Business Financing in Canada
Funding is a crucial element for any business looking to start, grow, or innovate. In addition to traditional options such as bank loans or relying on investors, there is a frequently underestimated alternative: grants. This detailed guide explores the various sources of grants available, as well as the financial services and sustainable funding strategies for businesses in Canada. By following the outlined steps, entrepreneurs can identify grants suited to their projects, whether they are government programs, innovation funds, or initiatives specifically targeting certain sectors. Grants are an advantageous solution, often non-repayable, allowing businesses to fund their projects without resorting to debt.

Arts Across Canada — Travel
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Arts Across Canada — Representation and Promotion
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Strategic Funds and Initiatives — Market Access Strategy
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program — Energy Efficiency Solutions Track
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- Maximum amount : 20 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing

FAQDD — Returnable Container Recycling Equipment Modernization Program
Fonds d'action Québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD)- From $7,500 to $7,500
- Up to 65% of project cost
- Retail trade

Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Bioénergies — Analysis
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- No Condition
- Manufacturing

Energir — Energy efficiency program – Efficient Renovation
Energir- From $500 to $100,000
- Up to 15% of project cost
- All industries

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF) — Business project loans
Government of Ontario- From $500,000 to $500,000
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

ÉcoPerformance — Standard Analysis Stream
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Support program for the development of reserved designations and promotional terms — Component 1
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

MEDTEQ+ — AVISÉ program
Consortium de recherche et d’innovation en technologies médicales du Québec- Maximum amount : 700,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

Digital Transformation Offensive program (OTN) — Stream 2 – Optimization
Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec (CTAQ)- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing

LogisVert — Financial assistance for installers
Hydro-Québec- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Construction

ElevateIP
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Maritime, Air, and Rail Transportation Efficiency Program - Studies Component
Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility of Quebec- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

AgroPerformance – Stream 1 : Support for the agricultural sector in adopting agritechnologies
Gouvernement du Québec- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Bioénergies — Implementation
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Educational services

ESSOR – Component 1A: Support for investment projects (feasibility studies)
Investissement Québec (IQ)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing

Call for projects to combat homophobia and transphobia
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 150,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk (CNFASAR)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- From $50,000 to $1,000,000
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)

Accelerating the local climate transition - Component 1
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- Maximum amount : 350,000 $
- Public administration

My Digital Success
CCTT Network - Synchronex- Maximum amount : 15,750 $
- All industries

Subsidy for universal access to businesses
City of Montreal (MTL)- Maximum amount : 40,000 $
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Retail trade
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CFIN — Innovation Scouting Fund
Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)- From $20,000 to $75,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Innovation program — Call for First-time Adopter Projects
Investissement Québec (IQ)- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Quebec Initiative for Construction 4.0 — Stream 2
Groupe BIM du Québec (GBQ)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Construction

SIF — Collaborations and Networks projects
Innovation Canada- No Condition
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Arts Abroad — Circulation and Touring
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Aboriginal Business Financing Program - Private Project
SOCCA- Maximum amount : 99,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

Fast-Track to Financing Program
Natural Products Canada (NPC)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Health care and social assistance

CED — Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Regional Development Program — Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness (AMIC)
Government of Ontario- From $500,000 to $1,500,000
- Up to 15% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Forest Innovation Program
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Call for collaborative and structuring innovation projects in Quebec's strategic sectors
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 35% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries

Economic Development & Growth in Employment (EDGE) Incentive Program
City of Toronto- From $3,000,000 to $10,000,000
- Up to 77% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Innovative Projects Program
Hydro-Québec- Maximum amount : 12,000,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade

- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Artificial Intelligence for Canadian Energy Innovation
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)- From $500,000 to $1,500,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Utilities
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services

CanExport Innovation
Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries

LTI³ Project
Institut d'innovation en logistique du Québec (InnovLOG)- Maximum amount : 28,500 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing

Starter Company Plus
Government of Ontario- Maximum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 25% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Technoclimat
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- Maximum amount : 3,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Support program for positioning Quebec alcohol in the SAQ network
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 1,950,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

NovaScience Program — Support for employment in research and innovation
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 30,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance

Energir — Energy efficiency program - Efficient construction
Energir- From $5,000 to $325,000
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Educational services

Capital project: Community Energy Systems
Green Municipal Fund (GMF)- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Public administration

Advancing Accessibility Standards Research
Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC)- No Condition
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Finance and insurance
- Public administration

