem

Estimates
2022-23

Estimates
2021-22

Difference
between
2022-23
and
2021-22

Actual
2020-21

Operating expense

1Ministry Administration$23,118,500$23,118,500-$18,432,699
 Total operating expense to be voted$23,118,500$23,118,500-$18,432,699
SMinister's Salary, the Executive Council Act$47,841$47,841-$49,301
SMinister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act$22,378$22,378-$22,378
SParliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act$32,346$32,346-$33,334
SBad Debt expense, the Financial Administration Act$1,000$1,000--
 Total statutory appropriations$103,565$103,565-$105,013
 Total operating expense$23,222,065$23,222,065-$18,537,712

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
Item
number
Standard account by item and sub-itemsAmountAmount

Operating expense

901-1Ministry 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  
StatutoryMinister's Salary, the Executive Council Act $47,841
StatutoryMinister without Portfolio’s Salary, the Executive Council Act $22,378
StatutoryParliamentary Assistants' Salaries, the Executive Council Act $32,346
 Statutory appropriations  
 Other transactions  
StatutoryBad 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
  • Engaging with industry to support Ontario priorities and issues management
  • 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
  • Identifying potential sites well suited for major industrial investments and working with partners to make these sites investment ready
  • Attracting, promoting, and facilitating exports and investment through Ontario’s international network of 15 Trade and Investment Offices
  • Delivering export support programs and services to enhance the profile of Ontario SMEs around the world
  • Providing broader 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, and create new opportunities across value chains.

The Ministry is developing strategies for priority industries in Ontario to ensure long-term competitiveness, job growth and investment; advancing Foreign Direct Investment in Ontario; and building strategic partnerships with leading companies and stakeholders within key sectors of Ontario's economy.

The Ministry is delivering technology adoption and talent programs that build strong relationships with members of the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem and to provide them with access to capital and services to scale-up their businesses and create jobs.

The Ministry also supports IPON, a new go-to resource that will help researchers and companies maximize the value of their intellectual property (IP) and strengthen their capacity to grow and compete in the global market.

The Ministry 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.

Vote summary

Item numberItem

Estimates
2022-23

Estimates
2021-22

Difference
between
2022-23
and
2021-22

Actual
2020-21

Operating expense

13Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade$919,453,100$862,985,100$56,468,000$3,663,722,064
 Total operating expense to be voted$919,453,100$862,985,100$56,468,000$3,663,722,064
SBad Debt expense, the Financial Administration Act$726,000$426,000$300,000$211,219,223
 Total statutory appropriations$726,000$426,000$300,000$211,219,223
 Total operating expense$920,179,100$863,411,100$56,768,000$3,874,941,287

Operating assets

14Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923
 Total operating assets to be voted$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923
 Total operating assets$143,000,000$65,000,000$78,000,000$9,538,923

Capital expense

21Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade$3,000$3,000--
 Total capital expense to be voted$3,000$3,000--
SAmortization, the Financial Administration Act$1,000$1,000--
 Total statutory appropriations$1,000$1,000--
 Total capital expense$4,000$4,000--

Capital assets

22Economic 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-itemsAmountAmountAmount

