Type of Intervention: Other Announcement
Sectors Involved: Indigenous Peoples, Private Sector and Businesses
Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Stimulus packages and financial support
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Tabatha Bull, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business; Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs; Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Overview: The Ontario government is providing the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) with $110,000 from the Ontario Together Fund to implement online tools and resources to support Indigenous businesses as the province drives economic growth and recovery. CCAB is a not-for-profit organization that works to strengthen Indigenous economy across Ontario, supporting nearly 500 Indigenous and non-Indigenous business members. The funding will help the organization produce a report to assess the effects of COVID-19 within the Indigenous business community, assist Indigenous businesses with navigating various COVID-19 programs and services through web-based assistance, and enhance the CCAB’s online resource platform to provide tools, training, and networks to connect and share best practices.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2020/07/ontario-supports-indigenous-businesses-during-covid-19.html
Type of Justification: Providing Support
Evidence/Justification: By partnering with the CCAB, the Ontario government is helping provide Indigenous businesses with access to valuable information and training that supports their safe and rapid recovery. It also provides the opportunity for these businesses to address the unique challenges they have faced due to COVID-19. As such, gathering information to assess COVID-19’s effects on Indigenous businesses will help build tailored online tools and resources that can be used to help businesses adapt as Ontario gradually reopens.