The federal minister overseeing economic development in southern Ontario said Windsor is on the right track.
Filomena Tassi, Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), visited southwestern Ontario Monday to discuss the tabled 2023 federal budget and how it would impact communities in the region.
Tassi visited Windsor Monday morning, doing a media availability at the University of Windsor, visiting businesses in the Via Italia neighbourhood, and attending the unveiling of new art installations in the downtown core supported by FedDev Ontario.
She told WindsorNewsToday.ca that, thanks to the under-construction EV battery plant, Windsor-Essex has become a leader in green energy.
"There is a real opportunity here, and I'm so happy that Windsor's leading the charge on this," said Tassi. "It's fantastic to see electric vehicles and the auto industry really being built up here."
The 2023 federal budget includes a net $43-billion in new money, including tax credits for boosting the green economy.
Tassi also touted support for small businesses that was included in the spending plan. She called a planned decrease in credit card fees by 27 per cent for small businesses an ideal remedy as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We recognized that small businesses were taking a really hard hit," said Tassi. "So, from loans to rent subsidies to wage subsidies, all those things that we provided for small businesses. Now that those small businesses have weathered that storm, it's about still understanding that there still needs to be support, encouragement, and incentives for small businesses. We're going to continue to keep an eye open to that."
Tassi also called attention to the new federal dental plan, which will help many low-income residents of Windsor-Essex find access to oral care.