Page Category: Grant & Incentive Programs

The Government of Canada has announced a significant expansion of the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) to support businesses affected by tariffs and changing trade conditions.

Beginning in September 2026, enhancements include:

• An additional $1.5 billion nationally.
• An increase in the maximum non-repayable contribution from $1 million to $3 million.
• New liquidity support of up to $2 million for businesses experiencing tariff-related pressures.
• Continued support for productivity, market diversification, supply-chain resilience and competitiveness projects.

Businesses considering investments to respond to tariffs, diversify markets or strengthen competitiveness should begin identifying potential projects now.

Apply Here:  Regional Tariff Response Initiative – FedDev Ontario

FedDev Ontario is committed to helping SMEs as they navigate today’s rapidly changing global trade environment. The intake is open and businesses can apply for funding at any time.  Funding will be available until FedDev Ontario’s funding allocation is fully committed. Interested businesses are encouraged to apply early.

FedDev Ontario will be hosting virtual bilingual information sessions. Visit the FedDev Ontario website for details on upcoming information sessions, eligibility requirements, application guidelines, and details on how to apply. 

FedDev Ontario would also like to highlight the broader package of tariff relief measures that have been put in place by the Government, including a new $500 million liquidity stream under the Business Development Bank of Canada’s (BDC) Pivot to Grow program, a new Canada Strong Diversification Fund backed by $2 billion in funding, enhancements to the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility, and a new suite of $3.5 billion in Rapid Response Benefit Program for Workers and Employers.  Additional information on these programs can be found at http://www.canada.ca/canadastrong.

The Protect Ontario Financing Program supports Ontario businesses facing working capital and cash-flow pressures resulting from U.S. tariffs.  The program now includes specified businesses impacted by Section 232 and Section 338 tariffs.

Key Highlights

• Working capital support for costs such as payroll, leases and utilities.
• Minimum loan amount of $250,000.
• Repayment terms up to 72 months.
• No penalty for early repayment.
• Applicants generally require at least $2 million in annual revenue, 10 full-time employees in Ontario and three years of operations.

Because eligibility varies by sector and tariff exposure, companies are encouraged to contact our regional MEDJCT representative to discuss your circumstances: 

Louise Rubletz, Senior Business Advisor

519-581-7227  |  louise.rubletz@ontario.ca

Apply Here:  Protect Ontario Financing Program

Transport Canada’s Commodities Sectoral Support Program helps reduce transportation costs for Canadian steel producers, distributors and end users.

The program provides:

• A 50% rebate on eligible rail and marine freight costs.
• Up to $100 million in total program funding.
• Up to $50 million in cumulative funding per eligible applicant.

Eligible shipments must involve Canadian steel or steel products transported between provinces or territories by rail or marine transportation.

Apply Here:  Commodities Sectoral Support Program

Deadline: September 23, 2026

The Southwestern Ontario Development Fund (SWODF) supports businesses investing in expansion, productivity, innovation, workforce development and new markets.

Eligible businesses generally must have:

• At least three years of operations.
• A minimum of 10 employees, or 5 in eligible rural communities.
• Project investment of at least $500,000, or $200,000 for eligible rural applicants.
• A commitment to create at least five new jobs.

Funding may include:

• Loans of up to 15% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $5 million.
• Up to 30% loan forgiveness where job and investment commitments are achieved.
• Grants of up to $500,000 for eligible rural small businesses.

Businesses considering an application are encouraged to contact Louise before submitting. She can help assess eligibility, review the proposed project and provide application guidance.

Apply Here:  Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

Business Development Stream

Deadline: October 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

The Rural Ontario Development Program supports small rural businesses looking to improve competitiveness, attract investment, grow and create or retain jobs.

Eligible businesses with 1 to 20 employees may receive up to 35% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $10,000.

Apply Here:  Rural Ontario Development Program

Deadline Extended to November 5, 2026

The AMIC Stream supports Ontario manufacturers investing in:

• Equipment and automation.
• Technology adoption.
• Productivity improvements.
• Business expansion.
• Competitiveness initiatives.

Eligible manufacturers may access interest-free loans of up to $5 million, with grant support available for certain rural and strategic projects.

