Ontario expands eligibility for tariff support funding to protect businesses, workers: Ford

Ontario expands eligibility for tariff support funding to protect businesses, workers: Ford

Province, Ford did not expand on what changes are being made to program eligibility

Ontario is expanding eligibility for financing programs to protect jobs and businesses in sectors impacted by the U.S.-Canada trade war, Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday.

The news comes just days after Canada issued retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. and U.S. President Donald Trump banned the import of Canadian dairy, motorcycles and some alcohol products, as well as additional 50 per cent tariffs. Those changes are expected to kick in later this month.

Businesses in sectors now facing tariff impacts from those upcoming export changes are now also eligible to apply for relief through the $1-billion Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP) and Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF), according to the province's news release.

The expansion will help hard-hit sectors "keep their lights on," said Ford at a Toronto Region Board of Trade event on Thursday.

"As we’ve all seen over the last few weeks, yet again, we cannot rely on President Trump," he said. "I have no doubt that if we stick together, we can win this fight."

Trump hit Canada with new import bans. Here's how GTA businesses are being impacted

Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli said in a statement in the province's announcement that the program will help businesses stay on track and build an economy that can withstand challenges for "decades to come."

“Ontario will not back down in our fight to protect our workers and businesses from tariffs and economic uncertainty,” he said.

When Trump's upcoming trade actions come into effect, businesses handling exports in those impacted sectors will then be eligible to apply for the tariff support programs.

Additional 50 per cent tariffs on Sept. 15 will allow the following sectors to apply for relief:

Import bans kicking in on Sept. 29 will again expand eligibility to exports tied to most Canadian alcoholic beverages, certain dairy-related products and motorcycles with engine capacities exceeding 800 cc.

The province's website states the POFP will provide loans to tariff-impacted businesses to cover costs like payroll, lease payments and utilities. Businesses need to meet several criteria to be eligible, including:

Companies wondering if they are eligible for the funding are encouraged to fill out the province's online questionnaire.

Trump banning import of Canadian booze, motorcycles, other goods into U.S.

What will Trump's retaliatory tariffs do to Canada’s economy big picture? Not that much, economists predict

Meanwhile, the OTTF provides grants to small and medium-sized businesses to expand interprovincial trade and reshore supply chains away from the U.S. Companies eligible for that funding require the following:

The province states on its websites that some businesses may still be considered for the OTTF loan if they have evidence of a project "demonstrating exceptional benefit to Ontario."

Arrthy Thayaparan is a writer at CBC Toronto with interests in health, climate, education and community stories. You can contact her at arrthy.thayaparan@cbc.ca.