Finance the hiring and training of employees

2. Equity investments

Fonds d'aide à l'économie de Lac-Mégantic

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

You could get financial assistance for eligible projects or activities carried out within the town of Lac-Mégantic, such as:

Assessment projects
Market development
Hiring strategic personnel
Business start-ups supporting economic and tourism development
Installation or improvement of public infrastructures

The fund will contribute up to:

90% for studies
80% for other activities and projects

Eligible support projects must follow sustainable development principles.

Other conditions apply.

Industrial, Clean and Energy Technology (ICE) Venture Fund

Business Development Bank of Canada

Access venture capital financing from BDC if your business is at start-up or development stages.

The fund targets the following technology sectors:

Advanced materials
AI and machine learning
Autonomous systems and robotics
Big data and analytics
Next-gen and cloud computing
Energy-efficient lighting
Industrial IT
Intelligent systems and buildings
Internet of things
Oil and gas
Smart grid and energy solutions
Water

Other conditions apply.

Réseau des SADC et CAE (Network of CFDCs and CBDCs)

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

The Réseau des SADC et CAE is a network of the Community Futures Development Corporations and the Business Development Corporations. These non-profit organizations can help you start or grow a business in your community. If you live in Quebec, the office in your area can offer:

Help with your business plan
Business counseling
Training
Loans or share capital ranging from $5,000 to $150,000, depending on the financing program

3. Loans and cash advances

BDC Small Business Loan - for existing business

Business Development Bank of Canada

Keep your cash flow. Rather than using the money you need for day-to-day activities, consider applying for additional financing. With the BDC Small Business Loan, you could get up to $100,000 within 48 hours from the time of approval, no application fees or hassles. The entire process is completed online.

You need to have been operating your business for the past 24 months.

Other conditions apply.

BDC Xpansion Loan

Business Development Bank of Canada

If you are looking to expand into new domestic or foreign markets, this loan could provide you with funding to:

Invest in technology or develop new products
Launch a new marketing campaign
Purchase licenses, patents or trademarks
Hire and train additional employees
Obtain a certification

Conditions apply.

Fonds d'aide à l'économie de Lac-Mégantic

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

You could get financial assistance for eligible projects or activities carried out within the town of Lac-Mégantic, such as:

Assessment projects
Market development
Hiring strategic personnel
Business start-ups supporting economic and tourism development
Installation or improvement of public infrastructures

The fund will contribute up to:

90% for studies
80% for other activities and projects

Eligible support projects must follow sustainable development principles.

Other conditions apply.

Innovative Manufacturer Financing

Investissement Québec

See how your Quebec manufacturing business can benefit from a term loan of up to $250,000 to cover up to 100% of project costs, such as:

Consultation fees to initiate an innovation process
Working capital expenditures to support the commercialization of a new innovative product or the hiring of experts

You must have:

Been in operation for at least 3 years
Sales figures of $2 million or more
At least 15 employees
A sound financial and operational structure

Other conditions apply.

Relief measures for Indigenous businesses

Government of Canada

The Government of Canada, through Aboriginal Financial Institutions, will provide financing in the form of short-term, interest-free and non-repayable contributions to First Nations, Inuit and Métis businesses.

Assistance of up to $40,000 will be available as:

an interest-free loan of up to $30,000;
a non-repayable contribution of up to $10,000.

For more information, contact your Aboriginal Financial Institution.

Some conditions apply.

Réseau des SADC et CAE (Network of CFDCs and CBDCs)

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

Help with your business plan
Business counseling
Training
Loans or share capital ranging from $5,000 to $150,000, depending on the financing program

4. Tax refunds and credits

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

If you hire an apprentice, you could get a tax credit equal to 10% of that person's salary. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year per eligible apprentice.

You need to hire an apprentice who is:

In the first 2 years of an apprenticeship program registered with the government
In a trade like those listed under the Red Seal Trades
Working towards getting a certificate or licence in that trade

You can carry any unused credit back 3 years or carry it forward 20 years.

Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit

Canadian Heritage

You may qualify for a tax credit of 16% on salaries and wages paid to Canadian residents working on your film or video production.

There is no cap on the tax credit.
The credit is available to both Canadian and foreign-owned businesses with permanent establishments in Canada.
There is an application fee of $5,000.

Other conditions apply.

