Finance the hiring and training of employees

Loan guarantees

• Fonds afro-entrepreneurs 

  ​Filaction​
  Are you a member of one of Quebec's black communities? You could receive a loan or loan guarantee for your business' needs.

Equity investments

• Ambition ME 

  ​Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
  Obtain financing in the form of investment, support from specialists and access to an international network to propel the development and growth of your medium-sized Quebec company.

• BDC Capital — Venture Capital 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get financing and advice from venture capital investors to help you build and grow your business in Canada and internationally.

• Industrial, Clean and Energy Technology (ICE) Venture Fund 

  ​Business Development Bank of Canada
  ​Benefit from this funding if your business is in industrial, clean and energy technology sector and has a strong potential for productivity growth.

• Scotiabank Women Initiative 

  ​Scotiabank
  Access capital, training, consulting and mentoring to develop your women-owned business.

Loans and cash advances

• AgriInnovate Program 

  Government of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  Get up to $5 million in repayable contributions to cover 50% of the cost of projects that aim to accelerate demonstration, commercialization and/or adoption of innovative products, technologies, processes or services that increase agri-sector competitiveness and sustainability.

• Apollo13 startup support program (in French only)

  ​Apollo 13
  Do you have an entrepreneurial idea to put into action or a desire to grow your business? The Apollo13 support program may be right for you.​

• BDC - Business loans 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  ​You could get money to help you start or grow your business.

• BDC Capital — Growth Equity Partner 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get financing and advice from growth equity partners to help grow your business in Canada and internationally. This support will be provided through partnerships, funding and access to potential growth capital.

• BDC Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Purchase assets, start exporting, pay start-up or franchise fees and replenish working capital with a $350,000 loan if you have an existing businesses or $250,000 if you are a start-up.

• BDC Newcomer Entrepreneur 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  If you are an immigrant who arrived in Canada within the past 3 years, you can get up to $50,000, along with expert advice, to start your own business.

• BDC Small Business Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Apply online for a business loan of up to $100,000 with flexible repayment terms. Use this financing to supplement cash flow, improve operations, or cover expenses for your small business.

• BDC Working Capital Term Loan 

  Business Development Bank of Canada
  Get a loan to complement your line of credit in order to boost inventory and take advantage of supplier discounts.

• CED Jobs and Growth Fund — For profit 

  ​Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  If your business is working on a project to transition to a green economy, foster an inclusive recovery, become more competitive and create jobs for Canadians, you could get an interest-free, repayable contribution for up to 50% of the project’s costs.

• Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust 

  Chantier de l'économie sociale Trust
  Get a trust loan between $50,000 and $1.5 million, with no principal repayment requirement for 15 years, to finance costs directly related to the acquisition, construction, or renovation of real estate assets such as land, a building, a warehouse, etc.

• Créavenir 

  ​Desjardins​
  If you are under 35 years of age and starting a business or developing a business that is less than 3 years old, obtain financial assistance in the form of a line of credit of up to $15,000 at a preferential rate of 0.5% and a grant of up to $5000.

• Farm Credit Canada — Loans and lending options 

  Farm Credit Canada
  You could access flexible financing options for your farming, agri-food or agribusiness operation.

• Fonds afro-entrepreneurs 

  ​Filaction​
  Are you a member of one of Quebec's black communities? You could receive a loan or loan guarantee for your business' needs.

• Fonds de microcrédit agricole (in French only)

  ​MRC de la Vallée-du-Richelieu
  Get an interest-free loan to help you develop your farm business.

• Foreign Credential Recognition Loan (PRTCE) 

  Microcrédit Montréal and Le Moulin Microcrédits
  If you are a foreign-trained or foreign-graduated student and are experiencing financial difficulties related to the process of having your degree and professional qualifications recognized in Quebec, you may be eligible for a loan of up to $15,000.

• Innovative Manufacturer Financing [PDF](in French only)

  ​Investissement Québec
  ​Small and medium manufacturers in Quebec can get financing to help create new processes, integrate new technologies, and increase productivity.

• Loans for internationally trained professionals 

  Microcrédit Montréal
  Receive funding of up to $15,000 to cover the costs of your professional certification.

• PME MTL – PME MTL Fund 

  PME MTL
  Get a low-interest-rate loan of up to $300,000 to start or grow your business.

• PME MTL – Solidarity Fund 

  PME MTL
  Get a low interest rate loan of up to $100,000 to start or grow your business.

• Tax credits for production of multimedia titles 

  Investissement Québec
  Refundable tax credit for multimedia producers may amount to 37.5% of eligible labour expenditures.

