Minister of State Goodyear Encourages Ontarians to Shop the Neighbourhood

KITCHENER, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 22, 2013) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), today celebrated the launch of the Shop The Neighbourhood campaign and highlighted the role of small businesses in restoring economic prosperity to southern Ontario.

"Small, local businesses play an important role in driving Canada's economy," said Minister of State Goodyear. "When we shop at a small business in our neighbourhood, we're helping to keep jobs in our community. We're helping our neighbours and having a positive impact on their livelihood. And we're helping to return prosperity and prominence to the people and communities of Ontario and Canada."

Shop The Neighbourhood is an initiative of Yellow Pages Group, Canada's leading digital media and marketing solutions company. The campaign highlights the benefits of supporting local businesses by encouraging people to shop in local neighbourhoods. This year's event takes place on November 30 in the Greater Toronto Area.

"We have a century-long legacy of working with Canada's small businesses to help them grow and attract more customers. What we've seen is that in an increasingly global marketplace it's now just as easy to make a purchase from a retailer across the world as it can be to walk down your street to buy the same item locally," said François Ramsay, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs for Yellow Pages Group. "As shoppers we need to remember that where we choose to spend our dollars does make a difference. Shopping locally directly benefits the businesses and therefore the neighbourhoods of our communities which why we're encouraging everyone in the GTA to Shop The Neighbourhood on November 30."

Economic Action Plan 2013 demonstrated continued commitment to workers, families and communities in southern Ontario with the renewal of FedDev Ontario, including $920 million in new funding for the Agency over five years. This included $200 million for a new Advanced Manufacturing Fund in Ontario, starting on April 1, 2014.

FedDev Ontario will also continue to promote business development, job creation and self-reliant communities in rural eastern Ontario by extending the Eastern Ontario Development Program for five years.

The Agency will continue to act as a champion for the region by supporting the development of a prosperous and globally competitive southern Ontario economy.

Details of new programming will be posted on the Agency's website at www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca as they become available, so stakeholders are encouraged to check back regularly.

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