Programme d'apprentissage en milieu de travail — Tax credit

Emploi Québec

You can get a tax credit to fund eligible expenses by having your experienced workers train your staff, which would enable you to do the following:

Enhance employee competencies
Leverage the expertise of your most experienced workers
Boost your productivity
Train your staff.

You must guarantee the quality of the training with respect to the following:

The equipment used
The work techniques used
Working conditions
Health and safety.

Other conditions apply.

Learn more (in French only) Find contacts (in French only)

Refundable tax credit for film production services

Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC)

You could get a tax credit to cover up to 36% of the cost of qualified properties and labour costs incurred in Quebec, for your film production services, as well as for computer-aided animation and special effects.

To be eligible, you must:

Meet a minimum budget requirement
Have an approval certificate issued by SODEC
Be identified as a qualified corporation in a preliminary decision made by SODEC

Other conditions apply.

Tax credit for an on-the-job training period

Revenu Québec

You may be eligible to receive a tax credit for part of eligible expenses if you provide a training internship of at least 140 hours for a full-time student registered at a recognized educational institution.

You must:

Operate a business based in Quebec;
Have received the Attestation de participation à un stage de formation admissible certificate, duly signed by a representative of the educational institution in the six months following the end of the internship.

Other conditions apply.

Tax credit for Gaspésie and selected maritime regions of Quebec

Investissement Québec

You may be eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% of an employee's salary if at least 75% of their time is spent on tasks directly related to:

Marine biotechnology and mariculture
Manufacturing or processing of eligible products
Wind energy production
Recreational tourism activities

Eligible regions are:

Bas-Saint-Laurent
Côte-Nord
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Your business must obtain a qualifying certificate issued by Investissement Québec.

Tax credit for the design of factory-made products (fashion design section)

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

If your business operates in the fashion or textile industries, you could receive a tax credit:

For your in-house design activities, performed by one of your employees: salary costs are admissible, up to a maximum of $60,000
For external activities carried out by a consultant: 65% of contract fees or royalties are eligible

Eligibility:

Obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation
Gross earnings of at least $150,000
Your production must be undertaken in Quebec

Other conditions apply.

Tax credit for the design of factory-made products (industrial design component)

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

Your business could get help to carry out industrial design work and make its products more competitive. You could, in fact, receive a tax credit:

To cover up to $60,000 in salary costs for internal design work carried out by one of your employees
To cover 65% of contract fees or charges for external work done by a consultant

Eligibility

Hold a certificate of eligibility from the Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
Have a gross revenue of at least $150,000

Other conditions apply.

Learn more Find contacts (in French only)

Tax credits for production of multimedia titles

Investissement Québec

You could receive a refundable tax credit of up to 37.5% of eligible work force expenses, if your business:

Produces digital text, sound, static or animated images
Uses an electronic support governed by software that allows for interactivity
Carries out all the work involved in the production of the multimedial title

To be eligible for this tax credit, you must first obtain an initial certificate of eligibility, as well as an attestation of production work, issued by Investissement Québec.

Other conditions apply.

Tax holiday for foreign experts

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

If you recruit foreign experts to work on your innovation, scientific research, and experimental development project in Quebec, you could obtain a tax holiday of up to 60 consecutive months.

The assistance applies to the salaries paid to the foreign experts, as follows:

100% of taxable earnings for the first two years
75% the third year
50% the fourth year
25% the fifth year

You must hire a foreign researcher with an undergraduate diploma recognized by a Quebec university. The candidate must also have pertinent experience in the field.

Other conditions apply.

Tax holiday for foreign researchers

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

This tax measure facilitates the recruitment of researchers from abroad to work on your innovation project.

To qualify for this tax holiday, with a maximum duration of 60 consecutive months and applicable to the salary paid to the foreign researcher, you must:

Have a business operating in Quebec
Conduct scientific research and experimental development
Have signed an employment contract with a foreign researcher with a graduate degree recognized by a Quebec university

Other conditions apply.

5. Wage subsidies

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

If you hire an apprentice, you could get a tax credit equal to 10% of that person's salary. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year per eligible apprentice.

You need to hire an apprentice who is:

In the first 2 years of an apprenticeship program registered with the government
In a trade like those listed under the Red Seal Trades
Working towards getting a certificate or licence in that trade

You can carry any unused credit back 3 years or carry it forward 20 years.

Career Focus

Service Canada

You could get financial assistance if you can offer career-related work experience to young people between the ages of 15 and 30.

