Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth (2025–26)

The 2025–2026 Expenditure Estimates set out details of the operating and capital spending requirements of the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth for the fiscal year commencing April 1, 2025.

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Summary

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.

The ministry delivers economic development programs and serves as a voice for the North. MNEDG programs support northern economic growth, and strong northern communities. The ministry’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation makes strategic investments that help expand economic opportunity in the North. The ministry applies a northern lens for policy review and development and champions Northern Ontario interests to advance economic development. Investments in Northern Ontario infrastructure, such as highways, improve the North’s linkages to the rest of Ontario, Canada, and beyond.

Ministry program summary

Operating expense
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
2201	Ministry Administration Program	7,038,600	6,593,900	444,700	6,269,243
2202	Northern Development Program	291,565,800	231,928,300	59,637,500	189,322,258
	Total Operating Expense to be Voted	298,604,400	238,522,200	60,082,200	195,591,501
	Statutory Appropriations	66,014	66,014	-	339,018
	Ministry Total Operating Expense	298,670,414	238,588,214	60,082,200	195,930,519
	Consolidation Adjustment – Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation	10,497,100	13,029,900	(2,532,800)	18,797,418
	Other Adjustments – Bill 124	-	-	-	(363,006)
	Consolidation Adjustment – General Real Estate Portfolio	(93,500)	(148,300)	54,800	(208,386)
	Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments	309,074,014	251,469,814	57,604,200	214,156,545

Operating assets
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
2201	Ministry Administration Program	1,000	1,000	-	-
2202	Northern Development Program	2,000	2,000	-	-
	Total Operating Assets to be Voted	3,000	3,000	-	-
	Ministry Total Operating Assets	3,000	3,000	-	-

Capital expense
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
2201	Ministry Administration Program	2,000	2,000	-	-
2202	Northern Development Program	116,443,000	108,503,000	7,940,000	103,323,974
	Total Capital Expense to be Voted	116,445,000	108,505,000	7,940,000	103,323,974
	Statutory Appropriations	381,366,600	401,556,300	(20,189,700)	392,259,251
	Ministry Total Capital Expense	497,811,600	510,061,300	(12,249,700)	495,583,225
	Consolidation Adjustment – Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation	(1,715,100)	750,900	(2,466,000)	(5,100,099)
	Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments	496,096,500	510,812,200	(14,715,700)	490,483,126

Capital assets
Vote	Program	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
2201	Ministry Administration Program	2,000	2,000	-	-
2202	Northern Development Program	500,902,100	558,731,100	(57,829,000)	648,407,898
	Total Capital Assets to be Voted	500,904,100	558,733,100	(57,829,000)	648,407,898
	Ministry Total Capital Assets	500,904,100	558,733,100	(57,829,000)	648,407,898
	Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets)	805,170,514	762,282,014	42,888,500	704,639,671

Reconciliation to previously published data

Capital assets	Estimates 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
Total Capital Assets previously published ^{footnote 1[1]}	619,733,100	648,407,898
Government Reorganization
Transfer of functions to other Ministries	(61,000,000)	-
Restated total Capital Assets	558,733,100	648,407,898

Ministry Administration – Vote 2201

This program provides executive direction and strategic business and financial planning to ensure the effective delivery of the ministry’s mandate. It includes communications, legal services, audit services, controllership, financial management, information technology, and human resources management.

Vote summary

Operating expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
1	Ministry Administration	7,038,600	6,593,900	444,700	6,269,243
	Total Operating Expense to be Voted	7,038,600	6,593,900	444,700	6,269,243
S	Minister's Salary, the Executive Council Act	47,841	47,841	-	49,301
S	Parliamentary Assistant's Salary, the Executive Council Act	16,173	16,173	-	16,667
S	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total Statutory Appropriations	65,014	65,014	-	65,968
	Total Operating Expense	7,103,614	6,658,914	444,700	6,335,211

Operating assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
2	Ministry Administration Program	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total Operating Assets to be Voted	1,000	1,000	-	-
	Total Operating Assets	1,000	1,000	-	-

