Given the buzz over FedDev Ontario, I thought a little trip down ‘federal involvement in regional economic development’ memory lane would be appropriate.  What FedDev will mean for the future of economic development remains to be seen, although I do have a few speculations!  We do, however, know the path that federal involvement in regional economic development has traveled. 

Last week the federal government finally provided details on the new Southern Ontario Development Agency.  SODA was announced last January as part of the Conservative Government’s Action Plan for Canada.  Over the last several months, rumours and speculation passed through economic development circles across Ontario.