• Women Entrepreneur Program 

  Farm Credit Canada
  Get access to financing, as well as resources designed specifically to help you develop your skills as you start or grow your business.

Tax refunds and credits

• Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit 

  Canada Revenue Agency
  Get a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the salaries and wages paid to your apprentices, up to a maximum of $2,000/year for each apprentice.

• Development of E-Business Tax Credit 

  Investissement Québec
  Tax credit of 30% (24% refundable and 6% non-refundable) for information technology (IT) sector salaries up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee working on e-business activities.

• Impulsion–Compétences (in French only)

  ​Commission des partenaires du marché du travail
  Get financial assistance to implement training projects that meet the needs of businesses and workers.

• Quebec book publishing tax credit 

  Société de développement des entreprises culturelles
  Credit of 27% to 35% on various costs associated with publishing books, comic strips and collections of poetry in Quebec, including developing foreign markets, major publishing projects, translation into other languages and creation of digital versions.

• Tax Credit for Pre-Competitive Private Partnership Research 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Refundable tax credit of up to 30% for R&D work conducted in partnership with another private company.

• Tax Holiday for Foreign Experts 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Attract recognized foreign experts who are highly qualified in the implementation of innovation projects to work in Quebec. They will receive a tax holiday ranging from 100% of taxable income in the first year, to 25% in the fifth year.

• Tax credit for Gaspésie and selected maritime regions of Quebec 

  Investissement Québec
  Tax credit on total eligible payroll of 30% for marine biotechnology, mariculture and recreational and tourism activities and 15% for all other eligible activities.

• Tax credit for an on-the-job training period 

  Revenu Québec
  Get a tax credit of the eligible trainee wages and other costs of on-the-job training up to a maximum of 32 weeks.

• Tax credit for design in Quebec 

  Revenu Québec
  Tax credit of 12% to 24% on the cost of in-house design activities. The maximum eligible salary for a year is $60,000 for a designer and $40,000 for a pattern maker.

• Tax credit for film production services 

  Société de développement des entreprises culturelles
  Refundable tax credit of 20% to 36% of the cost of labour and goods relating to film production, computer-aided animation and special effects.

• Tax credit for multimedia event or environment productions sponsored outside Quebec 

  Société de développement des entreprises culturelles
  Tax credit of up to 35% of labour costs and production expenses relating to showcasing your Quebec production outside the province, up to a maximum credit of $350,000 per production.

• Tax credit for the design of factory-made products (industrial design component) 

  ​Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Tax credit of 12% to 24% on the cost of in-house design activities (salary costs up to $60,000 admissible) or on the cost of external design activities by a consultant (65% of contract fees admissible).

• Tax holiday for foreign researcher salaries in Quebec 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Attract highly skilled foreign researchers to work on SR&ED projects in Quebec by offering them a tax holiday ranging from 100% coverage of their taxable earnings in the first two years to 25% coverage in the fifth year.

• Workplace Learning Program (in French only)

  ​Emploi-Québec
  ​To enhance the skills of your employees, you can use the expertise of your most experienced employees to train workers with less experience.

Wage subsidies

• Access to Talent Program 

  Natural Products Canada
  Canadian SMEs or start-up companies can receive up to 40% of the cost of a new employee’s salary to a maximum of $75,000 in order to carry out a project that supports the development of a natural product or technology.

• BioTalent Canada – Science Horizons Youth Internship 

  BioTalent Canada
  Hire an intern for 6 to 12 months for an environmental science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) job and receive a subsidy of up to 80% of their salary (maximum $25,000).

• BioTalent — Student Work Placement Program 

  ​BioTalent Canada
  If you’re in the business of healthcare or bioscience, you could get connected with a post-secondary student to work with you on a project up to 16 weeks and a subsidy to cover 70% of their salary, up to $7,000.

• CCAA — Student Work Placement Program 

  ​Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace
  Get a wage subsidy to cover up to 70% of the costs of a work term placement, to a maximum of $7,000 per placement, when you hire a post-secondary student in science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and business programs. Maximum coverage is for first-year students or those in under-represented groups.

• Canada Green Corps 

  United Nations Association in Canada
  ​You can apply for a wage subsidy to hire a youth for a project that reduces your organization’s environmental footprint or increases sustainability.

• ECO Canada – Youth Employment in Natural Resources 

  ​ECO Canada
  Get up to $22,500 to cover up to 75% of wages when you hire a professional under age 31 for full-time employment in an environmental position related to STEM (Engery, Forestry, Minerals/Metals, Earth Sciences).

