HPBAC PUBLIC FUNDING PROGRAM

Accessing Public Funding in Canada

HPBAC’s new program will help you understand and access public funding opportunities in Canada. The program breaks down the grant and contribution public funding model in Canada and reviews existing funding opportunities for small and medium businesses.

In Canada, it is far more cost effective to provide direct monetary support than public services. Providing direct training or technological adaptation programming for all sectors of the economy is not practical or financially feasible so, governments turn to grant and contribution programs to achieve strategic priorities and provide support for businesses. 

Billions of dollars meant to be used by businesses for public policy priorities such as adaptation to digital commerce, training, employee retention, research and innovation are directly transferred to businesses across Canada every year and no payment is required. 

Small and medium businesses face capacity and information challenges when attempting to avail of public funding. HPBAC’s program will help bridge that gap for you and facilitate access to funding programs.

Public Funding 101

Public funding programs are designed to advance government priorities and address business needs. The public funding landscape is expansive, and the breadth of priorities and opportunities is extensive.
General Policy Objectives
  • Labour market needs
  • Training
  • Employee retention
  • Research
  • Innovation and technology
  • Business expansion
  • Economic development
General Types of Public Funding
  • Grants, non-repayable contributions
    and other forms of financial assistance
  • Wage subsidies
  • Financing
  • Loans and equity investments
  • Tax credits
Funding Programs
  • Federal Departmental Funding
    – Treasury Board Guidelines
  • Provincial/Territorial
  • Municipal
    – Programmatic/Partnership
  • Regional
    – Economic Development

Accessing Public Funding for Your Business Webinars

In late 2022, HPBAC hosted a series of webinars highlighting the public funding opportunities in regions across Canada. If you missed the webinar in your region, you can request a link to view the recorded session.

FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)

ESDC works to improve the standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians by promoting a highly skilled labour force and an efficient, inclusive labour market.
Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program

Provides financial support to civilian employers of Reservists and/or self-employed Reservists to offset operational costs they incur when deployed on full-time operational duty.

Student Work Placement Program

Provides wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements, and create partnerships with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPs to recruit students for these placements.

Canada Summer Jobs

This program provides wage subsidies to employers from organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

ISED works with Canadians in all areas of the economy and in all parts of the country to improve conditions for investment, enhance Canada’s innovation performance, increase Canada’s share of global trade and build a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace.
Boost Your Business Technology

The Boost your Business Technology Stream offers financial support to small and medium Canadian-owned enterprises (SMEs) to adopt new digital technologies.

Grow Your Business Online Grant

Grow Your Business Online grants help small businesses use digital tools to build their online presence, sell their products online and offer their customers a better service.

Strategic Innovation Fund

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) supports large-scale, transformative and collaborative projects that help position Canada to prosper in the global knowledge-based economy.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)

SDTC provides non-repayable contributions to Canadian entrepreneurs. SDTC finds, funds and fosters the entrepreneurs who will lead the transition to a net-zero economy.
Start-Up Fund

SDTC’s Start-Up Fund targets organizations whose technology has been proven at a small scale, has the potential to deliver a transformative environmental benefit, and is now ready to be validated in a market setting.

Scale-Up Fund

SDTC’s Scale-Up Fund targets the needs of high-growth companies: those with growing revenues, a clear path to profitability, and the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits in the short to medium term.

PROVINCIAL PROGRAMS

Alberta Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

Workplace Training Program

Workplace Training Program offers eligible Albertans work-site training and paid work experience through employer-delivered training, with the expectation that participants maintain employment after completing the program.

Alberta Jobs Now Program

Alberta Jobs Now provides private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work. Employers can apply for Jobs Now funding to offset the cost of hiring and training Albertans in new or vacant positions.

Workforce Partnerships Grants

Workforce Partnership grants provide funding to employers, industry and sector associations, regional and Indigenous organizations to support labour market adjustment strategies and workforce development.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Emissions Reduction Alberta

ERA takes action on climate change and supports economic growth by investing in the pilot, demonstration and deployment of clean tech solutions that reduce GHGs, lower costs, attract investment, and create jobs in Alberta.

Innovation Employment Grant

The Innovation Employment Grant encourages economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized businesses that invest in research and development (R&D) with a grant worth up to 20% of qualifying expenditures.

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

BC Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

WorkBC Wage Subsidy Program

The WorkBC Wage Subsidy program is an opportunity for employers to re-hire laid off employees, hire new employees and connect with WorkBC clients looking for work experience and job opportunities.

