Funding for workplace change.

Canada-wide · regional delivery

Regional Tariff Response Initiative

Government of Canada · Regional development agencies

Supports tariff-impacted businesses as they improve productivity, adopt technology, diversify markets and strengthen supply-chain resilience. Application terms and available support vary by regional development agency.

Funding or support

Regional terms vary. Support can include liquidity assistance and productivity-focused pivot projects.

Best fit

Tariff-affected businesses planning a productivity, technology, market-diversification or resilience investment.

Canada-wide

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

National Research Council Canada

Provides advice, connections and, in some cases, financial support to incorporated Canadian SMEs developing and commercializing technology-driven products, services or processes.

Funding or support

Project support is assessed case by case. Funding may be available alongside advisory and technical support.

Best fit

Technology-driven SMEs developing, improving or commercializing an innovative product, service or process.

Canada-wide

Student Work Placement Program

Employment and Social Development Canada

Supports paid work-integrated learning placements for post-secondary students through employer delivery partners across Canada.

Funding or support

Employers can access wage subsidies of up to $5,000 for an eligible student placement through participating delivery partners.

Best fit

Employers that want to build their talent pipeline while giving post-secondary students paid, field-related work experience.

Canada-wide

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

Canada Revenue Agency

A federal tax credit for employers that hire eligible apprentices in prescribed trades during the first two years of a registered apprenticeship contract.

Funding or support

Non-refundable investment tax credit equal to 10% of eligible wages, to a maximum of $2,000 per eligible apprentice per year.

Best fit

Employers hiring and training early-stage apprentices in eligible Red Seal or other prescribed trades.

Southern Ontario

Business Scale-up and Productivity

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Supports high-growth businesses that are scaling operations, adopting innovative technologies and processes, commercializing new products and improving productivity and competitiveness.

Funding or support

FedDev Ontario provides project-based repayable contributions. Terms depend on the project and assessment.

Best fit

Established southern Ontario businesses with a significant scale-up, technology-adoption or productivity project.

Atlantic Canada

Business Development Program

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Supports projects that help Atlantic Canadian businesses grow, become more competitive and increase productivity, including technology transfer, specialized services, training and business development.

Funding or support

Project-based support. Contributions to for-profit businesses are generally repayable; terms vary by project.

Best fit

Atlantic Canadian businesses pursuing growth, productivity, technology adoption or specialized capability development.

British Columbia

B.C. Employer Training Grant

Government of British Columbia

Helps B.C. employers pay for skills training so current and prospective employees can adapt to changing job and labour-market requirements.

Funding or support

Up to 80% of eligible training costs, to $10,000 per employee and $300,000 per employer annually.

Best fit

B.C. employers investing in third-party training tied to changing skill requirements or workforce development.

Canada-wide · administered in B.C.

WorkSafeBC Innovation Grants

WorkSafeBC Research Services

Supports practical occupational health and safety research, early-stage workplace tools and prototypes, and innovative approaches to work disability and prevention.

Funding or support

Applied Innovation grants are up to $50,000 for one year; Proof of Principle and Prototyping grants are up to $100,000 over two years. Other streams have separate limits.

Best fit

Employers, workers and research partners with a practical workplace safety question, prototype or intervention worth testing.

Alberta

Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant

Government of Alberta

Employer-driven support for training that builds business-process, technical, digital and technology skills tied directly to productivity and workforce competitiveness.

Funding or support

Existing employees: 50% up to $5,000 each. Eligible unemployed hires: up to 75% and $10,000 each. Employer maximum: $100,000 per fiscal year.

Best fit

Alberta employers with a defined training need in operations, technical work or digital and technology adoption.

Saskatchewan

Canada-Saskatchewan Workforce Tariff Response

Government of Saskatchewan · Government of Canada

A three-year initiative supporting tariff-impacted workers and employers through targeted training, reskilling and workforce supports, including adaptation related to technology adoption and market diversification.

