Over 50 Northern Ontario businesses will be showcasing their products and services to the world this fall

The Northern Ontario Pavilion is returning to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in November.

In North Bay this morning (Tuesday), Canada’s Minister of Small Business and Tourism Bardish Chagger announced nearly $480,000 to establish the 7,000 square foot pavilion.

Specifically, she says the funding is about helping to maximize the economic potential of Northern Ontario’s agriculture, agri-food and equine industries, “300,000-plus visitors that will be coming, not only from across Canada, but from around the world. So the exposure, I would say, is almost second to none.”

Over 50 northern Ontario businesses will be able to showcase their products and services during the fair.

Businesses can still apply to take part.

NECO Community Futures Corporation is establishing the pavilion.

Meantime, MP Anthony Rota says the minister’s visit also included meetings with local stakeholders, “we brought a lot of people together from different industry and because it’s small business, SMEs, it’s coming together and meeting the minister and giving her that message of what’s going on locally and how we can be helped in the area.”

Rota says talking to people and groups around the riding is essential to getting good policy in Ottawa.