Industry Minister Tony Clement thinks FedNor works well in its present state, but the federal development agency is glacially slow in its effectiveness, says a consultant's study.
A recently released study by Prairie Research Associates of Winnipeg said the agency for Northern Ontario is slow on approving projects, adding its takes an average of six months to get an approval on projects.
That's double the time it takes for approvals at its regional counterpart agencies in Western Canada and Quebec, according to a Canadian Press story.
“The main issue impeding program delivery is the time required for project approval,” said the study.
The firm examined 858 projects between 2006 and 2010 where $148 million was dispensed. The study said program administrations eats up one of every five dollars spent – about 22 per cent. It's higher than costs for a similar agency in Quebec at 16 per cent, but less than the larger Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, at 26 per cent.
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