Operating expense

902-13Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade   
 Salaries and wages  $48,291,700
 Employee benefits  $5,782,100
 Transportation and communication  $4,283,700
 Services  $25,831,200
 Supplies and equipment  $2,075,400
 Transfer payments   
 5G Wireless and Next Generation Networks $6,976,000 
 Auto Assemblers Investments $1,300,000 
 Automotive Plan $7,050,000 
 Business Research Institution Tax Credit $25,974,300 
 Commercialization and Innovation Network Support $17,304,200 
 Communitech Hub $3,900,000 
 Critical Technologies Initiative $32,200,000 
 Enhanced Digital Mainstreet $20,000,000 
 Futurpreneur $2,000,000 
 Industrial Land Development $85,950,000 
 Intellectual Property Ontario $7,188,200 
 Invest Ontario Fund $100,000,000 
 Invest Ontario Fund - operating $7,310,000 
 Jobs and Prosperity Fund and other Business Support Programs $165,819,700 
 Life Sciences Strategy $5,000,000 
 Ontario Centre of Innovation $16,532,900 
 Ontario Innovation Tax Credit $181,795,900 
 Ontario Together Fund $18,000,000 
 Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network $16,770,000 
 Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit $75,338,300 
 Sector Support Grants $12,593,900 
 Small Business Digitization Competence Centre $5,000,000 
 Small Business Enterprise Centres Entrepreneurship Programs $10,901,000 
 Strategic Investments $3,487,500 
 Toronto Global $2,500,000 
 Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing $500,000 
 Venture Ontario - operating $2,000,000$833,391,900
 Subtotal  $919,656,000
 Less: Recoveries  $202,900
 Total operating expense to be voted  $919,453,100
 Sub-items:   
 Economic Development and Investment   
 Salaries and wages $18,840,200 
 Employee benefits $2,403,600 
 Transportation and communication $2,131,000 
 Services $7,567,400 
 Supplies and equipment $1,390,600 
 Transfer payments   
 5G Wireless and Next Generation Networks$6,976,000  
 Auto Assemblers Investments$1,300,000  
 Automotive Plan$7,050,000  
 Critical Technologies Initiative$32,200,000  
 Enhanced Digital Mainstreet$20,000,000  
 Industrial Land Development$85,950,000  
 Invest Ontario Fund$100,000,000  
 Invest Ontario Fund - operating$7,310,000  
 Jobs and Prosperity Fund and other Business Support Programs$165,819,700  
 Life Sciences Strategy$5,000,000  
 Ontario Together Fund$18,000,000  
 Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network$16,770,000  
 Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit$75,338,300  
 Sector Support Grants$12,593,900  
 Small Business Digitization Competence Centre$5,000,000  
 Strategic Investments$3,487,500  
 Toronto Global$2,500,000  
 Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing$500,000$565,795,400$598,128,200
 Strategy and Policy   
 Salaries and wages $7,534,700 
 Employee benefits $916,900 
 Transportation and communication $137,100 
 Services $2,123,800 
 Supplies and equipment $76,900 
 Subtotal $10,789,400 
 Less: Recoveries $202,900$10,586,500
 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   
 Futurpreneur$2,000,000  
 Small Business Enterprise Centres Entrepreneurship Programs$10,901,000$12,901,000$23,733,300
 International Trade   
 Salaries and wages $15,116,800 
 Employee benefits $1,576,600 
 Transportation and communication $1,600,000 
 Services $13,637,300 
 Supplies and equipment $378,900$32,309,600
 Innovation   
 Transfer payments   
 Business Research Institution Tax Credit$25,974,300  
 Commercialization and Innovation Network Support$17,304,200  
 Communitech Hub$3,900,000  
 Intellectual Property Ontario$7,188,200  
 Ontario Centre of Innovation$16,532,900  
 Ontario Innovation Tax Credit$181,795,900  
 Venture Ontario - operating$2,000,000$254,695,500$254,695,500
 Total operating expense to be voted  $919,453,100
 Statutory appropriations   
 Other transactions   
StatutoryBad Debt expense, the Financial Administration Act  $726,000
 Total operating expense for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program  $920,179,100

Operating assets

902-14Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade   
 Loans and Investments   
 Invest Ontario $100,000,000 
 Ontario Together Fund $10,000,000 
 Strategic Investments $3,000,000 
 Jobs and Prosperity Fund and other Business Support Programs $30,000,000$143,000,000
 Total operating assets to be voted  $143,000,000
 Total operating assets for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program  $143,000,000

Capital expense

902-21Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade   
 Other transactions  $3,000
 Total capital expense to be voted  $3,000
 Statutory appropriations   
 Other transactions   
StatutoryAmortization, the Financial Administration Act  $1,000
 Total capital expense for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Program  $4,000

Capital assets

902-22Economic 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