Protect Ontario Financing Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the Protect Ontario Financing Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Protect Ontario Financing Program is a Loans and Capital investments

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Protect Ontario Financing Program?

Protect Ontario Financing Program is funded by Government of Ontario

Q: Who is eligible for the Protect Ontario Financing Program program?

To be eligible for the Protect Ontario Financing Program program, you must: • For-profit business registered in Ontario • Operate in steel, aluminum, or auto sectors affected by s.232 tariffs • Minimum $2 million annual revenue and at least 10 full-time employees in Ontario

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Protect Ontario Financing Program?

You can contact Government of Ontario by email at pofp@ontario.ca.

Q: Where is the Protect Ontario Financing Program available?

The Protect Ontario Financing Program program is available the province of ON.

Last Update: August 25, 2025

ON, Canada

Financial support for Ontario businesses facing tariff-related challenges

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Min. $250,000

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Loans and Capital investments

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The Protect Ontario Financing Program offers term loans starting at $250,000 to support Ontario businesses in the steel, aluminum, and auto sectors facing working capital challenges due to U.S. s.232 tariffs. The program aims to cover essential business expenses such as payroll, leases, and utilities for eligible for-profit companies.

Financing terms and conditions

Term loan minimum amount: $250,000.
Maximum loan repayment term: up to 72 months (6 years).

Activities funded

Supporting Ontario businesses facing working capital challenges due to s.232 U.S. tariffs in the steel, aluminum, and auto sectors.

Eligibility

The applicant must be a for-profit business (legal entity or limited partnership) registered to do business in Ontario.
The business must operate within Ontario.
The business must be directly exporting or supporting the supply chain in the steel, aluminum, or auto sectors affected by s.232 tariffs.
The company must have at least $2 million in annual revenue.
The applicant must employ at least 10 full-time employees in Ontario and have a minimum of 3 years of operations with financial statements.
The business must be experiencing significant working capital challenges due to s.232 U.S. tariffs and must have already explored or faced barriers accessing federal financial support options.

Who is eligible?

For-profit businesses operating in Ontario
Companies in the steel sector affected by s.232 tariffs
Companies in the aluminum sector affected by s.232 tariffs
Companies in the automotive sector affected by s.232 tariffs

Who is not eligible

Not-for-profit organizations, associations, or charities.
Start-ups (companies in early stages without a track record of sales or operations).
Companies applying for non-working capital costs (such as property or equipment purchases).
Businesses seeking to refinance existing business loans.
Companies applying for funding related to acquisitions, buyouts, or relocations (including within Ontario).

Eligible expenses

Payroll expenses
Lease payments
Utility payments

Eligible geographic areas

Ontario

Selection criteria

Applicant's ability to meet the loan repayment conditions.
Quality of the financial guarantee provided to the province.
Due diligence by a third party to assess the application.

How to apply

Assess eligibility requirements

Review the eligibility criteria for the program
Check that your business operates in Ontario and is affected by s.232 tariffs
Ensure all minimum requirements are met, such as revenue and number of employees

Complete eligibility questionnaire

Complete the online preliminary eligibility questionnaire
Submit the required information about your business

Await eligibility confirmation

Wait for confirmation based on your questionnaire responses
Be contacted if you meet the preliminary requirements
Prepare to discuss the application process

Complete due diligence process

Undergo third-party assessment and due diligence
Provide all required documentation upon request
Ensure timely and accurate information submission

Additional information

Eligible businesses must demonstrate that they have explored and exhausted or encountered significant barriers in accessing federal financial support for working capital.
Loan prepayment is allowed without penalty.
Combining funding with previously approved provincial support is permitted only for existing projects, not new ones.
All applications undergo a rigorous assessment and due diligence process by a third-party evaluator.

Contacts

pofp@ontario.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Protect Ontario Financing Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Protect Ontario Financing Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.