2025 Complete Canadian Business Owners Guide to Unlocking Government Funding for Growth
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of current opportunities as of October 2025 and offers practical advice to help business owners in Canada identify and access these programs.
Introduction
Canada’s 2025 funding landscape for entrepreneurs and small‐ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) is diverse and evolving.
Federal grants, cost‑shared contributions, repayable loans and tax incentives exist alongside provincial and territorial programs tailored to local priorities.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of current opportunities as of October 2025 and offers practical advice to help business owners in Canada identify and access these programs.
Where possible, information comes directly from government or reputable sources and is referenced accordingly.
1 Federal funding programs for Canadian Business
1.1 Grants and contributions
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) – provides wage subsidies to employers that hire young people aged 15 – 30.
Non‑profit employers can receive 100 % of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage (plus mandatory employment costs), while private/for‑profit employers are eligible for up to 50 % of the minimum wage (grantmatch.com).
Applications generally open in the autumn for employment beginning the following summer.
Business Scale‑up and Productivity (BSP) – supports high‑growth firms to adopt new technologies, expand domestic and international markets and improve productivity.
Contributions are generally repayable.
The program is delivered regionally; for example, Western Economic Diversification provides support to SMEs in British Columbia and Quebec (grantmatch.com).
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) – AgriAssurance (SME Component) – encourages agricultural SMEs to adopt assurance systems to meet export and market requirements.
Projects can receive up to CA$50 000 with a total cap of CA$100 000 across all projects, and applicants must contribute at least 50 % of costs in cash (agriculture.canada.ca, agriculture.canada.ca).
Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) – Loan Fund – created in Budget 2021, this micro‑loan program provides up to CA$50 000 to women‑owned businesses, particularly start‑ups and under‑represented entrepreneurs (ised-isde.canada.ca).
Loans are delivered through partner organizations such as the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC) and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA).
Export Development Canada (EDC) – Trade Impact Program – a two‑year program committing CA$5 billion to help exporters enter new markets and manage risks such as non‑payment and currency fluctuations (funding.ryan.com).
Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) – provides funding and advisory services to innovative SMEs performing research and development.
Specific amounts depend on project size and scope; cost‑shared contributions can fund labour, subcontracting and materials. (Refer to the National Research Council for guidelines.)
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) – offers large‑scale repayable contributions or grants to firms investing in R&D, commercialization and innovation.
Focus areas include clean technology, advanced manufacturing and life sciences.
CanExport SMEs – historically reimbursed up to 50 % of export‑related costs (maximum CA$50 000).
Intakes fluctuate; check the Trade Commissioner Service for current status.
Innovative Solutions Canada – issues challenge‑based calls for proposals where SMEs receive funding to develop prototypes and may receive procurement contracts after successful testing.
Regional Economic Growth programs – delivered through regional agencies such as PrairiesCan and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Programs include the Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE), Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD), Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) and others (canada.ca).
1.2 Loan and financing programs for Canadian business
Futurpreneur Canada – provides young entrepreneurs (18 – 39) with loans of up to CA$75 000, mentorship and business support. A “Side Hustle” program offers loans up to CA$25 000 for part‑time businesses (grantmatch.com).
Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) – government‑guaranteed loans (administered through financial institutions) that help businesses finance equipment purchases or leasehold improvements. Up to CA$1 million may be financed; a portion of the loan is guaranteed by the federal government. (ised-isde.canada.ca)
1.3 Tax credits and incentives for businesses in Canada
Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive – provides federal and provincial tax credits for eligible R&D expenditures. SMEs can receive refundable credits for qualifying labour, materials and overhead.
Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits (Clean Technology, Clean Manufacturing, Carbon Capture and Storage, Clean Hydrogen) – refundable credits covering portions of capital costs for specified clean technologies (up to 30 % for clean‑tech manufacturing and variable rates for carbon capture and hydrogen investments) (investcanada.ca, investcanada.ca).