Apply Here:  Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness Stream

Registration Deadline: September 18, 2026

Administered by NRC IRAP, the International Technology Pilot and Demonstration Program supports Canadian SMEs pursuing international pilot or demonstration projects with foreign partners.

Previous projects have typically received $75,000 to $300,000, with funding requests of up to $700,000 also considered.

Although primarily focused on clean technology, eligible solutions may include advanced manufacturing, ICT, infrastructure, mining and industrial technologies that improve energy efficiency or reduce emissions.

Apply Here:  International Technology Pilot and Demonstration Program

Manufacturing: Growth & Competitiveness in Ontario

Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

The Guelph Chamber of Commerce invites local manufacturers to a webinar featuring Louise Rubletz, Senior Business Advisor with Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

The session will provide an overview of Business Advisory Services and key programs that can help manufacturers improve productivity, adopt technology, develop talent, access financing, strengthen competitiveness and expand into new markets.

Register Here:  Register – Manufacturing: Supporting Growth and Competitiveness in Ontario

Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF)

The Province just opened a $100M intake of its $500M Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF). Applications are open now through December 22, 2026.

Data can make a difference in this application and others. Through our Team Grey MOU, you have access to Environics to support a wide range of data needs, and this is a great example of its use case – build an insights-based application to strengthen your submission.

Applicants are required to arrange and participate in pre-application consultation meetings with Municipal staff to discuss application requirements, program eligibility, project timing and scope of work.  

After the consultation, the applicant will be required to submit a completed application, which will include all the application forms in addition to any supporting documentation, as required by the Municipality.  

Once all required forms and supporting materials are received, staff will undertake a preliminary screening of the application. If the application clearly does not meet the program requirements, it will not be accepted.  

If the application meets the program requirements, the application will be accepted. Acceptance does not guarantee financial incentive approval, only that it will be reviewed by the Council or a delegated approval authority for final financial approval.  

Once an application has been approved, an agreement is signed, and the required permits are in place, the applicant may commence the improvement works.  

Once the project work is complete, the applicant must submit photos, invoices, and proof of payment for all eligible work completed.  

Following the proof of work and provided all program requirements continue to be met, Municipal Staff will issue payment of the approved grant. 

A Short-Term Rental (STR) is an overnight accommodation to the travelling or vacationing public for a period of 28 days or less.

The Municipality does not currently licence Short-Term Rentals, however, the use may be regulated under our Municipal Zoning By-law 60-2009. Examples of rental uses defined in the Zoning By-law are Bed and Breakfast, Cottage Rental, Hotel/Motel, Tourist Establishment and Campground. Many short term rentals (rentals) in a private home are considered Cottage Rentals in the By-law. For more information, please review the definitions in Part 3 of our Zoning Bylaw 60-2009 and the applicable provisions with those uses.  You can self-check the full Zoning By-law on the Municipal website at Zoning By-law. 

Some lands within the Municipality are not under the jurisdiction of our Zoning By-law 60-2009, but are regulated under the Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Control. In those cases, you need to check with the Niagara Escarpment Commission or visit www.escarpment.org to determine if the use is permitted.

Airbnb is not “a use” in itself, but an online marketplace for lodging, connecting people who want to rent out their ‘home’ with people who are looking for seasonal or temporary accommodations in specific locations.  

The Municipality requests all Short-Term Rentals to submit their application for the Registry Program.  It currently does not licence Short-Term Rentals within the current Licensing By-law.

Meaford Zoning By-law 60-2009 outlines two types of Short-Term Rental uses permitted in a person’s ‘home’:

Bed and Breakfast

• A single detached dwelling unit in which not more than three bedrooms are used or maintained for the accommodation of the travelling or vacationing public, in which the owner of the dwelling unit resides and supplies lodgings with or without meals for hire or pay, but does not include a residential care facility or tourist establishment.
  • Review: Bylaw 60-2009,  section 6.1, table 6.1 – to ensure the use is permitted in the residential zone; or Bylaw 60-2009, section 8.0, table 8.1 – to ensure the use is permitted in agricultural, rural, recreational and other zones.

