Minister Goodyear and Tilson tour Bolton plants, promoting government agency

October 17, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
There are a number of success stories coming from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and Bolton proved to be a good place to celebrate it recently.
Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson and FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear, visited MultiVans in Bolton last Tuesday, congratulating the company on its growing successes in the production and sales of truck bodies.
MultiVans received $50,000 in 2009 through the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) SMART Program to support the purchase of new truck body molds. The company received another $42,170 through CME SMART in 2013 for the building and installation of a horizontal panel insulation press. The government pointed out both projects allowed MultiVans to improve the manufacturing process, as well as product quality, plant productivity, delivery times to customers and reduced labour input.
Goodyear told MultiVans representatives he had been visiting a lot of projects like the ones at the company.
“Ottawa is not necessarily the real world,” he quipped.
He said there have been a lot of success stories from CME SMART.
Goodyear commented that Prime Minister Stephen Harper set up FedDev with programs centred on helping new start-up companies, as well as helping existing companies get into new markets and expand their product lines. He said there are a number of programs in place to help companies partner with other companies, as well as with colleges and universities, with an eye to giving students some real world experience. He also said there are too many southern Ontario communities with just one of two major employers. These programs would help point an expanding company in the direction of such a community.
Goodyear also told company representatives of other government programs, such as an Advance Manufacturing Fund, with $200 million to help fund the next stage of transformation technology.
He also said Tilson has been looking for local companies that could benefit from these programs.
“David’s not shy about coming to me, where ever I am,” he said, adding Tilson’s very aware of the needs of local companies and should be viewed as the go-to guy.
Prior to this visit, Tilson and Goodyear also toured the production facility at MARS Canada, citing that as a perfect example of how new technology is creating jobs, as well as improving existing ones.
“I’m pleased to see that great companies in this community, like MultiVans Inc., have received the support needed to make the necessary upgrades for success,” Tilson said. We know that helping our manufacturers upgrade their processes and facilities, as well as boost productivity, is key to keeping them competitive. The contribution to MultiVans Inc. through Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters is a good example of how we are giving the manufacturing sector the tools it needs to remain a strong part of Ontario’s economy.”

MultiVans co-owner Steve Schafer was showing FedDev Ontario Minister Gary Goodyear and Dufferin-Caledon MP David Tilson around the floor of the Bolton plant.
Photo by Bill Rea