The federal government is broadening its initiative aimed at assisting southern Ontario businesses facing financial strain from tariffs.
The Federal Economic Development Agency (Fed Dev) for Southern Ontario announced on Tuesday that businesses can now seek expanded support through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).
Launched at the end of August as part of the federal response to tariffs, the program provides significant funding to assist businesses dealing with cash flow issues caused by tariffs and offers support in adjusting their practices.
Initially, when the program was unveiled, nine Hamilton businesses were chosen to receive a total of $12.5 million in funding.
With the expanded support, Ottawa is adding an extra $1.5 billion to the program, bringing the total funding up to $3.45 billion.
Businesses that qualify can receive up to $3 million in non-repayable funds, with as much as $2 million allocated specifically for liquidity needs.
This Thursday, Ontario also announced it would be increasing eligibility for tariff assistance under both the Protect Ontario Financing Program and the Ontario Together Trade Fund.
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce head Greg Dunnett, shown speaking outside Hamilton city hall in a 2024 file photo, says businesses today ‘are looking for right now is certainty’ amid escalating tariffs. (Justin Chandler/CBC)
“What businesses are looking for right now is certainty,” said Greg Dunnett, president and CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
“There has been a constant state of turmoil, confusion and a general lack of certainty since the Trump administration came into place.”
The federal RTRI program also aims to foster growth among Canadian businesses overall by providing funding for companies to adapt, boost productivity, create resilience plans and invest in capital improvements.
“Rebuilding supply chains and readjusting your customer base are things that don’t happen overnight,” Dunnett said. “It takes months and often years to do so.”
Applications Now Open for Eligible Businesses
The RTRI funding is available for all affected sectors; however, certain portions will prioritize food security, automotive industries, and steel production.
Dunnett noted that smaller businesses might find the application process challenging due to limited resources. Still, he believes that any business capable of benefiting from it should consider applying for RTRI support.
<p To apply for RTRI funding in southern Ontario, businesses must have been viable before tariffs were imposed, have generated at least $1 million in annual revenue during one of the last two years, be an incorporated profit-making business located in southern Ontario and must demonstrate they have been impacted by tariffs.</
Eligible businesses can apply online.
Tim Louis, MP for Kitchener-Conestoga and parliamentary secretary responsible for intergovernmental affairs and One Canadian Economy initiatives echoes calls for clarity and stability.
“Whether it’s businesses or individuals or families…that uncertainty prevents people from investing in themselves or their companies or planning long term,” Louis told CBC’s Craig Norris during Kitchener-Waterloo’s The Morning Edition radio show.
“So I think that part of these programs we’re seeing involves what we control as Canadians. We can manage trade relations with other nations around the world. We can handle major projects within Canada itself. We can address interprovincial trade barriers too. Let’s concentrate on what we can actually control because that’s going to help us move past this short-term uncertainty.”
<p Canadian companies trading with the U. S. have experienced financial ups and downs since former President Donald Trump first introduced tariffs back in early 2025.
The latest threats from Trump surfaced earlier this week following stalled U. S.-Canada trade negotiations. After Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect earlier this week , Trump indicated there would be bans on imports including Canadian alcohol , dairy products , motorcycles , as well as goods like molasses starting September 29.
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