Accelerated Investment Incentive – allows businesses to depreciate capital assets more quickly for tax purposes. For example, first‑year depreciation up to three times normal rates (investcanada.ca).
2 Provincial and territorial programs in Canada
2.1 British Columbia (BC) Business Support
Employer Training Grant (ETG) – a cost‑sharing program that reimburses 80 % of eligible training costs up to CA$10 000 per employee, with a maximum of CA$300 000 per employer per fiscal year.
The program supports training of existing or prospective employees to adapt to changing labour demands and requires employers to operate in BC and be in good standing (www2.gov.bc.ca, www2.gov.bc.ca).
Innovator Skills Initiative – provides up to CA$10 000 per business to hire a post‑secondary student or recent graduate for a tech‑related role, promoting diversity in the tech sector (www2.gov.bc.ca).
Tech Co‑op Grants Program – employers can receive up to CA$20 000 per year (four grants of CA$5 000 each) to hire co‑op students; they must cover the remaining wages (www2.gov.bc.ca).
Clean BC and climate programs – BC offers rebates and incentives for energy efficiency and clean technology adoption; details vary by sector.
2.2 Alberta Business Support Programs
Canada‑Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) – reimburses 50 % of training costs up to CA$5 000 per existing employee and 75 % up to CA$10 000 for unemployed Albertans.
Employers can receive up to CA$100 000 per year (alberta.ca, alberta.ca).
Innovation Employment Grant (IEG) – delivered through the corporate tax system, this grant provides an 8 % credit on eligible R&D spending up to a base level and an enhanced 20 % credit on incremental R&D expenditures, on up to CA$4 million of annual spending (alberta.ca).
Eligibility phases out for firms with CA$10 – 50 million in taxable capital (alberta.ca); corporations claim the credit when filing their income tax return.
Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant (AMPG) – a two‑year pilot program (starting mid‑2025) providing over CA$4 million for small‑ and medium‑sized manufacturers.
Businesses can receive up to CA$30 000 in matching funding for technology upgrades and new machinery (alberta.ca).
Eligible firms must manufacture products in Alberta, employ 5–750 workers and use the equipment within the province (alberta.ca).
Alberta Innovates – Micro‑Voucher and Voucher programs – offer non‑repayable funding to support product development, commercialization and market assessment.
Micro‑vouchers (up to CA$10 000) fund early‑stage development while larger vouchers (up to CA$100 000) support later stages.
2.3 Saskatchewan Business Incentives
Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive (STSI) – offers a 45 % non‑refundable tax credit to individuals or corporations investing in eligible tech start‑ups including clean tech encouraging investment in early‑stage companies (funding.ryan.com).
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Tax Credit – launched July 1 2025, this three‑year pilot provides a 45 % non‑refundable tax credit for individuals or corporations investing in equity of eligible Saskatchewan SMEs in food and beverage manufacturing, machinery and transportation equipment sectors.
The annual cap is CA$7 million, and eligible SMEs must have 5 – 49 employees, with at least half residing in Saskatchewan (saskatchewan.ca, saskatchewan.ca).
2.4 Manitoba Business Growth Programs
Innovation Growth Program (IGP) – a cost‑shared grant supporting commercialization of new products or processes.
Manitoba‑based corporations can receive up to CA$100 000 per project on a 50/50 cost‑share basis, provided they have under 100 employees, less than CA$15 million in revenue and a CA$25 000 equity position (gov.mb.cagov.mb.ca).
Eligible expenses include prototyping, market testing, certifications, salaries for new hires and market development (gov.mb.ca).
Paid Work Experience Tax Credits – employers who hire post‑secondary co‑op students or graduates can claim a refundable tax credit equal to 15 % of wages, up to CA$5 000 per studentedu.gov.mb.caedu.gov.mb.ca.