• ECO Canada — Environmental Employability Pathways 

  ​ECO Canada
  Hire a part-time or full-time intern facing barriers and receive up to $15,000 to cover 100% of their salary, to develop their employability skills and obtain work experience that will prepare them to obtain and keep employment.

• ECO Canada — Foreign Talent Development 

  ECO Canada
  Receive 75% of wage coverage up to $15,000 in funding towards a newcomer's salary for placement in the environmental workforce.

• ECO Canada — Science Horizons Youth Internship (SHI) 

  ECO Canada
  Hire an intern for 6 to 12 months for an environmental science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) job and receive a subsidy up to $25 000 to cover up to 80% of their salary.

• ECO Canada — Student Work Placement Program 

  ​ECO Canada
  If you’re working on an environmental project, you could get connected with a post-secondary student in STEAM or business and a subsidy to cover 75% of their salary up to $7,500 for a maximum of 16 weeks.

• Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities (PRIIME) 

  Emploi Québec
  Wage subsidy for up to 52 weeks for employers who hire immigrants or visible minorities for a first experience in their field in a sustainable job.

• Employment integration — Wage subsidies 

  Emploi Québec
  Hire someone on income security or employment insurance to qualify for a wage subsidy of up to 30 weeks for private sector businesses and longer periods for social enterprises.

• Employment stabilization 

  Emploi Québec
  Get up to $5,000 to cover up to 50% of wages for staff whose jobs have been stabilized, when you find ways to extend the working season.

• Gearing Up — Student Work Placement Program 

  Mining Industry Human Resources Council
  Get a wage subsidy of up to $7,000 to create new work-integrated learning opportunities for students in mining-related post-secondary education programs.

• Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth 

  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
  Wage subsidy for Indigenous businesses and other Indigenous organizations that give First Nations and Inuit youth work experience or on-the-job training in the housing sector.

• ICTC — Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital 

  ​Information and Communications Technology Council
  Get a wage subsidy to cover up to 70% of the costs of a work term placement with a maximum of $7,000 that provides post-secondary students with a position that is digital/technology immersive and that uses technology either entirely or in some capacity.

• Job integration contract 

  Emploi Québec
  Get salary support and reimbursement of certain additional expenses necessary for the integration and employment of a person with a disability.

• Level UP (in French only)

  ​Riipen
  Access fully subsidized internships for hosting a university student from Canada.

• Magnet — Student Work Placement Program 

  ​Magnet
  Get a wage subsidy to cover up to 75% of the costs of a work term placement, to a maximum of $7,500 per placement, when you hire a post-secondary student.

• Mitacs — Business Strategy Internship 

  ​Mitacs​
  Get a contribution to cover a portion of eligible expenses for a collaborative project. Activities should address a business innovation components (R&D to improve connectivity, access to innovation, enabling partnerships and providing training for SMEs, women, Indigenous peoples and other underrepresented groups).

• Programme d'aide à l'intégration en emploi des membres des Premières Nations et des Inuits (PAIPNI) 

  Emploi-Québec
  Get a grant to hire an Aboriginal worker.

• Projet Continuum-Entreprise (in French only)

  Réseau des services spécialisés de main-d'œuvre
  Benefit from expertise and a wage subsidy to facilitate the integration of a diverse clientele and allow for sustainable job retention.

• Recruitment assistance from Emploi-Québec (in French only)

  ​Emploi Québec
  Access programs and services to support you in your recruitment efforts and help you find that special someone.

• Science and Technology (S&T) Internship Program - Green Jobs 

  ​Natural Resources Canada
  ​If your business is in the geomatics, geology, mining, forestry or energy industry, you could get money to hire a recent graduate of natural sciences.

• Support for hiring workers who have suffered employment injuries (in French only)

  CNESST​
  You may be able to obtain a grant to hire workers who have suffered employment injuries.

• TECHNATION — Career Ready Program 

  ​TECHNATION
  Get a wage subsidy to cover up to 75% of the costs of a work term placement, to a maximum of $7,500 per placement, when you hire a post-secondary student. Maximum coverage for first-year students or those in under-represented groups.

• Talent Opportunities Program 

  O​ntario Chamber of Commerce
  Get a wage subsidy of up to $7,000 per student if you hire post-secondary students for WIL placements.

• Tax holiday for foreign researcher salaries in Quebec 

  Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation
  Attract highly skilled foreign researchers to work on SR&ED projects in Quebec by offering them a tax holiday ranging from 100% coverage of their taxable earnings in the first two years to 25% coverage in the fifth year.