Capital expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
3	Ministry Administration	2,000	2,000	-	-
	Total Capital Expense to be Voted	2,000	2,000	-	-
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	2,000	2,000	-	-
	Total Statutory Appropriations	2,000	2,000	-	-
	Total Capital Expense	4,000	4,000	-	-

Capital assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025–26 $	Estimates 2024–25 $	Difference 2025–26 and 2024–25 $	Actual 2023–24 $
4	Ministry Administration Capital Assets	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

Operating expense
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $	Amount $
2201-1	Ministry Administration
	Salaries and wages		6,256,200
	Employee benefits		551,800
	Transportation and communication		336,400
	Services		3,227,800
	Supplies and equipment		165,900
	Subtotal		10,538,100
	Less: Recoveries		3,499,500
	Total Operating Expense to be Voted		7,038,600
	Sub-Items:
	Main Office
	Salaries and wages	1,259,800
	Employee benefits	121,300
	Transportation and communication	92,100
	Services	45,900
	Supplies and equipment	34,400	1,553,500
	Financial and Administrative Services
	Salaries and wages	2,613,200
	Employee benefits	154,400
	Transportation and communication	136,200
	Services	1,398,000
	Supplies and equipment	79,600
	Subtotal	4,381,400
	Less: Recoveries	2,656,100	1,725,300
	Human Resources
	Salaries and wages	1,045,300
	Employee benefits	158,700
	Transportation and communication	50,200
	Services	99,200
	Supplies and equipment	26,200
	Subtotal	1,379,600
	Less: Recoveries	607,500	772,100
	Communications Services
	Salaries and wages	775,500
	Employee benefits	70,400
	Transportation and communication	19,300
	Services	153,300
	Supplies and equipment	11,000	1,029,500
	Analysis and Planning
	Salaries and wages	562,400
	Employee benefits	47,000
	Transportation and communication	24,100
	Services	22,300
	Supplies and equipment	7,200	663,000
	Legal Services
	Transportation and communication	14,500
	Services	1,079,000
	Supplies and equipment	7,500	1,101,000
	Information Systems
	Services	430,100
	Less: Recoveries	235,900	194,200
	Total Operating Expense to be Voted		7,038,600
	Statutory Appropriations
Statutory	Minister's Salary, the Executive Council Act		47,841
Statutory	Parliamentary Assistant's Salary, the Executive Council Act		16,173
	Statutory Appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act		1,000
	Total Operating Expense for Ministry Administration Program		7,103,614

Operating assets
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $
2201-2	Ministry Administration Program
	Loans and Investments	1,000
	Total Operating Assets to be Voted	1,000
	Total Operating Assets for Ministry Administration Program	1,000

Capital expense
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $
2201-3	Ministry Administration
	Other transactions	2,000
	Total Capital Expense to be Voted	2,000
	Statutory Appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	2,000
	Total Capital Expense for Ministry Administration Program	4,000

Capital assets
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $
2201-4	Ministry Administration Capital Assets
	Machinery and equipment - asset costs	2,000
	Total Capital Assets to be Voted	2,000
	Total Capital Assets for Ministry Administration Program	2,000

Northern Development – Vote 2202

This program leads and assists in the development and delivery of policies, programs, and services that support Northern Ontario businesses and communities. The program strives to make Northern Ontario strong, healthy, and prosperous by providing business and community economic development support and access to government programs and services, promoting trade and investment, and addressing northern regional and local infrastructure needs.

The program provides strategic policy advice through research and analysis to support the development, delivery, and implementation of northern economic development programs on a range of issues and opportunities with respect to Northern Ontario. By engaging northerners in government initiatives, including policy and planning activities, this program ensures northerners have a say in the development of government programs and services that affect them. The program is responsible for applying a northern lens for policy review and development and champions Northern Ontario interests to advance economic development.

This program invests in Northern Ontario infrastructure to support government priorities. Strategic investments in infrastructure through the Northern Highways Program, the Winter Roads Program, and the Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund are improving the North's linkages to the rest of Ontario, Canada, and beyond.

The ministry's network of advisors provides northern communities and businesses with access to government economic development programs and services, including the delivery of Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) programs. Ministry programs and services are also aimed at attracting trade and investment opportunities to help northern businesses develop and expand domestic and international markets, as well as attracting new business investment to the region.

