Federal Incentives

Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program

The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Program is a federal tax incentive program that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, in all sectors, to do research and development in Canada.

For more information on SR&ED, visit Canada Revenue Agency's website.

Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit Program

The primary objective of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) is to encourage Canadian programming and to stimulate the development of an active domestic independent production sector. The CPTC program gives a tax credit to qualified corporations producing Canadian film or video productions. Canadian control requirements ensure that the incentive is available only to Canadian-controlled companies.

For more information on CPTC, visit Canada Revenue Agency's website.

Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit Program

Under the Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit (PSTC), the federal government provides incentives to stimulate job growth by encouraging Canadians as well as foreign-based film producers to employ the services of Canadians.

For more information on PSTC, visit Canada Revenue Agency's website.

Canada Export Community Investment  (CECI)

As one of the many tools deployed by the Government of Canada to increase prosperity, the CanExport Community Investments program provides financial support to communities for their foreign direct investment (FDI) initiatives and activities.

The program provides support to Canadian communities seeking to improve their capacity to attract, retain and expand FDI in order to create jobs for Canadians, support innovation and increase exports.

For the purposes of the program, FDI refers to international businesses establishing or expanding operations in Canada. The program does not fund initiatives related to mergers and acquisitions, investments from other parts of Canada, trade or export. The program supports non-profit partnerships at the local community level. The initiatives supported by the program must focus on supporting the attraction, retention, and expansion of foreign direct investment through specific types of activities. Non-repayable contributions range from $3,000 to $500,000, and agreements are made for a one-year period, from January 1 to December 31. The program provides reimbursement of up to 50 percent of eligible expenses. If an applicant accesses other federal government support, the total federal support cannot exceed 50 percent. 

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Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurship Development

This program is for Aboriginal entrepreneurs and communities. Through this program businesses can apply for up to $99,999 to help with: starting or buying a business; developing a business plan; growing existing business; marketing; development of new products; business advice; and more.

ABED works with Aboriginal entrepreneurs and its partners to provide a range of services and supports that promote the growth of a strong Aboriginal business sector in Canada. Support will vary depending upon the needs of the client, the availability and sources of funding, the eligibility of costs, the economic benefits, and the project viability. ABED can help Aboriginal entrepreneurs, communities, and organizations to achieve their business goals.  

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AgriInvest

AgriInvest helps you manage small income declines, and provides support for investments to mitigate risks or improve market income. Your AgriInvest account builds as you make annual deposits based on a percentage of your Allowable Net Sales and receive matching contributions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

You can deposit up to 100% of your Allowable Net Sales annually, with the first 1% matched by governments. The maximum Allowable Net Sales you can have in a year is $1 million. Based on this limit, the maximum matchable deposit you can make annually is $10,000. 

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Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

This tax credit is for employers who hire an apprentice (in their first 2 years of an apprenticeship program). Employers are eligible for a tax credit equal to 10% of that person's salary. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year per eligible apprentice. If you hire an apprentice, you could get a tax credit equal to 10% of that person's salary. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year per eligible apprentice. You need to hire an apprentice who is:
  • In the first 2 years of an apprenticeship program registered with the government
  • In a trade like those listed under the Red Seal Trades
  • Working towards getting a certificate or license in that trade

You can carry any unused credit back 3 years or carry it forward 20 years. 

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Canada Job Grant 

The Canada Job Grant helps employers train new or existing employees for jobs that need to be filled. This flexible program is designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. If you are an employer, you could get a grant to cover up to 2/3 of the costs of training for your employees. The maximum you may receive is $10,000 per grant. 


Canada Summer Jobs

The Canada Summer Jobs program is a wage subsidy that helps employers pay up to 50% of the salary to hire an eligible full-time student during the summer. 

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Funding and Support Programs to do International Business

Take advantage of the numerous funding and support programs offered by the Trade Commissioner Service. We help Canadian companies take their business to the next level by providing financial support, matching them with potential foreign partners, and helping them to pursue partnership and commercialization opportunities in new markets. We also offer programs to support community investment, associations, and specific entrepreneur groups, such as the Business Women in International Trade program. 

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CareerFocus

Career Focus provides funding for employers and organizations to design and deliver a range of activities that enable youth to make more informed career decisions and develop their skills. CareerFocus provides financial assistance to employers that offer career-related work experience to young people between the ages of 15 and 30. To qualify, businesses must hire 8 or more recruits (exceptions for rural or remote regions); offer between 6 and 12 months of work that improves the skills of recruits; provide coaching or mentoring, and base the project in Canada. Career Focus aims to:
  • increase the supply of highly qualified workers;
  • facilitate the transition of highly-skilled young people to a rapidly changing labour market;
  • promote the benefits of advanced studies; and,
  • demonstrate federal leadership by investing in the skills required to meet the needs of the knowledge economy

The Program is part of the Youth Employment Strategy, a horizontal initiative involving eleven federal departments and agencies.

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Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)

The IRAP program provides financial support to qualified small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation. Through the program employers can receive customized technical and business advice as well as non-repayable financial contributions to help them (1) research, develop, and commercialize new technologies and (2) accelerate the adoption and adaption of these technologies. 


Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

This program is for persons with a disability who want to start a business or employers who would like to hire someone with a disability. Through this program entrepreneurs are eligible for financial assistance for training and employers are eligible for a wage subsidy that can cover a portion of a salary. 


Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program (SR&ED)

The SR&ED Program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. Businesses are eligible for a tax refund or tax credit of up to 35% of what is spent on R&D. 


Strategic Innovation Fund

The Strategic Innovation Fund allocates repayable and non-repayable contributions to firms of all sizes across all of Canada's industrial and technology sectors. The program has four streams, each with its own precise objective:
(1) encourage R&D that will accelerate technology transfer and commercialization of innovative products, processes, and services;
(2) facilitate the growth and expansion of firms in Canada;
(3) attract and retain large scale investments to Canada; and
(4) advance industrial research, development and technology demonstration through collaboration between academia, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. 


Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative

The Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative is a five-year federal initiative that offers repayable contributions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with operations in Western Canada, in order to help move their new and innovative technologies from the later stages of research and development to the marketplace.
The funding supports commercialization, including technology development; pilot projects; validation of market potential; related marketing human resources, productivity, and processor quality improvement activities.


Youth Employment Program

Provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with financial assistance to hire young talent – specifically a post-secondary graduate to help with research, development, and or the commercialization of new technologies.
Note: All projects are subject to change and availability. 


Growing Forward 2

Growing Forward 2 is a five-year agricultural policy framework agreement among federal-provincial-territorial governments. It is the foundation for coordinated government action to help the agriculture and agrifood sectors become more profitable, competitive and innovative. Funding is available to agribusinesses through a variety of grants, including assurance, competitiveness, innovation, and commercialization.  

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Community Enterprise Development Tax Credit Program

This program encourages Manitoban resident investors or eligible corporations to invest in specific community enterprises or in community development investment pools in their communities. Investors receive a 45% income tax credit on a maximum annual investment of $60,000 (up to $27,000 in tax credits). 

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Self-Employment Program

The program provides participants with the training and supports necessary to start a business by offering business planning, self-employment /entrepreneurial skills training (may include classroom instruction) and individual consulting. Participants of the program are eligible for up to 52 weeks of training and business supports with up to 39 weeks of income support. 

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