To qualify, your business or non-profit organization needs to:

Hire 8 or more recruits (exceptions for rural or remote regions)
Offer between 6 and 12 months of work that improves the skills of recruits
Provide coaching or mentoring
Base the project in Canada

Other conditions apply.

Priority is given to work experience in growth sectors.

College and Institutes Canada Clean Tech Internship

Environment and Climate Change Canada

If your business is in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields, you may be eligible to hire an intern for a new environmental or clean tech position or project.

The program offers:

A wage subsidy up to $15,000
Pre-approved, skilled graduates

Other conditions apply.

Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities (PRIIME)

Emploi Québec

Are you an employer who would like to provide an immigrant or a member of a visible minority with lasting employment? Are you able to help the individual integrate into the labour market? If so, you could receive a subsidy covering:

Your recruit's wages for up to 30 weeks, or up to 52 weeks in exceptional circumstances
The salary of the person coaching the recruit
The cost of tailoring your human resource management practices and tools to the individual's specific cultural reality
Certain training expenses

Other conditions apply.

Employment integration — Wage subsidies

Emploi Québec

Hire someone on income security or employment insurance to qualify for this wage subsidy.

The subsidy covers a portion of the recruit's wages and can also cover, under certain conditions, the costs related to having one of your regular employees coach that person or the cost of refresher training.

The subsidy is generally awarded for a period of up to 30 weeks. For social economy enterprises, the term of the subsidy is 52 weeks.

Environmental Youth Corps internship program

ECO Canada

If your business is in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields, you may be eligible to hire a young professional for a full-time environmental position.

The program offers:

A wage subsidy up to $15,000
Pre-approved, skilled graduates

Your business must be Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidiary to be eligible.

Other conditions apply.

Experience Awards

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

If your research company operates in Canada, you could get up to $4,500 when you hire a natural sciences or engineering student for a 12-16 week term.

To qualify, you need to:

Provide full-time support and supervision of the student
Supplement the award by at least 25% of its value

Awards are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to a maximum of 15 students per organization.

Other conditions apply.

Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit

Canadian Heritage

You may qualify for a tax credit of 16% on salaries and wages paid to Canadian residents working on your film or video production.

There is no cap on the tax credit.
The credit is available to both Canadian and foreign-owned businesses with permanent establishments in Canada.
There is an application fee of $5,000.

Other conditions apply.

Green Jobs — Science and Technology Internship Program

Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN)

If you operate a business in the geomatics, geology, mining, forestry or energy industry, you could get between $12,000 and $15,000 to hire a recent university or college graduate in a natural science field for an internship of up to 12 weeks.

In order to be eligible, you need to:

Have a project with clearly defined objectives and outcomes
Hire and train an intern who is no older than 30
Provide a work plan and budget (including the salary paid to the intern)
Supply at least the same amount of money as you receive for the intern's salary

Other conditions apply.

Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - CMHC

Do you operate a business in the housing industry? If so, you could be eligible to receive wage subsidies to hire and train First Nations or Inuit youths between the ages of 15 and 30.

In order to qualify, you must:

Offer housing-related employment such as construction, renovation, administration or client counseling
Hire the trainee for at least 2 months
Operate your business on a First Nations reserve or in an Inuit community, or be willing to cover the youth's travel and accommodation costs

Other conditions apply.

Industrial R&D Internship Program (IRDI)

Government of Canada

Your not-for-profit corporation could receive funding to create private sector research internships for science and technology graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. You could be eligible to deliver an Industrial R&D Internship Program initiative if you belong to:

A Network of Centres of Excellence
A non-governmental organization
A university or consortium of firms and universities

If you can match interns to private sector hosts, your organization could receive a grant for eligible expenses that include:

Salaries
Stipends to interns
Administration costs
Communication activities

Your role is to provide:

Administrative duties
Distribution of the funds
Accounting and financial reporting

Job creation assistance

Emploi Québec

Would you like to carry out major projects with a substantial impact on employment? If so, you could obtain financial and technical assistance to manage your new employees.

The purpose of this contribution is to support your project in order to facilitate:

Your employees' adaptation
The integration of your new recruits
Employee training

The contribution may take either of the following forms:

An amount equivalent to a maximum of 25% of eligible costs for the implementation of a training plan
An amount equivalent to a maximum of 50% of costs for creating a human resource management unit

To be eligible for this assistance, your investment in training must be equivalent to at least 1% of your company's payroll.