BC Tech Co-Op Grants Program

BC-based tech-based companies looking to grow or non-tech businesses looking to develop their innovation can get up to $10,800 per year in funding to hire co-op students through the Tech Co-Op Grant.

ACE-WIL BC/Yukon

The Association of Co-Operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon provides funding, grants and wage subsidies for community partners offering work-integrated learning opportunities.

BC Training Grant Program

This program provides BC employers with training funding for their workforces, including prospective new hires, and helps British Columbians access the training needed to succeed in the labour market.

Sector Labour Market Partnerships

This program helps industry and employers understand and respond to changing labour market demands, and provides funding for partnership-led projects that address broader sector and regional labour market issues.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Job Creation Partnerships

Provide work experience and training opportunities to eligible participants. Projects must enhance participant’s employability skills  leading to employment, and must benefit the community and local economy.

PacifiCan

Provides access to business support such as business planning, financing (loans, grants, wage subsidies, etc.), import and export development, insights on government regulations, and market research information.

The Jobs Growth Fund

Provides access to business support such as business planning, financing (loans, grants, wage subsidies, etc.), import and export development, insights on government regulations, and market research information.

BC’s Online Application System for Grant Funding

  • Get information about available funding opportunities
  • Check the status of your active submissions for funding
  • Register and submit for funding
Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

Manitoba Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

First Job Fund Program

The First Jobs Fund Program is designed to support innovative employment and training experiences to prepare at-risk youth aged 15-29 for their first job, which increases likelihood of future sustainable employment.

Youth Partnerships

Youth Partnerships works with employers to facilitate the hiring of students and youth up to age 29 by providing internships, grants, job referrals, mentorship and bursary opportunities, and wage incentives.

Workforce Development Program

The Workforce Development Program assists companies in assessing human resource (HR) management needs, and assists in developing and implementing HR and workforce training and development plans.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Labour Market Partnerships

Funding for projects that support workforce development and adjustment activities, support labour market development activities that create employment opportunities and address labour market needs, and help address human resource and training needs in specific sectors.

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

New Brunswick Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

Research Assistantships Initiative

The Research Assistants Initiative, through the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, provides applied researchers with the funding they need to hire undergraduate and graduate student research assistants.

Labour Force Training

This program provides funding for training individuals who are being considered for an available job in their company and/or to improve the skills and opportunities of new or existing employees.

Workplace Essential Skills Program

Aimed at helping adults who are employed or seeking employment and require additional essential skills. It is also available to employers who are experiencing skilled labour shortages and in need of recruitment support.

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

Newfoundland Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

SECPAP

The Small Enterprise Co-Op Placement Assistance Program provides wage subsidies to small businesses that provide work experience to post-secondary co-operative education students in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy (AWS)

The Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy program assists apprentices to gain work experience in their skilled trade, and progress to journeyperson certification by providing a wage subsidy to employers who hire apprentices.

JobsNL Wage Subsidy

Connects employers and employees by providing funding to employers to create sustainable long-term employment or seasonal / short term employment. The subsidy is intended to offset salary costs to create new positions.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Business Development Support

The Business Development Support Program assists Newfoundland and Labrador SMEs with opportunities to increase their productivity and improve their competitiveness.

Labour Market Partnerships

Provides funding to develop and implement labour market strategies and activities for dealing with labour force adjustments and meeting human resource requirements.

Newfoundland & Labrador’s Online Application System for Grant Funding

  • Get information about available funding opportunities
  • Check the status of your active submissions for funding
  • Register and submit for funding
Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

NOVA SCOTIA PROGRAMS

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

Options Youth

Options Youth is a virtual employment wage subsidy program that consists of paid, online, milestone-based skill training, followed by a paid work placement to help Nova Scotian youth overcome barriers to enter the workforce.

Graduate to Opportunity

The Graduate to Opportunity (GTO) program helps recent university and college graduates get permanent, full-time jobs in Nova Scotia by providing employers with a financial incentive to hire them.

Co-Operative Education Incentive

The Co-Operative Education Incentive program helps employers with the cost of hiring co-op students to fill temporary positions, while helping students secure paid work experience related to their field of study and career goals.

Innovate to Opportunity

Hire a recent master’s or PhD graduate to help your business become more innovative and export-oriented and Innovate to Opportunity, through the Government of Nova Scotia, will cover a portion of their salary.

