Tariffs hurt. There's money to modernize.
If tariffs have hit your plant, the federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative can cover up to 50% of an automation project: non-repayable, up to $1 million.
Do you qualify?
The federal program's basic tests. Tick what applies; nothing is saved or sent.
Tick the conditions that apply to your business.
This is a quick self-check, not a decision. Your regional agency assesses every application case by case.
Where the grant fits in a project
You apply. We supply the documents the application needs, then build what was approved.
- 1
Plant walk
A day on site to find the problem worth fixing first.
Stagehead - 2
Scope and fixed quote
Written scope, schedule, spec sheets and a fixed price: what the application asks for.
Stagehead - 3
You apply
To your regional agency, with your financial statements and our documents.
You - 4
Build and install
We build, bench-test and install on your line, then train your team.
Stagehead - 5
Claim your costs
You submit invoices to the agency and get reimbursed for the approved share.
You
Where to apply
The program is federal; each region runs its own intake. Pick your province to see your agency and what stacks on top.
| Agency | Region | How to apply | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACOA | Atlantic Canada: NL, NS, NB, PEI | MyACOA client portal, or contact your nearest ACOA office. | ACOA RTRI |
| CED | Quebec | Contact an advisor first, 1-800-561-0633. | CED RTRI |
| FedDev Ontario | Southern Ontario | Fillable application form, continuous intake. | FedDev RTRI |
| FedNor | Northern Ontario | Talk to a FedNor officer, then apply through the FedNor portal. | FedNor RTRI |
| PrairiesCan | Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta | Online. Open until December 31, 2028 or until funds are committed. Decisions usually within 90 business days. | PrairiesCan RTRI |
| PacifiCan | British Columbia | Online portal. Incomplete applications can't be processed. | PacifiCan RTRI |
| CanNor | Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | PDF form, emailed to CanNor operations. | CanNor RTRI |
Also in your province
Provincial programs that can pay for equipment
| Province | Program | What it pays | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Ontario Together Trade Fund | Equipment, machinery and specialized expertise. Typically 10–20% of eligible costs, up to $5 million. Minimum $200,000 project, so it suits bundled upgrades, not a single pilot. | Ontario |
| British Columbia | BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund | Topped up by $30 million in September 2026 for new equipment and technology that raise productivity. Next intake date not yet announced. | BC announcement |
| Quebec | ESSOR (Investissement Québec) | Productivity and modernization investments of $100,000 or more, mostly as loans and guarantees. Don't sign or spend before you file. | Investissement Québec |
| Alberta | Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant | Up to $30,000 in matching funding for equipment, robotics and automation, for manufacturers with 5–750 employees. CME reports an application deadline of October 31, 2026. | Alberta |
| Prince Edward Island | Tariff Impact Relief Fund | Grants that include productivity improvements. Whether equipment qualifies isn't confirmed; ask Innovation PEI. | Innovation PEI |
Loans only, or nothing yet. Manitoba, New Brunswick and Quebec offer tariff working-capital loans that can't buy equipment. Nova Scotia offers advisory help; Newfoundland and Labrador's tariff support covers seafood marketing. Saskatchewan, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories have no dedicated tariff grants yet. New programs appear often; check your province's page.
Not tariff-hit? There are other routes.
These don't need a tariff impact. Most are loans or tax measures, not grants, but they still cut what a project costs you today.
| Agency | What it pays | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| CED (Quebec) | Digital production equipment, machinery and new production processes. Generally up to 50% of authorized costs for SMEs, repayable without interest. Loan | CED BSP |
| FedNor (northern Ontario) | Machinery, equipment and project labour. Up to 50% of costs, up to $500,000 per project, generally repayable. FedNor warns of limited budget due to high demand. Loan | FedNor BSP |
| ACOA, FedDev, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan, CanNor | Each runs its own version, usually a repayable contribution; terms vary, so check with your agency. Public grant records show ACOA has funded automation at Atlantic machine shops and plastics plants this way. Loan | Use the agency links in the table above. |
Seafood processors
| Fund | Status | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec Fisheries Fund | Renewed July 2026 with $50 million over five years. Covers adopting new processes, technologies and equipment. Proposals accepted from September 1, 2026. | DFO, July 2026 |
| Atlantic Fisheries Fund | Ended March 31, 2026. A five-year renewal has been under negotiation since March 2026; no new intake announced yet. Atlantic plants: get quotes ready now. | DFO, March 2026 |
| BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund | Part of the same renewal negotiations. Check status before planning around it. | DFO, March 2026 |
Loans and tax measures
| Program | What it is | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| BDC LIFT | Preferential-rate loans for automation and robotics from Canadian suppliers and integrators, including installation and integration. The automation path requires at least $5 million in revenue. | BDC |
| BDC Technology Equipment Loan | Financing for technology purchases, including consultants, with terms up to 8 years. | BDC |
| Productivity Super-Deduction | A 100% first-year tax write-off for manufacturing and processing machinery, from Budget 2025. Confirm with your accountant how it applies to you. | Budget 2025 |
| Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit | Applies to clean-energy equipment such as solar or heat pumps, not general automation. Useful only if a project includes an energy component. Confirm with your accountant. | CRA |
Closed right now. AgriInnovate (agri-food) and NRCan's Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program aren't taking applications.
Before you buy anything. Most of these programs don't count costs you incur before approval. Talk to the agency first and ask when your costs start to count.
The fine print
- Funding isn't guaranteed. Agencies assess every application case by case and may approve less than you ask for.
- You are the applicant and you sign the funding agreement. Stagehead is your supplier.
- We don't charge success fees, and we don't lobby government officials on your behalf. We supply quotes, technical scopes, schedules and spec sheets.
- Get competing quotes. Agencies may refuse sole-sourced contractor costs.
- Programs can close without notice once their funds are committed.
- Figures were checked between September 30 and October 1, 2026. Confirm on the official page before you rely on them. None of this is financial or legal advice.
Let's scope a project that fits the program.
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