Biofood Innovation Program Component 2 – Applied research, experimental development and technological adaptation
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $25,000 to $254,000
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
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Healthy Eating Program Component 2 – Support for the development and modification of the nutritional value of processed foods
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $10,000 to $150,000
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Abandoned Boats Program - Assessment and Removals (A&R) component
Transport Canada (TC)- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Public administration

Energir — Energy efficiency program – Feasibility study
Energir- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Accommodation and food services

Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program
Health Canada- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance

African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP) - Prevention and Preparedness Stream
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Canada Council for the Arts —
Canada Council for the Arts (CCA)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Information and cultural industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Aboriginal Community Safety Development Contribution Program (ACSDCP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 1,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Commerce-Montreal
City of Montreal (MTL)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Retail trade
- Accommodation and food services

Healthy Eating Program Component 3 – Support for activities and structural projects
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $40,000 to $300,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing

Supporting the Canadian Red Cross' Urgent Relief Efforts Related to COVID-19, Floods and Wildfires
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- No Condition
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Energir — Energy efficiency program – Implementation of efficiency measures
Energir- From $1,000 to $1,000,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- All industries

Charge+
Propulsion Quebec- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Transportation and warehousing
- Public administration

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund - Indigenous Capacity Support
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Utilities

Small Craft Harbours Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

International Climate Cooperation Program (ICCP)
Environnement Québec (MELCC)- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

SODEC — Support for promotion and distribution – Component 1b
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Information and cultural industries

FABconstruction – Stream 2 : Support for productivity enhancement
Digital Governance Institute (IGN)- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Construction
- Manufacturing

FAQDD — Action-Climat Quebec
Fonds d'action Québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Transportation and warehousing
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Youth Take Charge
Canadian Heritage- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Community Resilience Fund (CRF)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 35,000,000 $
- Up to 95% of project cost
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Court Challenges Program (CCP)
University of Ottawa- Maximum amount : 200,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Grants and Contributions Program to National Voluntary Organizations (GCP NVO)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 600,000 $
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

FABconstruction – Stream 1 : Business process analysis and action plan
Digital Governance Institute (IGN)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Manufacturing

Communities at Risk, Security Infrastructure Program (SIP)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

Financial support to assess your energy use Hydro Quebec
Hydro-Québec- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
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ÉcoPerformance — Standard Implementation stream
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 5,000,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Manufacturing

Enbridge Gas Quebec — Custom-made project
Enbridge Gas Quebec- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade

Qualifying training in the workplace
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- All industries

Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime (CPCSOC)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 20,000,000 $
- Up to 95% of project cost
- Educational services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration

MAPAQ — Ministerial initiative Proximity — Component 1
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- From $7,000 to $50,000
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Novoclimat — Construction professionals — Small Multiple-Unit Buildings
Gouvernement du Québec- No Condition
- Construction
- Real estate and rental and leasing

AgroPerformance – Stream 2 : Support for specific agricultural sectors in adopting priority equipment
Gouvernement du Québec- From $5,000 to $50,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Memorial Grant Program for First Responders
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Aboriginal Aquatic Resource And Oceans Management (AAROM) Program
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- No Condition
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services

Canada Cultural Investment Fund - Endowment Incentives
Canadian Heritage- From $5,000 to $1,500,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Support for music and variety companies — Component 2: Support for management activities and Component 3: Para-industrial sector - Project support
Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)- No Condition
- Arts, entertainment and recreation

Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program - Collaborative R&D Initiatives
National Research Council Canada (NRC)- No Condition
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Public administration

Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP) — Project Stream
Innovation Canada- Maximum amount : 50,000 $
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Other services (except public administration)

Competitiveness and Environment Program - Component 1
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 60% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and warehousing

Funding for customized AI training
Scale AI Cluster- From $5,000 to $1,000,000
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Regional Defence Investment Initiative – Northern Ontario
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)- Up to 100% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries

Proof-of-Concept Program
Natural Products Canada (NPC)- From $100,000 to $350,000
- Up to 40% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
- Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
- Health care and social assistance

Renewable Natural Gas Production Support Program — Stream 1
Gouvernement du Québec- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Utilities

Indigenous Economic Development Fund — Regional Partnership Grants Program
Government of Ontario- No Condition
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

EnAbling Change Program
Government of Ontario- No Condition
- All industries

FedNor Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative
Government of Canada- No Condition
- All industries

Financial Assistance Program for the Promotion of French – Stream 1
Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF)- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR)
Public Safety Canada (PSC)- Maximum amount : 6,250,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Public administration

Collaborative Industrial Research and Support to Innovative Entrepreneurship — Stream 3
Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)- Maximum amount : 1,500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
- Manufacturing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services

Financial Assistance Program for the Promotion of French – stream 2
Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF)- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- All industries