START Program

The START Program helps connect employers with unemployed Nova Scotians who can fill their job vacanciesby offering a wage incentive and other types of funding if they hire an unemployed Nova Scotian.

WIPSI

The Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive provides funding for employers and industry associations for training full-time employees to improve productivity and innovation within the organization.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Labour Market Partnerships

If you are an employer, employer association, business, or community wanting to develop and carry out strategies that deal with labour force adjustments and meeting HR requirements, the Labour Market Partnerships program can help.

Low Carbon Communities

The Low Carbon Communities Provincial Grant Program is designed to respond to the growing need from communities to offer low-carbon solutions and mitigate GHG emissions in the energy sector.

Workplace Education Initiative

The Workplace Education Initiative promotes and supports business skills development by increasing knowledge and enhancing critical workplace skills needed to innovate and compete.

Nova Scotia’s Online Application System for Grant Funding

  • Get information about available funding opportunities
  • Check the status of your active submissions for funding
  • Register and submit for funding
Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

Ontario Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

FedNor Youth Internships

Support for Youth Internships is provided both under the Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) and the Economic Development Initiative (EDI) for Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs).

Employment Placement/Training

Financial incentive offered to encourage employers to hire targeted individuals into long-term employment by providing them with direct work experience and training, including apprenticeship.

Workforce Development Stream

The intent of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce through business partnerships by offering internships.

Hire a Young Person

Employers can get up to $10,000 in government support per prospective hire for training costs through Employment Ontario programs Youth Job Connection and Youth Job Connection Summer.

Indigenous Workforce Development

The intent of NOHFC’s Indigenous Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s Indigenous workforce through business partnerships by offering internships to Indigenous persons.

Co-Operative Education Tax Credit

The Co-Operative Education Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit. It is available to employers who hire students enrolled in a co-operative education program at an Ontario university or college.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Southwestern Ontario Development

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in southwestern Ontario.

Invest North Program

NOHFC’s Invest North – Grow Stream program is designed to assist new businesses that intend to start a new business, expand an existing business or locate new business operations in Northern Ontario.

Eastern Ontario Development Fund

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund provides support for projects and investments to businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit organizations for economic development in eastern Ontario.

FedDev Ontario

The Community Economic Development and Diversification Stream aims to develop, diversify and transform local economies by promoting small business development, community innovation and strategic collaborations.

Ontario Labour Market Partnerships

Provides financial assistance to communities, sector groups, employee/employer associations, and employers in developing and implementing strategies for economic development, labour force adjustments and HR planning.

Ontario’s Online Application System for Grant Funding

  • Get information about available funding opportunities
  • Check the status of your active submissions for funding
  • Register and submit for funding
Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

Prince Edward Island Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

Special Projects Program

Non-profit organizations and municipal and provincial government departments and agencies in PEI can apply for Special Projects wage funding to create employment opportunities for unemployed Islanders.

Jobs for Youth – Summer

Offered through the Employment Development Agency (EDA), this program supports students working 8-12 weeks during summer and returning to school.

Workplace Skills Training

Designed for employers wanting to train new or existing employees to develop their skills and align with the needs of the business. The employer determines the type of training and who will participate.

Post-Secondary Student Summer

Offered through Skills PEI, this program supports students working 12-14 weeks during summer and entering or returning to full-time post-secondary studies.

Employ PEI

Developed to help employers create long-term employment opportunities for job seekers. Employers can receive a temporary wage subsidy to provide on-the-job training for a new full-time employee.

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

Saskatchewan Programs

Wage Subsidies / Training Cost Sharing

Re-Skill Saskatchewan Training Subsidy

RSTS is a temporary program that provides funding to train employees as the province emerges from the pandemic and economic recovery, and supports eligible employers to access funding for short-term training programs for their employees.

Project Funding / Business Growth

Scale Up for Entrepreneurs Initiative

Provides eligible entrepreneurs with training to acquire skills and knowledge to grow their businesses. Target participants are women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in under-represented groups.

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process.

HPBAC’S PUBLIC FUNDING SUPPORT PROGRAM

Need help? HPBAC can assist you in finding the right program and guide you through the process. Please complete the Needs Assessment Form to help HPBAC staff identify the public funding opportunities best suited for your organization.
There are 30 questions on the form and it should take 15 minutes to complete.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this public funding needs assessment is for the sole purpose of identifying public funding opportunities. The information is confidential and will not be distributed or shared under any circumstance other than when required as part of a funding application.

Support Program Costing

Have Questions?

Please contact us at admin@hpbacanada.org.