Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford announces provincial support to Riverside Health Care's MRI project, July 17, 2025. Image: Randy Thoms/Acadia Broadcasting
The provincial government has announced that it is spending $8,000,000 over three years to support the Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA).
Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, Greg Rickford, made the announcement at the OFNEDA’s 14th annual First Nations Economic Advancement Conference hosted in Thunder Bay.
“Our ongoing partnership with OFNEDA reaffirms our government’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities that build capacity and knowledge sharing, while strengthening economic partnerships with First Nations communities across Ontario,” said Rickford.
“This investment provides OFNEDA with sustainable funding over the next three years to further advance economic development and boost entrepreneurship in First Nations communities.”
This is the second time Ontario has sent money to the organization this year.
The province also announced additional funding for the organization during the 2025 budget process, including:
- An increase of $4 million per year for Indigenous Financial Institutions to deliver low-interest loans and grants to Indigenous-owned businesses and entrepreneurs
- An additional $1 million per year to support e-commerce expansion
- Increasing the size of the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (formerly the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program) from $1 billion to $3 billion and expanding the scope of the program
- An additional $10 million over three years to create new scholarship opportunities for First Nations students interested in pursuing careers in resource development
OFNEDA has 138 members spanning over 79 First Nations communities and 10 corporations, spread over four chapters with broad representation, including associate and entrepreneur members across Ontario.