The NOHFC, an agency of the ministry, offers a variety of funding programs that support public and private sector economic growth, diversification, and job creation in Northern Ontario.

The Northern Energy Advantage Program assists Northern Ontario’s largest industrial electricity consumers to reduce energy costs, sustain jobs, and maintain global competitiveness. Additionally, the Veterinary Assistance Program provides better access to veterinary services for agriculture producers with large animals, allowing for a healthy and strong agricultural sector in Northern Ontario.

The ministry is responsible for the oversight of and compliance with the Northern Services Boards Act (NSBA). Local Service Boards are created under the NSBA to facilitate the delivery of services in unincorporated areas in Northern Ontario.

Vote summary

Operating expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
1	Northern Economic Development	291,565,800	231,928,300	59,637,500	189,322,258
S	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act	1,000	1,000	-	273,050
	Total Statutory Appropriations	1,000	1,000	-	273,050
	Total Operating Expense	291,566,800	231,929,300	59,637,500	189,595,308

Operating assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
3	Northern Development Operating Assets	2,000	2,000	-	-
	Total Operating Assets	2,000	2,000	-	-

Capital expense
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
2	Northern Economic Development	116,443,000	108,503,000	7,940,000	103,323,974
S	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act	381,364,600	401,554,300	(20,189,700)	392,259,251
	Total Statutory Appropriations	381,364,600	401,554,300	(20,189,700)	392,259,251
	Total Capital Expense	497,807,600	510,057,300	(12,249,700)	495,583,225

Capital assets
Item number	Item	Estimates 2025-26 $	Estimates 2024-25 $	Difference Between 2025-26 and 2024-25 $	Actual 2023-24 $
4	Northern Development Capital Assets	500,902,100	558,731,100	(57,829,000)	648,407,898
	Total Capital Assets	500,902,100	558,731,100	(57,829,000)	648,407,898

Standard account by item and sub-items

Operating expense
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $	Amount $
2202-1	Northern Economic Development
	Salaries and wages		13,373,800
	Employee benefits		1,660,000
	Transportation and communication		702,900
	Services		6,791,200
	Supplies and equipment		154,200
	Transfer payments
	Municipal Associations	100,000
	Northern Energy Advantage Program	206,170,000
	Community Services	625,000
	Economic Development	830,000
	Northern Ontario Heritage Fund	70,000,000
	Small Business Enterprise Centres	700,000	278,425,000
	Subtotal		301,107,100
	Less: Recoveries		9,541,300
	Total Operating Expense to be Voted		291,565,800
	Statutory Appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Bad Debt Expense, the Financial Administration Act		1,000
	Total Operating Expense for Northern Development Program		291,566,800

Operating assets
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $
2202-3	Northern Development Operating Assets
	Deposits and prepaid expenses	1,000
	Loans and Investments	1,000
	Total Operating Assets to be Voted	2,000
	Total Operating Assets for Northern Development Program	2,000

Capital expense
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $	Amount $
2202-2	Northern Economic Development
	Services		25,102,000
	Transfer payments
	Northern Infrastructure	19,400,000
	Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund	15,000,000
	Winter Roads	11,000,000
	Northern Ontario Heritage Fund	40,000,000
	Railway Infrastructure Renewal	2,340,000	87,740,000
	Other transactions
	Resource Access Roads	3,600,000
	Northern Development	1,000	3,601,000
	Total Capital Expense to be Voted		116,443,000
	Statutory Appropriations
	Other transactions
Statutory	Amortization, the Financial Administration Act		381,364,600
	Total Capital Expense for Northern Development Program		497,807,600

Capital assets
Vote-item number	Standard Account by Item and Sub-Items	Amount $
2202-4	Northern Development Capital Assets	Amount $
	Transportation infrastructure - asset costs	500,901,100
	Machinery and equipment - asset costs	1,000
	Total Capital Assets to be Voted	500,902,100
	Total Capital Assets for Northern Development Program	500,902,100

Updated: June 04, 2025

Published: June 04, 2025

Footnotes

footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total Capital Assets includes Statutory Appropriations, Special Warrants and total capital assets to be voted.