Support for workers and employers impacted by tariffs
In response to the shifting economic landscape, the Government of Canada has a plan to protect and strengthen Canada’s economic future. This means giving Canadian workers and employers the tools they need to adapt and succeed all in one place. The Rapid Response Supports for Workers and Employers announced in late August will help workers access income support and help employers retain and retrain their workforce during periods of economic uncertainty. Support includes temporary Employment Insurance measures and the new Workforce Retention and Retraining Program.
Learn more about these measures below.
Employer, business, and industry supports
Manage and strengthen your workforce, view funding and benefit options and additional resources to ensure your business will succeed in today’s economy.
Workforce management
Workforce Retention and Retraining Program
This program will provide flexible and easy-to-access support for businesses facing economic challenges. It will help businesses retain and retrain workers who have agreed to work temporarily reduced hours and will provide employers with funding of up to $1,000 per participating employee to support training costs.
Adapt to today’s market place using Job Bank
Resources to help find, hire and retain the right workers, explore the job market and stay informed about employment standards.
Try the Student Work Placement Program
Apply for wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students.
Training options
If you are an employer with a Work-Sharing agreement, you can use Job Bank's Training Finder and other resources for employment and training.
Find workers with the right skills
Search an occupation to discover the number of workers looking for a job locally or nationwide.
Funding and financial support
Regional Tariff Response Initiative
Financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises impacted by tariffs.
Strategic Response Fund
For innovative projects in sectors affected by the U.S. tariffs.
Large Enterprise Tariff Loan
Loans for large Canadian enterprises affected by current and future tariffs and countermeasures.
Supports for business
Find loans, grants and tailored programs to help your business expand into new markets.
Business Benefits Finder
Get a tailored list of benefits that may be helpful to your business.
Pivot to Grow program
Learn how the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Pivot to Grow program can help your business adapt, grow, and preserve cash flow.
Tax relief
Process for requesting remission of tariffs
Request exceptional relief from tariffs imposed as part of Canada’s countermeasures, as well as any future tariff actions.
Services and support for specific industries
Services for agri-food exporters
Help for agri-food businesses to export goods. Services include trade shows, in-market expertise and the Canada Brand.
Support for the Canadian Steel Sector
Learn about trade measures, financial support and more to help the steel sector.
Support for forest sector
Liquidity support, assistance to affected workers and industry transformation.
Import and export duties
Duties Relief Program
Qualified businesses can apply to import commercial goods without paying duties.
Support for Canadian exporters faced with U.S. tariffs
Get help on how to export duty-free to the U.S.
Drawback Program
Learn more about competing in export markets by removing the domestic duty impact from commercial goods.
Supporting Canadian exporters
Explore available resources to navigate U.S. tariffs.
Expanding your business into new markets
New market entry, reducing risk, trade data and inclusive trade.
What importers need to know
Find out about resources for businesses importing goods into Canada.
Worker supports
Employment insurance benefits and services, skills training options, and educational financial aid are available to help you plan your next step.
Employment
Temporary Employment Insurance (EI) Measures
Read more about measures that improve access to EI benefits including waiving the one-week EI waiting period.
Job Bank
View job postings and career opportunities on the Government of Canada’s leading source for jobs and labour market information.
Skills and training
Employment Insurance-funded Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs)
Learn more about the government’s investments through LMDAs to help workers and employers affected by tariffs access training and employment support.
Skills for Success
Assess your skills and learn about the skills necessary to succeed in today’s evolving labour market.
Training Finder
Gain in-demand skills from training courses by recognized Canadian institutions.
Skills and employment training for Indigenous people
Develop your skills and access job training through Indigenous service organizations.
Educational financial aid
Canada Student Grants and Loans
Learn about grants and loans available to full-time and part-time post-secondary students.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
Apply for repayment assistance if you are having trouble paying your loan.
Employment Insurance (EI) and courses or training programs
Take a course or training program while receiving EI benefits.
For Red Seal trades students
Canada Apprentice Loan
See if you are eligible for interest-free loans to help you complete your apprenticeship in a designated Red Seal trade.
Tax deductions and credits
Learn more about Canadian tax deductions and credits for tradespeople, including those for moving expenses, tuition fees and their tool expenses.
EI for apprentices
Find out if you are eligible to receive income support during your full-time technical training.
Upcoming supports
Together, let’s build a strong Canada
Investing in our workers, our industries, and our communities. Building an economy by Canadians, for Canadians.