Other conditions apply.

Job integration contract

Emploi Québec

You could receive financial assistance to hire a person with a disability, along with technical support to ensure his/her integration and retention within your business.

You could benefit from renewable financing, namely:

Salary support
Reimbursement of expenses incurred to adjust the workstation to the needs of the person with a disability

You must offer the position in a standard working environment and ensure proper coaching for the employee.

Other conditions apply.

Mitacs Accelerate

Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs)

Learn how your business could receive specialized expertise by recruiting a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow to research your technology project for 4 or more months.

Why apply?

Expand your R&D program for an investment of $7,500
Recruit highly-skilled future employees
Drive your own research projects
Start an internship at any time

Other conditions apply.

Mitacs Elevate

Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs)

You could get the help of a PhD fellow to work on your research projects for up to two years through this cost-shared program.

Participation can help your business:

Address practical problems or challenges
Expand R&D capacity
Access equipment, lab spaces and other university resources

You are expected to:

Provide a minimum contribution of $30,000 annually
Have an office or site in the same province as the fellow’s university
Host the fellow at your facilities 50% of the time

Other conditions apply.

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Employment and Social Development Canada

If you are a person with a disability who wants to start a business, or an employer who would like to hire someone with a disability, you could qualify for funds.

Self-employment: You could receive financial assistance for training that can help you start a business if you:

Have a permanent physical or mental disability
Are not eligible for employment insurance benefits

Employers: You could get a wage subsidy to hire someone with a disability. The funding can cover a portion of the salary. Projects must normally involve a minimum of 8 participants.

Other conditions apply.

Premier emploi en recherche

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

If your organization is a member of QuébecInnove, you could be eligible for a salary grant of up to $20,000 to hire a college or university graduate.

The job offer must:

Be related to research
Match the graduate's level of education and the research job offer
Be part of a applied research project or R&D

The graduate must:

Have never held employment in R&D at the time of hiring
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have a refugee status in Canada
Be available on a full-time basis

Other conditions may apply.

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

Environment and Climate Change Canada

If your business or not-for-profit organization undertakes STEM projects, you could receive up to $15,000 to hire an intern for at least 6 months. Priority will be given to projects with an environmental focus.

Eligible organizations must:

Provide a mentor for the intern
Provide at least 50% of project costs

Employers can apply through one of the 5 delivery organizations:

Bio Talent Canada
Clean Foundation
Colleges and Institutes Canada
ECO Canada
Mitacs

Other conditions apply.

Skills Link

Service Canada

You could get up to $25,000 per participant to hire and train youth between the ages of 15 and 30 who face barriers to employment.

Participants must also be:

Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada
Legally entitled to work
Not in receipt of employment insurance benefits

Employers must:

Recruit participants
Propose a project that involves a minimum of 8 youth participants
Provide work experience-type activity
Enable participants to gain experience and skills to help them find work later on

Other conditions apply.

Student Work-Integrated Learning Program

Employment and Social Development Canada

If your business is having difficulty finding qualified workers in the field of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and business, you can apply for a wage subsidy to hire a post-secondary student.

Subsidies cover:

Up to 50% of the wage cost (up to $5,000) per student
Up to 70% of the wage cost (up to $7,000) per placement of a student from an under-represented group (first-year students, women in STEM, Indigenous students, persons with disabilities and newcomers)

You can apply to one of many participating employer groups.

Learn more (in French only) Find contacts (in French only)

Support for hiring workers who have suffered employment injuries

Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail

You may be eligible for a grant, for a period of up to 1 year, to hire workers who have suffered employment injuries, or to create permanent positions for them.

The grant offers:

Up to 80% of employees' weekly gross salaries
Professional consulting services for job creation
Reimbursement of position-creation costs when professional services are unavailable

You must:

Be registered and have a file in good standing
Offer jobs that are compatible with workers' functional abilities

Other conditions apply.

Tax credit for an on-the-job training period

Revenu Québec

You must:

Operate a business based in Quebec;
Have received the Attestation de participation à un stage de formation admissible certificate, duly signed by a representative of the educational institution in the six months following the end of the internship.

Other conditions apply.

Tax credit for Gaspésie and selected maritime regions of Quebec

Investissement Québec

You may be eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% of an employee's salary if at least 75% of their time is spent on tasks directly related to:

Marine biotechnology and mariculture
Manufacturing or processing of eligible products
Wind energy production
Recreational tourism activities

Eligible regions are:

Bas-Saint-Laurent
Côte-Nord
Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine

Your business must obtain a qualifying certificate issued by Investissement Québec.

