Protect Ontario Financing Program
Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read
- Scored mainly on whether you can afford it and pay it back. 42 lead with that.
- This money can be reclaimed after it is paid. 37 carry that exposure.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Term loans starting at $250,000 for Ontario businesses facing working-capital shortfalls from U.S. tariffs: steel, aluminum, copper and autos (Section 232), a wide range of goods under Section 338 (machinery, electrical equipment, plastics, beverages, paper, dairy, furniture, consumer goods and more), and products under the U.S. import ban (alcohol, certain dairy, large motorcycles), including their supply chains. Interest up to prime rate, repayable over up to 72 months with potential 12-month grace period. Part of the $5B Protecting Ontario Account.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit business registered in Ontario
- Operating in a sector hit by U.S. tariffs or import bans: steel, aluminum, copper or autos (U.S. s.232 tariffs); mechanical equipment, electrical machinery, plastics and packaging, beverages (including alcohol), paper and packaging, jewelry, beauty and personal care, certain dairy and specialty cheese, textiles, consumer goods, leather and footwear, certain metal products, mattresses, furniture, motorboats or golf carts (U.S. s.338 tariffs); or alcoholic beverages, certain dairy products such as whey, and motorcycles over 800cc (U.S. import ban), as a direct exporter or as part of the supply chain
- Minimum $2,000,000 annual revenue
- Minimum 10 FTE employees in Ontario
- Minimum 3 years of operations with financial statements
- Facing material working capital challenges due to U.S. tariffs
- Must have first explored/exhausted federal financial support options
- The applicant business must have at least 3 years of operations with audited financial statements
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Minimum $250,000 (no stated maximum; part of $1B envelope)
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Provincial
- Financing share
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (launched August 2025)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Moderate — standard application process
Below average competition
Moderate — standard requirements
How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipYou must demonstrate you've explored federal support options first — this is explicitly a 'last resort after federal' program.
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
How the Government of Ontario judges your application
What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.
Distilled from 3 source documents on ontario.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-07.
3 sources
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What the Government of Ontario favours
Immediate relief for tariff-related working capital challenges◦
“Provide immediate relief for Ontario businesses that are facing s.232 or s.338 tariff-related working capital challenges”
The form
Screening questions
- 1Organization eligibilityyes/no + written
Does your organization meet the following?
- 2Section 232 sectoryes/no + written
Does your business operate within (either direct exporter or supporting the supply-chain) the following sectors that are subject to s.232 tariffs: steel, aluminum, copper, autos?
- 3Section 338 sectoryes/no + written
- 4Operating history and statementsyes/no + written
- 5Tariff-related financial challengeyes/no + written
- 6Federal support optionsyes/no + written
- 7Minimum liquidity needyes/no + written
Contact details
- 8First Nameshort answer
- 9Last Nameshort answer
- 10Company nameshort answer
- 11Business email addressshort answer
- 12Business phone numbershort answer
the Government of Ontario states no length limits for these answers.
Judged against
- 1
Will this business survive third-party due diligence?
Show them Show three years of externally reviewed statements and a provable ability to repay.◦
In the funder’s words · 1
- Eligible Ontario-based businesses will undergo rigorous assessment and due diligence by a third-party to ensure applications are processed in a timely manner.
- 2
Is the harm really from U.S. tariffs?
What to show them in Premium
- 3
Have the federal options really run out?
What to show them in Premium
- 4
Can Ontario get its money back?
What to show them in Premium
Where applicants fail
“Please note that the answers to the following questions do not determine whether you will be approved for funding.”
Premium · the rest of this brief
See all 12 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.
10 more rules that can reject you · 10 more prompts
Do you pass?
Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.
Your business
Not a not-for-profit or start-up
Not-for-profit organizations, associations, charities and start-ups are not eligible.
Incorporated for-profit business
Is an incorporated for-profit business (legal entity or limited partnership)
Documents to attach
Ticks are kept on this device.
The money
Minimum liquidity needAt least $250,000 liquidity
a minimum of $250,000 in liquidity funding to support working capital needs
Repayment frequencyAnnual; up to 12 months principal-free
Annual repayment frequency; possible principal-free repayments for up to 12 months at Ontario's discretion.
StackingExisting and federal support may stack
Existing active provincial projects may stack; new projects from other provincial support programmes may not. Federal support may stack.
What it pays for · 3
- payroll
- lease payments
- utility payments
What it does not pay for · 4
- purchase of property, or new equipment
- refinancing of existing business lending facilities
- acquisitions or buyouts
- relocating to other jurisdictions (including within Ontario)
From application to money
- Talk to Ontario staffOntario connects within 5 business days
- Complete questionnaireSeven yes/no questions, then contact details
- Undergo due diligenceThird-party rigorous assessment and due diligence
- Demonstrate repayment capacityDemonstrate repayment ability, provide security
In the funder’s words · 4
- Talk to Ontario staff
- Ontario will connect with a screened-in business within 5 business days to discuss the application process and next steps.
- Complete questionnaire
- Answer seven yes/no screening questions, then give your name, company, business email and business phone.
- Undergo due diligence
- Ontario says eligible businesses undergo rigorous assessment and due diligence by a third party.
- Demonstrate repayment capacity
- You must demonstrate ability to meet repayment requirements and provide security satisfactory to the province.
Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.
Everything you need to secure Protect Ontario Financing Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 2-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 2
Ineligible Expenses 4
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Not-applicable RiskHow Protect Ontario Financing Program Compares
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Protect Ontario Financing Program