• Transportez vert — Ecodriving Training 

  Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles
  Get up to $30,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses involved in training fleet drivers of light or heavy-duty road vehicles in reducing energy consumption and driving more efficiently. Assistance covers up to $1,000 per training session.

Grants, contributions and financial assistance

• Aboriginal Initiatives Fund III (in French only)

  Secrétariat aux affaires autochtones
  Your for-profit or non-profit Indigenous organization could be eligible for a grant for its economic development project.

• Access to Talent Program 

  Natural Products Canada
  Canadian SMEs or start-up companies can receive up to 40% of the cost of a new employee’s salary to a maximum of $75,000 in order to carry out a project that supports the development of a natural product or technology.

• AgriCommunication Program 

  Agriculture and Agri-Food
  Your not-for-profit organization can get a maximum of 70% funding of eligible costs on projects that focus on consumer awareness, sector awareness, and environmental sustainability, to build public trust within the agriculture sector. 

• Apprenticeships Program 

  ​Career Launcher
  You can receive $5,000 to hire a first-year apprentice and $5,000 more for an equity-deserving apprentice, in one of the 39 Red Seal trades.

• BioTalent — Career Starter Program 

  ​BioTalent Canada
  Get up to 50% (maximum $20,000) in wage subsidies for a three to nine-month job placement in the bio-economy to adopt a diverse and inclusive skilled labour.

• CED Jobs and Growth Fund — Indigenous stream 

  ​Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  If your business is working on a project to transition to a green economy, foster an inclusive recovery, become more competitive and create jobs for Canadians, you could get a contribution for up to 100% of the project’s cost.

• CED Jobs and Growth Fund — Not-for-profit Stream 

  Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  If your business is working on a project to transition to a green economy, foster an inclusive recovery, become more competitive and create jobs for Canadians, you could get a non-repayable contribution for up to 90% of the project’s cost.

• Canada Book Fund Support for Organizations — Internships 

  Canadian Heritage
  Contributions of up to $22,500 (typically $15,000) for internships in the book publishing, distribution, marketing, wholesale or retail sectors representing Canadian authors.

• Canada Book Fund Support for Organizations — Not-for-Profit 

  Canadian Heritage
  Get a contribution of up to $1.2 million for a book industry project related to marketing, digital technology, professional-development and more.

• Canada Digital Adoption Program — Boost your business technology 

  Innovation, Science and Economic Development
  Get financial support for your SME to adopt new technologies. Support for your businesse will be in the form of grants to offset the cost of retaining Digital Advisors who will develop digital adoption plans tailored to the business. The grant will cover 90% of the cost to develop the digital plan, up to $15,000. To support the implementation of the plan, your SME will be able to apply for a zero-interest loan from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) (up to $100,000) as well as a wage subsidy up to $7,300 for a youth placement.

• Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program 

  Employment and Social Development Canada
  If you are a civilian employer of reservists or a self-employed reservist, get financial assistance to offset operational costs you incur when reservists deploy on full-time operational duty, both domestically and abroad.

• Creation of a human resources department 

  Emploi Québec
  If your business is expanding, get money to cover up to 50% of the costs of hiring an HRM professional to analyze your company's needs and help you set up a human resources department.

• Créavenir 

  ​Desjardins​
  If you are under 35 years of age and starting a business or developing a business that is less than 3 years old, obtain financial assistance in the form of a line of credit of up to $15,000 at a preferential rate of 0.5% and a grant of up to $5000.

• Diversify your economy 

  Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  Support for SMEs and NPOs to attract international organizations to the regions, draw tourists from outside Quebec or acquire community economic facilities.

• ESDC — Apprenticeship Service Program 

  Employment and Social Development Canada
  Employers can receive a $5,000 cash incentive to hire first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal Trades, and an additional $5,000 if the apprentice is from an underrepresented group.

• Employment stabilization 

  Emploi Québec
  Get up to $5,000 to cover up to 50% of wages for staff whose jobs have been stabilized, when you find ways to extend the working season.

• Farm Credit Canada — Loans and lending options 

  Farm Credit Canada
  You could access flexible financing options for your farming, agri-food or agribusiness operation.

• Fast-Track to Financing Program 

  Natural Products Canada
  If you're a Canadian incorporated SME, start-up company, or academic research institute, you can get a contribution of up to $25,000 for the cost of an external consultant or other service provider that will help develop a business or commercialization plan.

• Financial assistance program for skills recognition 

  Immigration, Francisation et Intégration Québec
  Receive stipends for additional training that will allow you to obtain recognition of your skills by a regulatory body.

