Amount: starting from $250,000.00 through a term loan.

The Protect Ontario Financing Program is created to support businesses in Ontario that are experiencing serious tariff-related pressures stemming from Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automotive products. The program offers immediate financial relief to help companies manage working capital needs, including:

  • Payroll

  • Lease obligations

  • Utility expenses

Eligibility requirements

The fund is open to for-profit businesses (incorporated entities or limited partnerships) legally registered to operate in Ontario.

To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be actively operating in Ontario

  • Operate within the steel, aluminum, or automotive sectors directly affected by Section 232 tariffs, either as an exporter or as part of the supply chain

  • Generate a minimum of $2 million in annual revenue

  • Employ at least 10 full-time staff in Ontario

  • Have been in operation for at least 3 years, with available financial statements

  • Be facing significant working capital challenges as a result of U.S. Section 232 tariffs (e.g., difficulty covering short-term obligations such as payroll)

  • Have already pursued, exhausted, or encountered substantial barriers in accessing federal financial support for working capital

Funding

Funding will be provided through a term loan to support working capital costs (for example payroll, leases, utilities).

Term loan parameters:

  • minimum $250,000.00
  • repayable up to 72 months (6 years)
  • no penalty for prepayment
  • annual repayment frequency
  • applicant to demonstrate ability to meet repayment requirements and provide security satisfactory to the province

Please note that businesses are permitted to combine (or “stack”) Protect Ontario Financing Program funding with other provincial business support programs in cases where funding was previously approved and there is an existing active project. Stacking will not be allowed for businesses seeking funding for new projects from other provincial business support programs. Businesses are allowed to combine (or “stack”) funding with federal funding support programs.