Financial Assistance

The Government's of Canada and Ontario have Created a Wide Variety of Financial Assistance

See which types of financial assistance are right for your business.


Ontario Bolsters Support to Get Small Businesses Online

The Ontario government is helping more small businesses online through the renewal of the Digital Main Street program, including Digital Service Squads, which have helped thousands of businesses with one-on-one technology support. In the 2021 Fall Economic Statement, the province committed to an increased investment of $40 million over two years to help Ontario businesses better compete at home and abroad.

“Main street small businesses are the economic foundation of communities across Ontario,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “Our government is supporting them in reaching new customers and new markets through Digital Main Street. To date, we have helped more than 41,000 Ontario businesses, and expect this funding will give 36,000 more businesses the boost they need to raise their digital profile.”

Digital Service Squads are composed of recent graduates and students with strong technology and marketing backgrounds that communities can access to provide to their business members. The squads provide one-on-one technical help with digital assessments, website creation, social media advertising, and e-commerce platforms.

The Digital Main Street program offers three resources to small businesses:

  • Digital Service Squads provide one-on-one help and technical training. Small business owners will receive targeted support to get started, grow their digital presence, and grow their business. Applications for this resource are now open. Apply Here. 
  • ShopHERE supports the creation of online stores via e-commerce platforms: Apply Here
  • Digital Transformation Grants of up to $2,500 to fund the implementation of digital strategies for small businesses. Apply Here.

COVID-19 rent and property expense support for businesses

Proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand access to lockdown program

The government has announced new proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand eligibility for wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations under the Local Lockdown Program. These changes would:

  • apply to claim periods 24 and 25 (December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022)
  • allow those entities to qualify if they are subject to a capacity-limiting public health restriction of 50 per cent or more
  • reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent for those entities

As a business, non-profit organization, or charity in Canada who has seen a drop in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a subsidy to cover part of your commercial rent or property expenses.

Depending on the period you are applying for, you may be eligible to claim your commercial rent or property expenses through one of the following:

  • Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) – Rent
    Effective: October 24, 2021, to May 7, 2022
  • Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (HHBRP) – Rent
    Effective: October 24, 2021, to May 7, 2022
  • Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
    Effective: September 27, 2020, to October 23, 2021

Many of the eligibility and calculation rules for the rent subsidy under the THRP and the HHBRP are the same as they were for the CERS.

If you are eligible for a base rent subsidy, you may also be eligible for a top-up if your business location is significantly affected by a public health restriction for a week or more.

The last day to apply for claim period 24 (December 19, 2021, to January 15, 2022) is July 14, 2022.

Information on How to Apply 


Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP)

Error in spreadsheet for claim period 22 for wage and hiring support may have affected your eligibility

A previous version of the spreadsheet for wage and hiring (version 2021-1, used or downloaded before Friday, December 24, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET) may have shown you were not eligible for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program Wage subsidy (THRP - Wage), when in fact you may be eligible. Learn who this error may affect and what to do.

Proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand access to lockdown program

The government has announced new proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand eligibility for wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations under the Local Lockdown Program. These changes would:

  • apply to claim periods 24 and 25 (December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022)
  • allow those entities to qualify if they are subject to a capacity-limiting public health restriction of 50 per cent or more
  • reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent for those entities

As a business, charity, or non-profit in Canada who has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy, a rent subsidy, or both through the THRP.

You may qualify if you are either:

  • part of the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, or recreation sectors, or
  • affected by a qualifying public health restriction
Who can apply for the THRP

There are two ways eligible organizations can qualify for the THRP:

Tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors: Option 1 of 2

The first way to qualify for the THRP is by meeting the following three conditions:

Find out if your activities are considered part of tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, or recreation

Organizations affected by a qualifying public health restriction: Option 2 of 2

The second way to qualify for the THRP was introduced as the Local Lockdown Program. It is available to eligible organizations, regardless of sector.

To qualify for the THRP this way, you must meet following two conditions:

Find out what a qualifying public health restriction is

Eligibility for COVID-19 business subsidies

There are other ways to qualify for wage or rent subsidies if you've been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, even if you do not qualify for the THRP. If you're not sure which subsidy may fit your situation:

Answer a few questions to see what you may qualify for

Support in the event of a qualifying public health restriction

If your business, charity or non-profit is subject to a qualifying public health restriction you may be eligible for a subsidy under the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) even if you are not a qualifying tourism or hospitality entity.

To qualify for the THRP through this option, at least one of your qualifying properties must meet all of the following:

  1. the conditions that relate to a public health restriction
  2. two additional conditions that relate to a qualifying public health restriction
  3. the revenue drop requirements for the current claim period

Public health restriction

A public health restriction is an order that meets certain conditions. It must:

  • be based on an order or decision issued by a federal, provincial, or municipal government, or a local health authority in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • be limited in scope based on one or more factors such as:
    • geographical boundaries
    • type of business or other activity
    • risks associated with a particular location
  • result in sanctions or be an offence if you do not comply
  • require you or your non-arm’s-length tenant at the qualifying property to stop some or all regular activities at the qualifying property for at least 7 days in a row such that
    • the activities that were stopped account for at least approximately 25% of the eligible revenues earned during the prior reference period from or in connection with the affected qualifying property

You do not qualify for support if you are already restricted or closed because you failed to comply with a previous public health order, or decision.

Qualifying public health restriction

qualifying public health restriction means that:

  1. You had one or more qualifying properties that was affected by a public health restriction for at least 7 days in the claim period
  2. The activities that were stopped due to a public health restriction accounted for at least approximately 25% of your total eligible revenue during the prior reference period for the claim period

Revenue drop conditions

To be eligible to apply for THRP if you are affected by a qualifying public health restriction, you:

  • must have at least a 40% revenue drop for the current claim period when compared to the corresponding prior reference period
  • do not need to calculate a 12-month average revenue drop
Subsidies you may qualify for under the THRP

Through the THRP, whether you are considered a qualifying tourism or hospitality entity or you were subject to a qualifying public health restriction, you may be able to get a subsidy to help cover wages (formerly the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) and rent (formerly the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy).

You may also qualify for the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP).

Wage and hiring

Rent and property


Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (HHBRP)

Proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand access to lockdown program

The Government of Canada has announced new proposed regulatory changes to temporarily expand eligibility for wage and commercial rent support for businesses and other organizations under the Local Lockdown Program. These changes would:

  • apply to claim periods 24 and 25 (December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022)
  • allow those entities to qualify if they are subject to a capacity-limiting public health restriction of 50 per cent or more
  • reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent for those entities

As a business, charity, or non-profit in Canada who has faced deep losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a wage subsidy, a rent subsidy, or both through the HHBRP.

Who can apply for the HHBRP

Eligible organizations, regardless of their sector, may qualify for the HHBRP if they don’t qualify for the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP).

To qualify for the HHBRP, you must meet the following two conditions:

Eligibility for COVID-19 business subsidies

There are other ways to qualify for wage or rent subsidies if you've been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, even if you do not qualify for the HHBRP. If you're not sure which subsidy may fit your situation:

Subsidies you may qualify for

Through the HHBRP, you may be able to get a subsidy to help cover wages (formerly the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) and rent (formerly the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy).

You may also qualify for the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP).

Wage and hiring

How and when you can apply for a wage or hiring subsidy, and what happens after you've applied

COVID-19 wage and hiring support for businesses

 Calculate your wage or hiring subsidy

Rent and property

How and when you can apply for a rent subsidy, and what happens after you've applied

COVID-19 rent and property expense support for businesses

 Calculate your rent subsidy

Previously Announced Programs and Assistance