Tax holiday for foreign experts

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

If you recruit foreign experts to work on your innovation, scientific research, and experimental development project in Quebec, you could obtain a tax holiday of up to 60 consecutive months.

The assistance applies to the salaries paid to the foreign experts, as follows:

100% of taxable earnings for the first two years
75% the third year
50% the fourth year
25% the fifth year

You must hire a foreign researcher with an undergraduate diploma recognized by a Quebec university. The candidate must also have pertinent experience in the field.

Other conditions apply.

Tax holiday for foreign researchers

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

This tax measure facilitates the recruitment of researchers from abroad to work on your innovation project.

To qualify for this tax holiday, with a maximum duration of 60 consecutive months and applicable to the salary paid to the foreign researcher, you must:

Have a business operating in Quebec
Conduct scientific research and experimental development
Have signed an employment contract with a foreign researcher with a graduate degree recognized by a Quebec university

Other conditions apply.

Transportez vert – Section: Eco-driving training

Transition énergétique Québec

Take advantage of a grant of up to $30,000 to offer drivers and managers of your vehicle fleet eco-driving training.

This training shows how to adapt driving and behaviour to reduce energy consumption.

Financial aid can cover up to 50% of the following eligible expenses:

fees, salaries and travel expenses for accredited trainers;
expenses for rentals, travel and the use of equipment required for training.

Other conditions apply.

Valorisation Jeunesse — Place à la relève

Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion

If you are recruiting for summer jobs and paid internships, this measure can provide you with access to a pool of young dynamic Montrealers between 16 and 18 years of age, most of whom are members of visible minority groups.

You could also qualify for a grant of up to $2,500 per youth, as well as support and advice throughout the employment period.

The internships must:

Last at least 7 consecutive weeks during the summer
Offer compensation equal to the minimum wage plus $1 or more
Allow for coaching, training and transfer of skills to young people
Be covered by your insurance

Other conditions apply.

Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and French

Canadian Heritage

If you run an incorporated business or non-profit organization that provides services in English and French, you could be eligible to hire an intern for up to 1 year.

Interns must work 30 to 40 hours per week during their internship, for a minimum of 4 months.

Eligible employers may qualify for a wage subsidy.

Other conditions apply.

Learn more Form(s)

Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage

Canadian Heritage

If your non-profit organization has a heritage mandate, you could receive up to 75% of the costs incurred for 4 to 12 month internships.

You could receive a maximum of:

$10,000 per internship in Canada and $15,000 per internship abroad;
$12,000 per internship in the field of science;
$3,000 to cover accommodation expenses to hire a student with a disability.

At the end of the internship, your company must offer students help finding employment and follow up with them.

Other conditions apply.

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages

Canadian Heritage

Your incorporated private business or non-profit organization may be eligible for a wage subsidy to hire a bilingual summer student.

To be eligible you must:

Offer 30-40 hours a week of work for a period of 6-16 weeks
Conduct activities in both official languages

Once enrolled, you will have access to a pool of talented and innovative youth.

Other conditions apply.

Learn more Form(s)

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations

Canadian Heritage

If your non-profit organization has a heritage mandate, you could take advantage of this grant to cover up to 75% of the costs associated with summer jobs.

You could receive up to $8,000 per job, for a maximum of $50,000, and a reimbursement of accommodation expenses to hire a student with a disability, up to $3,000.

To take advantage of this grant, your organization must in part:

have a fair and equitable selection process;
offer jobs that respect the laws and regulations in force;
follow up with the students.

Youth Employment Programs

National Research Council Canada

You could receive a financial contribution towards the salary of a post-secondary graduate to help you research, develop and commercialize new technologies, or to hire a youth to work on a green project.

To be eligible, your business needs to:

Be incorporated and for-profit
Share a portion of the salary costs
Have 500 or fewer full-time employees
Be ready to enhance its innovation capacity

The duration of the internship must be between 6 and 12 months for graduates and between 3 to 6 months for Youth-Green candidates.

Candidates must be between the ages of 15 and 30.

Other conditions apply.

