Ontario Investing $500,000 to Protect Workers in Sault Ste. Marie from U.S. Tariffs

Press Release

April 27, 2026

Provincial funding will protect local jobs and support economic growth through the launch of Sault Ste. Marie’s Foreign Direct Investment Strategy

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Ontario government is protecting tariff-impacted workers and industries in Sault Ste. Marie with an investment of $500,000 through the Trade-Impacted Communities Program (TICP). The funding will support the development and implementation of the City’s $550,000 Foreign Direct Investment Strategy, a project dedicated to enhancing the region’s innovation ecosystem through investment attraction and diversification of partner markets. In the face of economic uncertainty, the $40 million TICP initiative is a tactical tool the government launched last year to protect good-paying jobs and build resilient, self-reliant communities across the province.

“Regional communities and local industries are essential to our province’s economic fabric, which is why our government will continue to ensure they have the tools needed to remain resilient in the present and competitive for the long term,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “We look forward to seeing Sault Ste. Marie’s Foreign Direct Investment Strategy build on the region’s longstanding reputation as an industrial hub and support the diversification of their exports.”

Sault Ste. Marie has long supported the North American steel, fabrication and forestry industries, with the U.S. serving as the predominant market for finished goods exports. In response to the disproportionate impact of U.S. tariffs on the local economy, the City is developing a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy dedicated to unlocking new export markets, attracting investment and expanding existing industrial strengths. The strategy will also focus on diversification of the domestic supply chain, including increasing the region’s engagement in Ontario’s defence, aerospace, critical minerals processing and advanced manufacturing sectors.

“This investment comes at a critical time for Sault Ste. Marie, with workers and the broader local economy continuing to feel the impacts of trade uncertainty,” said Matthew Shoemaker, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie. “With the province’s support, the City is advancing a Foreign Direct Investment Strategy that will strengthen our competitiveness, attract new investment and open the door to diversified markets. This is an important step toward building a more resilient, future-ready economy for our community.”

First announced as part of the province’s nearly $30 billion tariff relief and support plan, the TICP is dedicated to projects aimed at strengthening economic resilience and competitiveness across industries and communities disproportionately impacted by global trade disruptions. The program also supports the diversification of supply chains across Ontario’s priority sectors, while increasing export and investment opportunities to reduce reliance on U.S. markets.

As Ontario continues to navigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty, the government remains focused on delivering critical funding, cutting red tape and positioning local economies to be more competitive, resilient and investment ready across priority sectors.

Quick Facts

• Trade-Impacted Communities Program is part of Ontario’s broader strategy to support tariff-impacted communities, which focuses on ensuring long-term economic stability and growth while reshoring and strengthening supply chains.
• Open to municipal governments, economic development organizations, sector and industry associations, business accelerators and incubators, TICP funds community-level projects that build economic resilience, diversify supply chains and foster new trade partnerships in response to U.S. trade disruptions.
• The program works in tandem with the Ontario Together Trade Fund, the Protect Ontario Financing Program and the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit.
• Since its launch, the government has received over 80 applications from communities across Ontario and is actively assessing projects for consideration.
• Applications for Stream 1 will be accepted on a continuous basis as long as funding is available. The application window for Stream 2 closed as of September 11, 2025.
• Ontario has taken decisive action to protect good-paying steel jobs in Sault Ste. Marie, including a joint $500 million investment with the federal government to support Algoma Steel in responding to the impacts of U.S. tariffs.

Additional Resources

• 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario
• Ontario Together Trade Fund
• Protect Ontario Financing Program
• Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit

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Media Contacts

Jennifer Cunliffe
Minister’s Office
jennifer.cunliffe@ontario.ca

Media Relations
Communications Branch
economy.media@ontario.ca

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