Ontario Export & Trade Grants 2026

CanExport SMEs reimburses 50% of eligible export development costs — trade show fees, market research, legal fees for registering IP or distribution agreements in new markets, website localization, product certification, and business travel. The program covers costs in markets where the company has generated less than $100,000 in revenue in the past two fiscal years, so it is explicitly for new-market entry, not servicing existing customers. Applications are assessed on business readiness, market selection rationale, and activity feasibility. Ontario SMEs in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Ottawa, Kitchener, Hamilton, London, and Windsor use CanExport SMEs at the highest rate provincially. Apply before you incur eligible expenses — costs cannot be backdated.

CanExport Community Investments funds organizations that build export capacity for multiple Canadian businesses rather than a single company's export costs. Ontario organizations eligible include the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Export Alliance Ontario, Communitech (Waterloo export programs), the Women's Business Enterprise Council, the Canadian Arab Business Council, and similar ecosystem builders. Eligible activities include matchmaking events, trade missions, export readiness workshops, and export guides. Organizations acting as intermediaries — bringing multiple SMEs into new markets together — are the target applicant. The $500,000 ceiling makes this the largest per-project CanExport stream.

Creative Export Canada Export-Ready Stream is the largest creative-sector export grant in Canada, funding up to $2.5 million per project for Ontario film companies, game studios, music companies, publishers, and live event producers pursuing international markets. The program is competitive and targets companies with demonstrated international traction — a prior distribution deal, festival selection, or licensing agreement in the target market is a strong signal. Toronto and Ontario's creative corridor (Ottawa, Waterloo, Hamilton arts scene) are the most active applicants. The Export Development Stream (up to $90,000) is the entry-level complement for earlier-stage companies. Both streams are between intakes as of May 2026; the program is expected to reopen for a 2026-27 cycle.

AgriMarketing SME Stream pays 70% of eligible export marketing costs for Canadian agri-food businesses entering new international markets — higher than the 50% CanExport rate, making it more attractive for Ontario food and beverage exporters. Eligible activities include international trade shows (Anuga, SIAL, FOODEX Japan), product certification for foreign market entry, international marketing materials, and in-market promotional activities. Ontario agri-food exporters from the Holland Marsh (vegetable producers), the Niagara wine corridor, the Simcoe County greenhouse cluster, Bruce Peninsula apple producers, and Prince Edward County artisan food producers have used this stream. Applications must identify a specific target market where the applicant has no existing significant presence.

FedDev Ontario BSP is the largest-scale export-readiness funding available for Southern Ontario businesses. The program funds productivity investments, technology adoption, market expansion, and supply chain development for businesses in Southern Ontario — a region covering Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Windsor, and surrounding economic corridors. Projects must demonstrate a direct link to productivity improvement and export competitiveness. FedDev does not fund general operations — applicants need a specific investment project with measurable outcomes. Repayability varies by project: manufacturing capital investments are often repayable; market development activities may be non-repayable. FedDev has historically reopened BSP in rolling cohorts; contact the FedDev Ontario regional office in Toronto (Mississauga) to get on the notification list for the 2026 intake.

Ontario Together Trade Fund was created specifically in response to the 2025–26 US tariff disruptions. The fund supports Ontario businesses adapting their supply chains, diversifying to non-US export markets, and investing in productivity improvements to remain competitive under new tariff conditions. Eligible costs include equipment upgrades, process automation, market diversification activities, and supply chain restructuring. Ontario manufacturers in Windsor (auto parts), Hamilton (steel fabrication), Oshawa (advanced manufacturing), Sudbury (mining equipment), Sarnia (petrochemicals), and the Golden Horseshoe industrial belt are the priority sectors. The fund is available to businesses with annual revenue under $100M that can demonstrate a material impact from US tariffs or supply chain disruption.

Trade Commissioner Service is the most underutilized export resource for Ontario SMEs. Global Affairs Canada maintains 160 Trade Commissioners in markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Services are free and include: qualified buyer introductions in the target market, due-diligence checks on potential partners, market entry briefings (regulatory environment, distribution norms, competitive landscape), and facilitated connections to in-market networks. Ontario businesses should engage TCS before spending on market visits — a TCS introductory call provides direct intelligence from the target market that reduces wasted travel and validates market timing. Register at tradecommissioner.gc.ca and specify your target market and export readiness stage. TCS access is also a prerequisite consideration when applying to CanExport SMEs — demonstrating coordination with TCS strengthens applications.