Mélanie Joly, federal minister for economic development and official languages, announced October 2 continued funding for the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF), through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The RRRF began in May this year during the early stages of the pandemic and has helped more than 12,000 small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) maintain their existing staff, cover operation costs, and continue to support local and regional economies.