The Ford government had announced the fund in 2021 to provide grants to tourism businesses whose revenues plunged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program documents said the money was for "Ontario-based, tourism businesses in the for-profit attractions and accommodations sectors that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 … private sector tourism businesses that are significant drivers to their regional tourism economies." © Carlos Osorio/Reuters Nearly half of Ontario $99.5 million tourism recovery fund went to the 68 companies that received grants of more than $500,000 each. Nearly half of the tourism recovery program's total funding went to the 68 companies that received grants of more than $500,000 each. Tourism companies began receiving the provincial payments last April.

Source: CBC News January 08, 2023 12:49 UTC