Grants and tariff relief
Grants you don’t pay back, low-cost loans, help for your team, and provincial programs. All in one simple list.
Grants and tariff relief
Grants you don’t pay back, low-cost loans, help for your team, and provincial programs. All in one simple list.
The short answer
It is for Canadian businesses that are losing money because of tariffs. That could mean:
You don’t have to export to get help. Being part of the supply chain can count.
The main grant is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI). Regional agencies run it, like FedDev Ontario, PrairiesCan and PacifiCan.
| Part of the program | Up to | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Help with bills | $2 million | Wages, rent, utilities, insurance and property taxes |
| Pivot projects | $1 million | New equipment, new markets, a stronger supply chain |
| Total grant | $3 million | Covers up to half of the costs |
Main rules: your business must have at least $1 million in yearly sales, and you must show tariffs hurt you. Bigger pivot projects can also get interest-free loans on top.
Help with bills can cover up to 12 months, ending no later than March 31, 2028. Money is handed out as files are approved. Apply early.
In August 2026, BDC (the Business Development Bank of Canada) grew its Pivot to Grow loan for businesses hit by the newest tariffs:
A loan like this can also keep you going while you wait for a grant. If you need a smaller amount, a line of credit or invoice factoring may fit better.
If work slows down, Work-Sharing lets you cut hours instead of laying people off. Your staff get Employment Insurance (EI) for the hours they lose.
Special tariff rules make it easier to use until March 31, 2028:
If you bring in goods, then make something and send it out of Canada, you may get some duties back. The Canada Border Services Agency runs duty relief and drawback programs for this. Ask your customs broker if they fit.
Some provinces have their own programs. In Ontario, the Ontario Together Trade Fund gives grants or loans of up to $5 million for bigger projects. See all Ontario programs or check every province.
| If you need to… | Look at |
|---|---|
| Pay wages and bills while sales are down | RTRI help with bills (grant) |
| Buy equipment or find new customers | RTRI pivot project (grant) |
| Get a large amount of cash fast | BDC Pivot to Grow (loan) |
| Keep your team without full-time work | Work-Sharing |
| Grow a plant or add jobs in Ontario | Ontario Together Trade Fund |
Many businesses use more than one. Just remember: you can’t claim the same cost twice.
The RTRI grant is money you don’t pay back, if you follow the agreement. But it covers up to half of your costs, so you pay the rest. BDC tariff help is a loan, so you do pay that back.
No. If you supply or serve a business that was hit, or your costs went up because of trade measures, you may still qualify.
Often, yes. They pay for different things. You just can’t claim the same cost under two programs.
Yes, as of October 2026. Each region takes applications until its money is gone, so it’s best to apply soon.
Things like lost orders, emails from customers, higher supplier prices, and sales before and after tariffs. Here’s a full list.
Keep reading
4 min readA simple guide to small business grants in Canada for 2026: what a grant is, the main types, who qualifies, and the tariff grant worth up to $3 million.
Read the article
3 min readHow to apply for a government grant in Canada, step by step: find the right program, check the rules, gather documents, write a clear plan and avoid common mistakes.
Read the article
3 min readSmall business grants in Ontario for 2026, explained simply: tariff relief up to $3M, the Ontario Together Trade Fund, hiring and training help, and who qualifies.
Read the articleTalk to a specialist
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