Unlocking government support

Trade Impact Program: Export Development Canada will deploy $5 billion over two years to help exporters reach new markets and navigate economic challenges.

Business Development Bank of Canada loans: The Business Development Bank of Canada will issue $500 million in favourably priced loans to support businesses impacted by tariffs, including companies in affected supply chains.

Farm Credit Canada financing: Farm Credit Canada will provide $1 billion in new financing to reduce financial barriers for the agriculture and food industry.

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax relief: The federal government will defer GST/HST remittances and corporate income tax payments from April 2 to June 30, 2025, waive interest on GST/HST and T2 installment and arrears payments that are required to be paid between April 2 and June 30, 2025 and provide interest relief on existing GST/HST and T2 balances between April 2 and June 30, 2025.

Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation loans: The Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) facility provides financing support for large Canadian enterprises affected by actual and potential new tariffs and countermeasures. Managed by the Canada Development Investment Corporation (CDEV) through its subsidiary, Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC), this facility is targeted toward large businesses facing challenges accessing traditional sources of market financing.  

Tax deferrals: Manitoba businesses can defer payment of the Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy and retail sales tax until June 20, 2025. Deferrals start with the February tax period and lasts for three months, with a reassessment to follow.

Additional support in the 2025 budget: The Manitoba government’s spring budget contained several measures to help businesses pivot to new markets and keep workers employed in the event that tariffs are sustained. This includes a $100 million target business support program for trade exposed firms, an additional $100 million of loan authority to be made available to the Manitoba Development Corporation, up to $100 million in agriculture support, up to $50 million in new funding to post-secondary institutions to support retraining, up to $10 million more in student aid grants and $25 million more in student loans to help workers train for new jobs.

Relief for agricultural producers: The Manitoba government will provide $10 million in additional matching funds for the AgriStability program and $140.8 million for programs including AgriInsurance, Wildlife Damage Compensation and AgriInvest.

Tax deferrals: The Ontario government is deferring approximately $9 billion in select provincially administered taxes for six months from April 1 to October 1, 2025. Additionally, the Ontario government is issuing $2 billion in rebates through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for companies deemed to be safe employers to support businesses and keep workers on the job. This is on top of the $2 billion rebate distributed in March.

Expansion of the Hydrogen Innovation Fund: The Ontario government is launching a new $30 million round of the Hydrogen Innovation Fund to support projects with direct electricity system benefits and those that enable broader energy and other sector applications.

Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF): The Ontario government is providing financial support in the form of grants or loans up to a maximum of $5 million to Ontario-based businesses to help them enhance resilience, strengthen capacity, build local supply chains and expand market reach. Eligible businesses must operate within Ontario, have at least three years of operations, employ at least five full-time employees and demonstrate significant exposure to trade risk due to US tariffs.  

Skills Development Fund: The Ontario government is expanding its Skills Development Fund (SDF) by nearly $1 billion over the next three years, totalling $2.5 billion, to train and reskill workers affected by US tariffs and economic uncertainty.

Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (OMMITC): The Ontario government announced in its 2025 budget that it’s increasing the OMMITC from 10% to 15% for Canadian-controlled private corporations and making it available to non-Canadian-controlled private corporations as a non-refundable tax credit. This aims to provide an additional $1.3 billion over three years for eligible investments made on or after May 15, 2025 and before 2030 in buildings, machinery and equipment for manufacturing or processing in Ontario. Eligible corporations can receive a tax credit of up to $3 million per year.

FRONTIERE program: This program provides financial support of up to $50 million per company to support liquidity needs for businesses in the manufacturing or primary sectors significantly affected by US tariffs. The financial aid will come in the form of loans with a maximum term of seven years and a repayment moratorium of up to 24 months.

Panorama Program: Businesses looking to diversify their exports to markets other than the US can access $200 million in financing and support.

Chantier Productivité: Part of the ESSOR program, Chantier Productivité supports productivity improvement projects with flexible and advantageous financial aid, including interest-free repayable loans and non-repayable contributions for investment projects over $10 million.

Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec: Quebec businesses can access programs through the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to increase productivity or strategically pivot to new markets.

Fonds de solidarité FTQ: Portfolio companies can receive a six-month deferral on loan interest and principal payments to alleviate short-term financial pressures.

FORCE (Formation pour la résilience et la compétitivité en emploi): FORCE focuses on developing workforce skills in companies affected by tariffs, enhancing their resilience and competitiveness. The program provides financial assistance to cover the costs of training that improve skills related to innovation, productivity and market diversification.

Initiative de formation sur mesure pour soutenir la diversification des marchés: This initiative helps Quebec businesses affected by US tariffs develop and strengthen the skills of their workforce and implement diversification strategies targeting markets outside the US.

Revenue Quebec deferral of QST and corporate income tax payments: The Québec government has announced QST and corporate income tax payments deferrals. Businesses must continue to file their returns by the usual deadlines between April 2 and June 30, 2025. Revenu Québec will cancel any interest calculated on an amount due during the period from April 2 to June 30, 2025.

Working capital loans: Businesses can access working capital loans of up to $5 million to help maintain operations.

Competitiveness and Growth Program: The New Brunswick government is creating a new $40-million competitiveness and growth program to enhance the long-term sustainability of large export-intensive companies.

New Brunswick Fisheries Fund: The province is providing $4 million to support seafood producers.

Strategic assistance budget: The New Brunswick government is also using its existing $30-million strategic assistance budget to support contingency planning, market diversification and productivity improvements.

Small and medium-sized business tax credit: The Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation to create a new small and medium-sized enterprise tax credit as part of a three-year pilot program targeting the food and beverage manufacturing, machinery and transportation equipment sectors. The program will be in effect from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028 and will start accepting applications in late 2025. It will provide a 45% non-refundable credit for individuals or corporations who invest in the equity of an eligible Saskatchewan SME (Saskatchewan-based business with between five and 49 employees, with a minimum of 50% of those employees residing in Saskatchewan). There will be an annual cap of $7 million on the total non-refundable tax credits awarded, processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Export Enhancement and Diversification Fund: Prince Edward Island businesses can access non-repayable assistance covering up to 60% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $32,000. Eligible expenses include market research, advertising, trade shows (including travel) and market strategies. (Program runs from March 4, 2025, to March 31, 2026).

Ongoing program support: Innovation PEI continues to support businesses navigating tariff challenges through existing programs. Enhanced outreach efforts connect companies with resources for operational investment, productivity improvements and supply-chain diversification.

Tariff Working Capital Program: Island businesses affected by tariffs can access working capital financing of up to $500,000 over six years at a fixed rate of 4%. Principal payments are deferred for 12 months. This program helps business maintain operations, preserve jobs and invest in market and supply chain alternatives.

Programs benefiting producers: Through existing Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) programming, the federal and provincial governments are redirecting cost-shared funding into the following programs:

• The Product and Market Development Program
• The Strategic Industry Growth Initiative
• The Business Development Program

Tariff and trade response funding: Prince Edward Island’s spring budget contained several measures to support the province’s economy. This included establishing a $32 million Tariff and Trade Contingency Fund to provide direct support to businesses and workers affected by tariffs, reinforce trade relationships, and help PEI businesses diversify into new markets. Additionally, a $10 million Tariff Working Capital Program will offer financial relief through flexible loans.