The Ontario provincial government has announced that it will expand funding eligibility for Ontario-based businesses to help them deal with the impact of newly imposed U.S. tariffs.
The funds will be made available under the Protect Ontario Financing Program (POFP), which provides up to $1 billion in financial support in the form of loans to Ontario-based businesses facing tariff-related working capital challenges, including payroll, lease payments and utility payments.
The program is part of Ontario’s broader $30-billion tariff relief and support plan, comprised of a suite of tactical response measures and initiatives to build long-term resiliency and prosperity, the government said Monday in a press release.
“Our government will do whatever it takes to stand up for Ontario workers and protect their jobs and paycheques as we face down this latest economic attack from President Trump,” said Premier Doug Ford.
“Now more than ever, Team Canada needs to deliver on our shared commitment to build the most competitive and resilient economy in the G7, so we can attract investment, create jobs and protect workers and their families for decades to come.”
The expansion will ensure businesses whose exports are impacted by a newly enacted 50 per cent spike in Section 338 tariffs on a range of Canadian imports, the government said. It also applies to businesses still subject to existing Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and automotives.
“Ontario has been clear that unjustified U.S. tariffs hurt workers, businesses and families on both sides of the border by disrupting integrated supply chains, undermining investor confidence and raising costs for American consumers who ultimately bear the cost of U.S. tariffs on Canadian products,” the government said in the release.
Under its plan, the province will “use all available tools to mitigate the impacts of U.S. tariffs,” which includes restricting U.S. alcohol sales and procurement, and safeguarding critical supply chains and workers from closures and layoffs.
“As President Trump’s tariffs continue to target our province’s key industries and the world-class workers behind them, our government remains unwavering in its commitment to protect Ontario,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
“By broadening eligibility for the Protect Ontario Financing Program and advocating for a fair deal, we will ensure Ontario’s economy can remain competitive and resilient for generations to come, while advancing meaningful, immediate relief for our businesses and their workers today.”
Ontario is facing a new round of U.S. trade actions, with Washington invoking long‑standing laws to justify tariffs on Canadian goods, including a first‑ever use of Section 338 to impose sweeping 50‑per‑cent duties as of Aug. 22. These measures add to earlier Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos, deepening uncertainty for industries tightly linked to U.S. markets.
The province has warned that sudden tariff shocks can squeeze employers’ cash flow, forcing cuts to production, hours or jobs.
Ontario’s major sectors—steel, autos, cement and concrete— are deeply integrated with U.S. supply chains, meaning the impact of new tariffs is felt on both sides of the border. Industry groups say the duties risk raising costs, disrupting construction and slowing manufacturing across North America.