Canada‑Manitoba Job Grant (2025 cycle currently closed) – small employers (<100 employees) can receive up to 75 % of training costs per employee (up to CA$10 000); larger employers can receive 50 %cfib-fcei.ca.
2.5 Ontario Business Support Programs
Starter Company Plus – provides training, mentoring and grants up to CA$5 000 for people starting, expanding or buying a small business in Ontario. Applicants must be 18 or older, residents of Ontario, not enrolled full‑time in school and must contribute 25 % of the grant in cash or in‑kind. Applications are processed through local Small Business Enterprise Centres (ontario.caontario.ca).
Canada‑Ontario Job Grant (COJG) – funds third‑party training. Employers can receive up to CA$10 000 per trainee for most employees, with large employers required to pay half the cost; small employers contribute one‑sixth.
When a small employer trains and hires an unemployed individual, funding may cover up to CA$15 000 per trainee (ontario.ca).
Digital Transformation Grant (Digital Main Street) – offers a one‑time grant of CA$2 500 to brick‑and‑mortar small businesses for digital marketing, e‑commerce platforms or website upgrades (northgrenvillechamber.com).
2.6 Quebec Business Growth Support Programs
PARTENAR‑IA (Prompt) – provides up to CA$350 000 per partner company and up to CA$1.5 million per collaborative AI project, covering 50 % of eligible project costs.
Government contributions (including provincial and federal) may reach 75 % of total expenses, while private partners must contribute at least 25 % (hellodarwin.com).
Projects must involve at least two Quebec‑based SMEs collaborating with a public research centre, and each firm must hire at least one intern (hellodarwin.com).
Participating companies must be legally incorporated, headquartered in Quebec and have fewer than 250 employees (hellodarwin.com).
MFOR 100 K$ Training Projects (Programme MFOR) – funds training projects between Quebec businesses and educational institutions; grants of up to CA$100 000 can cover wages and training costs for projects aligned with labour‑market needs. (Official details require contact with the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.)
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) – subsidizes wages for students placed with businesses, often covering 50 % of wages (up to CA$5 000 per placement) and higher for under‑represented groups.
Regional Assistance to Industry and Innovation (RAII) – offers financial support to SMEs in various regions for productivity improvements, market expansion and adoption of new technologies (the program’s terms vary by region).
2.7 New Brunswick Business Programs
Small Business Investor Tax Credit – investors can receive a 50 % non‑refundable personal income tax credit(up to CA$125 000, corresponding to investments of CA$250 000) for investing in eligible small businesses.
Corporations can claim a 15 % non‑refundable corporate income tax credit up to CA$75 000; unused credits can be carried forward or backward (www2.gnb.ca).
Canada Job Grant (New Brunswick) – employers can receive up to CA$15 000 per trainee toward training costs, including up to CA$10 000 in federal contributions (www2.gnb.ca).
NBIF Innovation Voucher Fund – provides non‑repayable vouchers covering 80 % of project costs up to CA$80 000 for the first two vouchers; subsequent vouchers provide 50 % up to CA$50 000 (hellodarwin.com).
The funding pays research organizations directly to perform R&D services such as applied research, proof‑of‑concept, prototyping and product testing (hellodarwin.com).
Eligible companies must be incorporated in New Brunswick, have fewer than 500 employees and at least 24 months of operating history (hellodarwin.com).
2.8 Nova Scotia Provincial Business Programs:
Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI) – cost‑shares up to 75 % of eligible training costs.
Eligible costs include course fees, instructor costs, materials and travel for training; the program is open to Nova Scotia businesses, sector councils and associations.
Applications for the 2025‑26 intake are being accepted between 1 October and 31 October 2025 (novascotia.ca).
Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program (PIVP) – provides vouchers to access expertise at post‑secondary institutions.
Tier 1 vouchers offer up to CA$15 000;
Tier 2 vouchers offer up to CA$25 000 to build upon previous projects.