6. Grants, contributions and financial assistance

Aboriginal Initiatives Fund III

Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones

If you run an eligible Aboriginal organization, you can receive funding for your project to:

Start-up, expand or develop a business
Conduct the necessary studies to finalize a project
Help the Nation or community better structure its economic development
Develop the Aboriginal workforce
Enhance the social economy

The sponsor must demonstrate the financial needs to be met and provide a business plan supporting the project's validity and relevance.

Other conditions apply.

AgriDiversity Program

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

If you run a not-for-profit organization in the agriculture or agri-food sectors, you may be eligible for a non-repayable contribution that covers up to 50% of eligible program costs.

Priority will be given to projects that help members of under-represented groups (youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and persons with disabilities) to:

Build their entrepreneurial capacity
Better develop their leadership skills
Enhance their involvement in the agriculture sector

Other conditions apply.

Alternate work arrangements and work hour reduction

Emploi Québec

You could receive advice and funding of up to 50% of eligible expenses to draw up an alternate work arrangement and work hour reduction plan for your business.

The program will help you:

Retain experienced employees during slow periods
Keep staff who are interested in working fewer hours
Take on new hires on a trial basis.

You must:

Employ approximately 80 people
Have good business potential
Rethink work organization for technological or economic reasons

Other conditions apply.

Apollo13 startup support program

The Apollo13 startup support program enables the selected businesses to receive the assistance they need for their growth.

They can grow using the Lean approach.

When they take part in the program, entrepreneurs can expect:

Frequent feedback and adjustments;
Strategic, marketing and web support;
Slow, sustained progress;
Networks of professionals and experts.

To take part in the program, entrepreneurs need to provide details of their idea and their Lean Canvas.

Some conditions apply.

Canada Book Fund

Canadian Heritage

If your business publishes books, you may qualify for a financial contribution toward:

Production, marketing and distribution of Canadian-authored books
Publishing and technology internships
Business planning activities

To qualify, your business must be Canadian-owned and controlled. Other conditions apply.

Canada Feature Film Fund

Telefilm Canada

If your film production business is a Canadian-owned and controlled corporation, you may be eligible for financial assistance.

Funding is available through a variety of programs, including the following:

Development Program
Production Program
Theatrical Documentary Program
Marketing Program
International Festivals and Events Support Program

Various Canadian content conditions apply. See the website for financing details. You may submit your application online at any time during Telefilm's fiscal year.

Career Focus

Service Canada

You could get financial assistance if you can offer career-related work experience to young people between the ages of 15 and 30.

To qualify, your business or non-profit organization needs to:

Hire 8 or more recruits (exceptions for rural or remote regions)
Offer between 6 and 12 months of work that improves the skills of recruits
Provide coaching or mentoring
Base the project in Canada

Other conditions apply.

Priority is given to work experience in growth sectors.

Employment stabilization

Emploi Québec

You could receive financial assistance equivalent to 50% of the salary of staff whose employment has been stabilized, up to a maximum of $5,000 per position, for a period of 52 weeks.

Your project must:

Fit into your company's business plan
Continue after the implementation period
Extend employment periods by diversifying products or services or by other means that lead to greater employment stability.

You must demonstrate that your business is well established and has growth potential.

Other conditions apply.

Fonds d'aide à l'économie de Lac-Mégantic

Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation

You could get financial assistance for eligible projects or activities carried out within the town of Lac-Mégantic, such as:

Assessment projects
Market development
Hiring strategic personnel
Business start-ups supporting economic and tourism development
Installation or improvement of public infrastructures

The fund will contribute up to:

90% for studies
80% for other activities and projects

Eligible support projects must follow sustainable development principles.

Other conditions apply.

Growth Investment Program

La Financière agricole

Farm business owners can receive an investment grant for an agricultural project, regardless of production sector or point in the business life cycle.

The financial assistance is conditional on a loan guarantee from La Financière agricole.

The Growth Investment Program includes four components:

This program replaces the Support for Diversification and Regional Development Program and the Support for Québec Farm Business Development Program.

Some conditions apply.

Growth Investment Program – Component 1: Growth Support

La Financière agricole

Farm business owners can receive an investment grant for an agricultural project, regardless of production sector or point in the business life cycle.

The financial assistance is conditional on a loan guarantee from La Financière agricole.

Component 1: Growth Support is available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses to finance projects related to maple syrup production. The maximum financial assistance is $30,000 on loan capital of up to $300,000.

This program replaces the Support for Diversification and Regional Development Program and the Support for Québec Farm Business Development Program.

Some conditions apply.

