Ontario to create francophone business support system

Toronto – The Ontario government announced it is providing $380,000 to the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario to expand its support services for francophone startups and growing businesses.

The move is part of the province’s Francophone Economic Development Strategy to support the Franco-Ontarian business sector.

The FGA’s initiative aims to develop a francophone business ecosystem in Ontario to enable entrepreneurs to connect to francophone organizations that will support them in the business pre-incubation, incubation, implementation, and acceleration phases, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs said in a news release.

Several stakeholders from the Franco-Ontarian business sector participated in the development of this initiative.

“Our government considers the francophonie an essential economic asset for the province. This new investment aligns with Ontario’s priority to set favourable conditions to encourage and support the success of francophone entrepreneurs and businesses,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs. “We proudly stand behind the FGA’s project, which aims to support startups and growing businesses as well as the next generation of francophone entrepreneurs, in particular women and newcomers to Canada.”

The new business plan is based on a set of programs and initiatives that are part of an ongoing framework of support for entrepreneurs, including:

An online portal connecting pre-incubation, incubation, implementation and acceleration programs and projects
Marketing support for ecosystem member organizations
Support for existing incubation programs offered by ecosystem member organizations