Funding or support

Employer-driven training and workforce supports are arranged through SaskJobs. Funding depends on the proposed training and eligibility.

Best fit

Saskatchewan employers in tariff-impacted sectors that need to retain, reskill or retrain workers as operations change.

Manitoba

Building Up Manitoba Program (BUMP)

Government of Manitoba

Helps small and medium-sized employers strengthen their workforce through employee training and human-resources strategy development, with an explicit focus on skills and productivity growth.

Funding or support

50% cost-shared. Up to $10,000 per employee for training, up to $25,000 for HR strategy work, and $100,000 maximum total funding.

Best fit

Manitoba employers with fewer than 500 employees planning workforce training or a structured HR and skills strategy.

Ontario

Health and Safety Excellence program

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

Helps Ontario businesses build and implement stronger health and safety practices through approved providers, action plans, recognition and financial rebates.

Funding or support

Participating businesses can earn WSIB premium rebates based on completed health and safety topics and prior-year premiums, with an additional incentive for new action plans.

Best fit

Ontario employers looking for a structured way to improve their health and safety management system while earning financial incentives.

Quebec

ESSOR

Investissement Québec · Gouvernement du Québec

A multi-stream program supporting investment planning, digital diagnostics and productivity projects, including technology transitions and business expansion.

Funding or support

Support varies by stream and can include non-repayable contributions, loans and loan guarantees.

Best fit

Quebec businesses planning a meaningful digital, technology, productivity or capital-investment project.

Nova Scotia

Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI)

Government of Nova Scotia

Supports employer and sector training tied to workforce development, digital transformation, technology adoption, process improvement and operational efficiency.

Funding or support

May fund up to 75% of eligible training costs.

Best fit

Nova Scotia businesses, associations and sector councils with a defined workforce or productivity training project.

Nova Scotia

Occupational Health and Safety Education Trust Fund

Government of Nova Scotia

Supports Nova Scotia sectors, workplaces and organizations with occupational health and safety education, training, promotion and other initiatives that build awareness, reduce injury risk and strengthen workplace safety culture.

Funding or support

Available funding varies from year to year based on the Trust Fund balance. Applications are reviewed on the merits of the proposed initiative.

Best fit

Nova Scotia organizations with a practical occupational health and safety education, training, awareness or prevention initiative.

New Brunswick

Labour Force Training

Government of New Brunswick

Supports job-related training that can prevent job loss, prepare employees for new products or requirements, improve technology capability or increase productivity.

Funding or support

Maximum government contribution of $20,000 per employer, per region, per fiscal year. Employer contribution is required.

Best fit

New Brunswick employers that need third-party training connected to technology, productivity or changing job requirements.

Prince Edward Island

Strategic Improvement Assistance

Innovation PEI

Supports outside professional expertise for projects that improve operational efficiency, internal processes, workflow, logistics, systems integration, productivity and quality.

Funding or support

Up to 40% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per approved project.

Best fit

Eligible P.E.I. businesses that need expert support to redesign operations, systems, processes or productivity practices.

Yukon

Staffing UP

Government of Yukon

Supports employers with labour-market projects that develop current and future employees, create new training opportunities and introduce innovative workplace practices.

Funding or support

Project support is assessed with a program officer. Applicants begin through the Yukon project concept process.

Best fit

Yukon employers planning employee development, workforce projects or new workplace practices.

Northwest Territories

Employee Training Program

Government of the Northwest Territories

Offsets the cost of short-term employee training, including upskilling required because of economic, technological or organizational change.

Funding or support

Up to $13,000 per individual client in a 52-week period.

Best fit

NWT employers with employees who need short-term technical, business, management or job-related skills training.

Nunavut

Grant for Nunavut Employers

Government of Nunavut

Supports employer-led training and professional development that helps Nunavummiut obtain, retain or advance in employment.

Funding or support

Program support is available for eligible employer training. Confirm current amounts and requirements with the Government of Nunavut before applying.

Best fit

Nunavut employers planning incremental training or professional development for employees.