Growth Investment Program – Component 2: Growth Support Plus

La Financière agricole

Farm business owners can receive an investment grant for an agricultural project, regardless of production sector or point in the business life cycle.

The financial assistance is conditional on a loan guarantee from La Financière agricole.

Component 2: Growth Support Plus is available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses to finance projects related to productions other than those under supply management and maple syrup production. The maximum financial assistance is $60,000 on loan capital of up to $600,000.

This program replaces the Support for Diversification and Regional Development Program and the Support for Québec Farm Business Development Program.

Some conditions apply.

Growth Investment Program – Component 3: Agri-Environmental Enhancement of Cultivated Land

La Financière agricole

Farm business owners can receive an investment grant for an agricultural project, regardless of production sector or point in the business life cycle.

The financial assistance is conditional on a loan guarantee from La Financière agricole.

Component 3: Agri-Environmental Enhancement of Cultivated Land is available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses to finance projects that will enhance the value of cultivated land or on-farm agri-environmental projects. The maximum financial assistance is $20,000 on loan capital of up to $200,000.

This program replaces the Support for Diversification and Regional Development Program and the Support for Québec Farm Business Development Program.

Some conditions apply.

Growth Investment Program – Component 4: Young Entrepreneurs

La Financière agricole

Farm business owners can receive an investment grant for an agricultural project, regardless of production sector or point in the business life cycle.

The financial assistance is conditional on a loan guarantee from La Financière agricole.

Component 4: Young Entrepreneurs is available to all farm and agri-food businesses wholly owned by persons between the ages of 18 and 40. In addition, one of these persons must have qualified for the Financial Support Program for Aspiring Farmers within the past five years. The maximum financial assistance is $45,000 on loan capital of up to $300,000.

This program replaces the Support for Diversification and Regional Development Program and the Support for Québec Farm Business Development Program.

Some conditions apply.

Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - CMHC

Do you operate a business in the housing industry? If so, you could be eligible to receive wage subsidies to hire and train First Nations or Inuit youths between the ages of 15 and 30.

In order to qualify, you must:

Offer housing-related employment such as construction, renovation, administration or client counseling
Hire the trainee for at least 2 months
Operate your business on a First Nations reserve or in an Inuit community, or be willing to cover the youth's travel and accommodation costs

Other conditions apply.

Human resources management support

Emploi Québec

Take advantage of HR management support services and obtain an analysis of your business' needs in the following areas:

Staff recruitment and performance
Salary structure and working conditions
Diversity management
Skills development

The services offered are:

Business diagnostics
Management coaching (advice and strategies)
Support for setting up a consultation committee
Management support (HR acquisition and retention)

You may receive financial assistance of up to 50% of the cost of professional fees.

Other conditions apply.

Job integration contract

Emploi Québec

You could receive financial assistance to hire a person with a disability, along with technical support to ensure his/her integration and retention within your business.

You could benefit from renewable financing, namely:

Salary support
Reimbursement of expenses incurred to adjust the workstation to the needs of the person with a disability

You must offer the position in a standard working environment and ensure proper coaching for the employee.

Other conditions apply.

Mass layoffs

Emploi Québec

Does your business plan to lay off more than 50 employees? If so, you must reclassify them under An Act respecting labour standards.

This initiative will allow you to set up a reclassification assistance committee, which is an effective way of making it easier for laid-off persons to quickly re-enter the labour market.

In addition to receiving ongoing technical support, you could benefit from a contribution for eligible expenses related to committee operations and reclassification activities.

Mitacs Elevate

Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs)

You could get the help of a PhD fellow to work on your research projects for up to two years through this cost-shared program.

Participation can help your business:

Address practical problems or challenges
Expand R&D capacity
Access equipment, lab spaces and other university resources

You are expected to:

Provide a minimum contribution of $30,000 annually
Have an office or site in the same province as the fellow’s university
Host the fellow at your facilities 50% of the time

Other conditions apply.

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Employment and Social Development Canada

If you are a person with a disability who wants to start a business, or an employer who would like to hire someone with a disability, you could qualify for funds.

Self-employment: You could receive financial assistance for training that can help you start a business if you:

Have a permanent physical or mental disability
Are not eligible for employment insurance benefits

Employers: You could get a wage subsidy to hire someone with a disability. The funding can cover a portion of the salary. Projects must normally involve a minimum of 8 participants.

Other conditions apply.