Statement from Angela Mondou, President & CEO of TECHNATION on the Ontario 2021 Budget

March 24, 2021

TECHNATION and its members applaud the Ontario Government’s laser focused plan for the economic recovery.  Budget 2021 signals the Government of Ontario’s continued recognition that the technology industry plays a crucial role in keeping Ontario healthy and safe, driving investment and high-paying quality jobs.

The commitment of significant and meaningful investment in the expansion of rural broadband is mission critical for Ontario’s overall economic recovery and future prosperity of our nation.  We are especially supportive of this new injection of $2.8 billion into rural broadband as it helps bolster local communities, SMEs and skills development helping to build resiliency and long-term growth.

We look forward to increasing acceleration of Technology adoption with the support of the Ontario Government, through government-industry collaborative initiatives like Digital Main Street. Successful and rapid digitization of SMEs and under-represented groups is contingent upon funds directed to technology investment and tech education to drive much-needed tech adoption.

As we emerge from this pandemic, we encourage the province to direct its investment in the most cutting-edge medical technology with an eye to the future.  Ontario’s economy and workforce will benefit from the injection of funds for retraining and skills development.