Key Takeaways Ontario’s rent increase guideline for 2027 is 1.9%, down from 2.1% in 2026. The guideline is the most a landlord can raise most tenants’ rent without Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) approval. Rent can usually go up only once every 12 months, with at least 90 days’ written notice on the proper LTB […]
Key Takeaways Ontario’s general minimum wage rises from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour on October 1, 2026. The 35-cent increase is tied to Ontario’s 1.9% Consumer Price Index, as required under the Employment Standards Act. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week will earn about $728 more per year. Special rates also rise: $16.90
Key Takeaways Starter Company Plus offers up to $5,000 in non-repayable funding plus mentoring for entrepreneurs starting, expanding, or buying a business. Summer Company gives young entrepreneurs (15–29) up to $3,000 to launch a summer business. Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) across Ontario provide free advisory support, and are the delivery point for most provincial
What Funding Is Available for Small Business Owners in Ontario Right Now Read More »
Key Takeaways Loans (repayable) suit businesses with a clear ability to repay who need capital now — for cash flow, equipment, or expansion. Grants and non-repayable contributions suit businesses making structural changes, like market diversification or reshoring, where the province wants to share the risk. Some programs, like the Ontario Together Trade Fund, blend both
Ontario Tariff Relief: Grants vs. Loans — Which Is Right for Your Business? Read More »
Key Takeaways The EI Work-Sharing Program lets employers reduce hours instead of laying off staff, with employees receiving EI benefits to offset the wage gap. Special tariff measures extend agreements to a maximum of 76 weeks (up from 38) and are now in effect until March 31, 2027. The new Worker Retention Grant tops up
Keeping Employees During a Trade Slowdown: Ontario’s Work-Sharing and Retention Programs Read More »
Key Takeaways The Pivot to Grow Program offers up to $5 million in financing from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help businesses manage U.S. tariff impacts. It’s split into two streams: Liquidity Support (cash flow) and Pivot Support (longer-term adaptation), each with different requirements. Baseline eligibility includes $1 million+ in annual revenue,
BDC Pivot to Grow Program: Working Capital Loans for Tariff-Affected Ontario Businesses Read More »
Key Takeaways The Duties Relief Program (DRP) lets qualifying businesses import goods without paying duties, as long as those goods are eventually exported. The Drawback Program works differently — you pay duties upfront, then apply for a refund once the goods are exported or destroyed. Both programs are administered federally by the Canada Border Services
Duties Relief and Drawback Programs: How Ontario Importers Can Recover Tariff Costs Read More »
Key Takeaways Ontario manufacturers can combine loan-based liquidity support with the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit (OMMITC) — a refundable tax credit worth up to 15%. OMMITC offers up to $3 million per year in refundable credits on manufacturing buildings, machinery, and equipment investments. The credit is stackable with SR&ED and most other federal
How Ontario Manufacturers Can Access Tariff Relief Loans and Tax Credits Read More »
Key Takeaways Ontario’s steel, aluminum, and auto sectors are the most directly targeted by U.S. Section 232 tariffs, and now also face newer Section 338 measures. A new $1 billion federal BDC loan program launched in 2026 specifically for businesses that manufacture, export, or heavily use steel, aluminum, or copper. The Regional Tariff Response Initiative
Key Takeaways The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers repayable funding up to $10 million or non-repayable funding up to $1 million for southern Ontario businesses. This is a federal program delivered through FedDev Ontario — separate from provincial programs like POFP or the Ontario Together Trade Fund. Businesses must have at least 5 full-time
Regional Tariff Response Initiative: Funding for Southern Ontario Businesses Read More »
