For-profit business (legal entity or limited partnership) registered to carry out business in Ontario
Services
Protect Ontario Financing Program
Ontario term-loan program providing up to $1 billion in working-capital liquidity (loans from $250,000, repayable up to 72 months) to tariff-impacted businesses in Section 232 and Section 338 sectors facing payroll, lease and utility pressures.
Overview
Ontario term-loan program providing up to $1 billion in working-capital liquidity (loans from $250,000, repayable up to 72 months) to tariff-impacted businesses in Section 232 and Section 338 sectors facing payroll, lease and utility pressures.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | loan |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | Ontario |
| Administrator | Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Ministry of Finance |
| Min per project | $250,000 |
| Max per project | $40,000,000 |
| Budget | $1,000,000,000 |
| Intake status | Open - continuous intake via online eligibility tool; expanded to Section 338 sectors September 2026 |
| Non-US bias | Tariff-response liquidity: helps firms keep operating while pivoting away from U.S. tariff exposure (program itself is not a market-diversification incentive) |
Eligibility
Operate in Ontario and in a Section 232 tariff sector (steel, aluminum, copper, autos) or Section 338 tariff sector (furniture; jewelry, precious metals, beauty, personal care, dairy products, textiles, consumer goods, leather and footwear), either as a direct exporter or as part of the supply chain
At least $2 million in annual revenue
At least 10 full-time employees in Ontario
Minimum 3 years of operations and financial statements
Facing material working-capital challenges due to Section 232 or Section 338 tariffs (e.g. difficulty meeting short-term financial obligations such as payroll)
Have explored and exhausted, or faced significant barriers in accessing, federally offered financial support for working capital
What it covers
Working-capital costs only
payroll, lease payments and utility payments
Market and diversification rules
Not-for-profit organizations, associations and charities are ineligible
Start-ups without a track record of sales or operations are ineligible
Non-working-capital costs (e.g. property or new equipment purchases), refinancing of existing lending facilities, acquisitions/buyouts, and relocation (including within Ontario) are ineligible
How to apply
Visit the official Protect Ontario Financing Program page and complete the online eligibility tool
Businesses that pass preliminary eligibility screening are contacted to discuss their application and next steps
Applications undergo rigorous assessment and due diligence by a third-party financial agent
Applicants must demonstrate ability to meet repayment requirements and provide security satisfactory to the province
Stacking notes
Program is the first phase of the $5 billion Protecting Ontario Account announced in the 2025 Budget
Applicants must have exhausted or faced significant barriers to federal working-capital supports (e.g. EDC Trade Impact Program, BDC Pivot to Grow, Large Enterprise Tariff Loan Facility) before accessing POFP
Notes
Term loans
minimum $250,000, repayable up to 72 months (6 years), no prepayment penalty, annual repayment frequency
At the province's discretion, loans may be interest-bearing up to market prime rate, with principal-free repayments for up to 12 months
Loan amounts reported as ranging from $250,000 to $40 million (CBC coverage of launch; maximum not stated on the official program page)
Example
$100 million provincial POFP loan to Algoma Steel complemented by $400 million federal LETL financing
Eligibility expanded in September 2026 as additional U.S. tariff measures and import bans came into effect
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
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Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
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