G/SCM/Q2/CAN/57  
 
1 April 2014  
(14-1992)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  Original: English  
 
SUBSIDIES 
REPLIES TO QUESTIONS POSED BY MEXICO1 REGARDING THE NEW 
AND FULL NOTIFICATION OF CANADA2 
The following communication, dated 28 March 2014, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Canada.  
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 Question  
On page 18, Canada provides information on the "Southern Ontario Development 
Program" and notably states that "[t]hrough this program, the Agency has delivered a number of initiatives to build the Southe rn Ontario Advantage (SOA) which has the 
objectives of accelerating innovation  and improving the productivity and 
competitiveness of local businesses and communities".  
Mexico would be grateful if Ca nada elaborated on the specific actions being promoted in 
order to improve competitiveness.  Reply 
 To support the overall competitiveness of local businesses and communities, the Agency delivered 
seven Southern Ontario Advantage initiatives:  
 
1. The Youth STEM initiative  provided funding to not-for-profit organizations delivering related 
outreach programs in southern Ontario that encourage children and youth to enroll in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies. 
 2. Graduate Enterprise Internship  provided funding to not-for-profit organizations and post-
secondary institutions in southern Ontario to arrange internships, including business mentoring 
opportunities, with southern Ontario small and me dium-sized enterprises for STEM graduates and 
graduate students.  
3. Scientists and Engineers in Business provided funding to not-for-profit corporations to 
administer and/or provide:  
 Business skills development such as training workshops, conferences, peer networks and 
other learning opportunities focusing on skills needed for STEM entrepreneurs to start a business; and, 
 Seed financing and/or advisory support services to help entrepreneurs launch STEM-
related businesses. 
4. Investing in Business Innovation provided funding to: 
 
 Assist start-up businesses in southern Ontario to commercialize new products, processes 
or practices;  
                                               
1 G/SCM/Q2/CAN/55. 
2 G/SCM/N/253/CAN. G/SCM/Q2/CAN/57 
 
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   Leverage angel or venture capital investment in southern Ontario; and, 
 Support the investment attraction activities and the development of online directories of 
angel investor networks in southern Ontario to encourage the growth of angel investment funds. 
5. The Technology Development Program  provided funding to not-for-profit organizations and 
post-secondary institutions to stimulate the development of new technologies and accelerate the commercialization of innovative ideas that have the potential to significantly impact southern 
Ontario’s economy. Private sector investment was required to help ensure that the technologies 
being developed will result in new market opportunities for southern Ontario businesses.  6. Applied Research and Commercialization  was designed to bridge the gap between research 
and commercialization between Ontario's post-secondary academic institutions and small- and 
medium-sized enterprises. FedDev Ontario provided funding to post-secondary institutions to partner with small- and medium-sized enterprises on activities such as applied research, 
engineering design, technology development, product testing, and certification. 
 7. The Prosperity Initiative  aims to encourage businesses and/or not-for-profit organizations to 
undertake projects that will result in the diversification and enhanced competitiveness of southern 
Ontario regions and sectors through:  
 The adaptation and adoption of new technologies, processes and skills to enhance 
business productivity in southern Ontario; 
 The development of new industries or opportunities that will help diversify the economy 
of a region or community of southern Ontario; and/or 
 The development and expansion of strategic ec onomic clusters that will build on the 
assets and strengths of southern Ontario and increase its competitiveness within the global economy. 
 
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