• Fonds Empreinte positive (in French only)

  ​La Ruche
  Get up to $50,000 for your mobilization, awareness-raising or education project related to the energy transition.

• Fonds de soutien à l'attraction et à l'établissement durable en Côte-Nord (in French only)

  ​Tourisme Côte-Nord
  Obtain funding to promote the establishment of the workforce on the North Shore.

• Foreign Credential Recognition Program 

  Employment and Social Development Canada
  Your NPO could receive financing to create and implement processes and tools to recognize training and skills acquired abroad.

• INNOGEC - Relance Fund (in French only)

  ​Filaction
  ​Get up to $10,000 to cover the fees of experts who will help your collective business assess the situation following the health crisis and up to $30,000 for them to assist you with your change management plan, recovery or business model adjustment.

• INNOGEC Fund (in French only)

  ​Filaction
  ​Get up to $15,000 to cover a portion of the service fees of management and governance consultants employed by your group company.

• Job integration contract 

  Emploi Québec
  Get salary support and reimbursement of certain additional expenses necessary for the integration and employment of a person with a disability.

• Mass layoff (in French only)

  ​Emploi-Québec
  If you plan to lay off more than 50 people, you could receive technical and financial assistance to set up a reclassification assistance committee.

• Mesure d'accompagnement et de soutien technique aux entreprises québécoises de transformation des produits forestiers (MASTE) (in French only)

  Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs
  Get financial assistance to hire outside specialists for technical diagnostics, technical services and technology transfer related to improving operations, equipment or products.

• Mitacs Accelerate 

  Mitacs
  Stretch your $7,500 investment and expand your R&D potential by collaborating with faculty, college students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows on your company's complex research challenges.

• Mitacs — Accelerate Entrepreneur 

  ​Mitacs
  Funds for student and postdoctoral entrepreneurs to further develop the research or technology at the core of their start-up business.

• PME MTL – Subsidies to support social economy initiatives 

  ​PME MTL
  Get a non repayable contribution of up to $50,000 to cover up to 80% of the costs of undertaking an innovative social economy project from planning stage to growth.

• PME MTL – Young Business 

  PME MTL
  Get up to $15,000 to help with your start-up and growth.

• Programme Compétitivité et environnement 2022-2024 (in French only)

  Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation
  Obtain financial assistance for the contribution of expertise, the improvement of competitiveness and the realization of structuring projects in your company in the dairy and meat processing sectors.

• Programme d'aide financière pour promoteurs collectifs (in French only)

  ​Commission des partenaires du marché du travail
  Get financial assistance for your training needs if you are a group sponsor.

• Programme de formations de courte durée COUD - Volet général de requalification et de rehaussement des compétences (in French only)

  Commission des partenaires du marché du travail
  Receive financial assistance for up to 100% of the expenses related to the training of current or future employees.

• Programme de soutien à la diversité commerciale du Sud-Ouest (in French only)

  ​PME MTL
  Get a grant of up to $20,000 for the establishment of your business in the South West Island of Montreal.

• Quebec Economic Development Program 

  Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
  ​Find out about financial and other resources that can help you develop your Quebec business.

• Soutien aux initiatives de développement économique dans l'arrondissement d'Ahuntsic-Cartierville (in French only)

  ​Ville de Montréal
  Get financial assistance to propel your collective economic development initiatives.

• TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good 

  ​Telus
  Get funding for your innovative projects in health, education, agriculture and the environment.

• Transformation numérique des entreprises collectives (in French only)

  Conseil québécois de la coopération et de la mutualité
  Get funding of up to $20,000 and training for the digital transformation of your collective business (cooperative or NPO).

• Transportez vert — Coaching 

  Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles
  Get financial assistance of up to $150,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses involved in having a coach work with your road vehicle fleet managers on energy management, including identifying ways to reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions, putting these measures into place, and tracking the results.

• Transportez vert — Ecodriving Training 

  Ministère de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles
  Get up to $30,000 to cover up to 50% of eligible expenses involved in training fleet drivers of light or heavy-duty road vehicles in reducing energy consumption and driving more efficiently. Assistance covers up to $1,000 per training session.

• Workforce training measure 

  Emploi Québec
  Get a contribution of up to 50% in training costs to support the development of the professional skills of your workers and to counter the risk of job loss.

• Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative - Indigenous stream 

  Natural Resources Canada
  Access funding for indigenous-led awareness and education projects that address gaps in awareness, knowledge and public and industry confidence in zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) of all classes, lower-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle options, and/or clean fuels.