The 2025 application period ran from 7 May 2025 to 4 June 2025, and projects must be completed by 16 March 2026 (investnovascotia.ca).
2.9 Newfoundland & Labrador Funding Programs
Business Investment Program – provides repayable term loans at the Bank of Canada rate plus 0.5 % to SMEs with fewer than 100 employees and less than CA$10 million in annual sales.
Projects must be in strategic sectors and demonstrate export or import‑substitution potential (gov.nl.ca).
Business Development Support Program – offers a non‑repayable contribution covering up to 50 % of eligible costs, capped at CA$100 000 per government fiscal year.
Eligible SMEs must operate in strategic sectors, have <100 employees and <CA$10 million in sales.
Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant (NL Job Grant) – reimburses up to CA$10 000 of training costs per trainee for existing employees and up to CA$15 000 when training and hiring unemployed individuals; employers typically contribute one‑third of training costs.
2.10 Prince Edward Island (PEI) Business Programs
Small Business Investment Grant – reimburses 15 % of eligible capital asset costs up to CA$3 750 per business per fiscal year.
Eligible businesses must operate on PEI, have at least one employee (or be the owner’s primary income), and may submit one application per fiscal year.
The 2025 application deadline was 31 March 2025 (uwaterloo.caatlanticcanadabusinessgrants.com).
Capital Acquisition Assistance – (information from Innovation PEI) provides non‑repayable support for purchasing or upgrading capital assets.
Businesses can receive up to 80 % of project costs (often structured as a loan/grant mix), subject to due diligence and ineligibility if receiving the Small Business Investment Grant.
2.11 Northwest Territories (NWT) Programs
Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Program – offers funding up to CA$25 000 to NWT businesses for startup costs, capital equipment, market/product development, operational support and film‑industry projects.
Equity requirements vary by community: businesses must contribute 30 % in Group 1 communities (e.g., Yellowknife) and 20 % in others; applications are accepted annually (iti.gov.nt.ca).
ADAPT Fund (Prosper NWT) – provides up to CA$2 600 for digital projects such as website development, e‑commerce or inventory systems.
Eligible businesses must be for‑profit, registered or incorporated in the NWT, have at least one employee or CA$10 000 in annual revenue and commit to maintaining the digital adoption strategy for six months (prospernwt.ca, prospernwt.ca).
2.12 Nunavut Business Support Programs
Small Business Support Program (SBSP) – a multi‑schedule program under the Nunavut Department of Economic Development and Transportation:
Schedule A – Small Business Opportunities Fund: provides accountable contributions to support planning, start‑up, expansion and marketing for new and existing small businesses.
Funding may cover 75 % of business planning and feasibility studies, 80 % for demonstration projects, 50 % for capital asset acquisitions and up to CA$25 000 for working capital or recovery plans.
The maximum cumulative assistance is CA$100 000 per recipientg (ov.nu.ca, gov.nu.ca).
Schedule B – Entrepreneur Development Fund: funds acquisition of business skills.
Contributions cover up to 80 % of costs for aftercare programs or 70 % for external services, with a maximum of CA$100 000, issued once per fiscal year (gov.nu.ca).
Schedule C – Sustainable Livelihood Fund: small contributions for tools and equipment for artisans, community tourism or renewable resource harvesters.
Assistance is CA$10 000 lifetime per applicant, or CA$5 000 per application (gov.nu.ca).
2.13 Yukon Business Support Programs
Summer Career Placement Program (Yukon) – provides a wage subsidy of CA$8.25 per hour (up to 600 hours) for employers hiring summer students from May 1 to September 1.
Employers must be private businesses, NGOs, municipalities or First Nations operating in Yukon for at least one year (yukon.ca).
Student Training and Employment Program (STEP) – offers a CA$7.20 per hour wage subsidy for 450 – 600 hours and sets wage scales for student hires (e.g., CA$23.07/hr for first‑year students).
The program helps fund on‑the‑job training and requires employer applications by mid‑November each year (yukon.ca).
3 Specialized and demographic‑focused programs
Governments and partner organizations provide additional programs targeting specific groups:
Indigenous entrepreneurs – Several provinces and federal departments fund Indigenous‑owned businesses through dedicated loan funds, grants for community enterprises and training (e.g., Alberta Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative - canada.ca). Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) deliver microloans and grants as part of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy and other programs.
Women‑led businesses – In addition to the federal Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, many provinces partner with organizations like WeBC (BC) and PARO (Ontario) to provide mentorship and microloans. Some provinces offer targeted wage subsidies or training grants to encourage hiring women in STEM.
Youth and student entrepreneurs – Programs such as Futurpreneur Canada, Student Summer Company (Ontario) and provincial student entrepreneur grants provide seed capital and mentoring.
Black, racialized and newcomer entrepreneurs – The federal government, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and provincial agencies offer targeted loan funds and training; check local business development organizations for current programs.
Rural and northern businesses – Regional development agencies (e.g., ACOA, PrairiesCan, CanNor) administer programs to address geographic challenges, including broadband infrastructure and cold‑climate innovation.
4 Tips for accessing funding
Clarify your business profile – Determine your industry, stage of growth and location. Many programs require incorporation, a minimum operating history (often two years) or a minimum number of employees.
Assess program alignment – Read eligibility criteria carefully. Funding often targets innovation, export growth, training, technology adoption or sector‑specific outcomes.
For instance, the Innovation Employment Grant requires expenditures that also qualify for the federal SR&ED program (alberta.ca).
Prepare a strong application – Successful applications usually include a detailed business plan, financial statements, market analysis and project description. For training grants, you must identify a third‑party training provider and outline expected outcomes.
Budget for cost‑sharing – Many grants require the business to fund part of the project. For example, the AgriAssurance Program mandates a 50/50 cost split (agriculture.canada.ca), and Alberta’s CAPG reimburses only a portion of training expenses (alberta.ca).
Monitor deadlines – Application windows are often short. For example, Nova Scotia’s PIVP accepted applications from 7 May to 4 June 2025 (investnovascotia.ca), while PEI’s Small Business Investment Grant closed on 31 March 2025 (uwaterloo.ca).
Avoid stacking restrictions – Some programs cannot be combined. PEI businesses cannot apply for both the Small Business Investment Grant and the Capital Acquisition program (atlanticcanadabusinessgrants.com).
Leverage advisory services – Many provinces offer free advisory services (e.g., Business Link in Alberta, Invest Nova Scotia Advisors, Innovation PEI Business Navigators) to help match businesses with suitable programs.
Document outcomes – Grants and tax incentives typically require progress reports or proof of spending. Maintain accurate records to ensure compliance and support future applications.
5 Conclusion and resources
In 2025 Canada offers a broad spectrum of funding programs aimed at stimulating innovation, training, export expansion and economic diversification.
While some federal programs are widely accessible (IRAP, CSJ, SR&ED), many provincial and territorial programs focus on local priorities, such as manufacturing productivity in Alberta (alberta.ca), innovation vouchers in New Brunswick (hellodarwin.com), or small business grants in PEI (uwaterloo.ca).
Business owners should regularly consult official websites and advisory services to track opening and closing dates and new program announcements.
The Business Benefits Finder (operated by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) is a useful tool to generate a customized list of funding opportunities based on your business profile.
By understanding available programs and carefully planning applications, Canadian entrepreneurs can tap into substantial government resources to start, grow and innovate their businesses in 2025 and beyond.
If you found this guide helpful, please check out our other free Canadian Business guides.
Risk Disclaimer and Intended Use: This guide is intended to act as an educational resource, - not a definitive recommendation. Please reference underlying sources directly for further details. This guide is not a recommendation to raise capital from investors, US-based or otherwise. If you need advice for your business, you are welcome to contact us for a referral.