Cottage Rental

• The commercial use of all or part of a single detached dwelling to provide living accommodation to the travelling or vacationing public or occupied for a seasonal or temporary period. A Cottage Rental shall not mean or include a Motel, Hotel, Bed and Breakfast Establishment, Tourist Establishment, Hospital or similar commercial or institutional use.
  • Review: By-law 60-2009, section 4.30 – which permits the use within a permitted single detached dwelling, subject to the following:
    • a Cottage Rental may not be located within a detached Accessory Structure or within a temporary or permanent farm help accommodation or Dwelling; a Cottage Rental may occur within an Accessory Apartment Dwelling Unit within a single detached Dwelling, however not within both the main and the Accessory Apartment Dwelling Units; and where a Cottage Rental is established either on its own or together with a Bed and Breakfast Establishment, the total combined number of bedrooms providing accommodation for the vacationing or travelling public shall not exceed three.

For more information, please review the definitions in Part 3 of our Zoning By-law 60-2009 and the applicable provisions with those uses. 

You can self-check the full Zoning By-law on the Municipal website at www.meaford.ca/zoning.

Before establishing a Short-term Rental,  

 All property owners are required to ensure that their property is in compliance with all applicable agencies, statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building Code, the Fire Code, the Planning Act, the Parking Control By-law, Noise By-law, Property Standards By-law, etc.

If your land is within the jurisdiction of the Niagara Escarpment Commission and regulated under the Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Control, you will need to visit www.escarpment.org to determine if the use is permitted.

No, the use must be within a single detached Dwelling Unit.

Not more than three bedrooms are permitted to be used in a single detached Dwelling Unit.

The Municipality applies the Ontario Building Code and our Property Standards By-law to regulate the occupancy standard for Bed and Breakfast establishments in residential homes:

• The Building Code Act standardizes two persons per bedroom and; 
• Our Property Standards Bylaw 2019-70, section 50 – regulates occupancy standards: 
• 50.1 Shall not permit the use of a non-habitable room for the use as a habitable (sleeping) room. 
• 50.2 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit used by only one person shall have a floor area of at least 6 square metres (64.5 square feet). 
• 50.3 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit as a bedroom by two or more persons shall be four square metres (43 square feet) for each person. 
• 50.4 No basement shall be used as a habitable room unless it meets the following requirements:
  • floor and walls are constructed so as to be impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and treated against dampness; each habitable room shall meet all requirements for light, ventilation, area and ceiling height prescribed in this By-law or the Building Code; and access to each habitable room shall be gained without passage through a furnace or boiler room.

Review: The Property Maintenance Standards at: www.meaford.ca/propertystandardsbylaw 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property when rented or in this use is in compliance with all applicable statues and regulations which includes but not limited to the Building code, the Fire Code, parking, noise, yard maintenance, etc.

Not more than three bedrooms are permitted to be used in a single detached Dwelling Unit. 

The Municipality applies the Ontario Building Code and our Property Standards By-law to regulate the occupancy standard for \Short-Term Rentals in a dwelling unit.

1. The Building Code Act standardizes two persons per bedroom and; 
2. Our Property Standards Bylaw 2019-70, section 50 – regulates occupancy standards: 
3. 50.1 Shall not permit the use of a non-habitable room for the use as a habitable (sleeping) room. 
4. 50.2 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit used by only one person shall have a floor area of at least 6 square metres (64.5 square feet). 
5. 50.3 The minimum area of a room for sleeping purposes in a dwelling unit as a bedroom by two or more persons shall be four square metres (43 square feet) for each person. 
6. 50.4 No basement shall be used as a habitable room unless it meets the following requirements:
   • floor and walls are constructed so as to be impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and treated against dampness; each habitable room shall meet all requirements for light, ventilation, area and ceiling height prescribed in this By-law or the Building Code; and access to each habitable room shall be gained without passage through a furnace or boiler room.

Review: The Property Maintenance Standards at Property Standards bylaw 

All property owners are required to ensure that their property is in compliance with all applicable agencies, statutes and regulations, which include, but are not limited to, the Building Code, the Fire Code, the Planning Act, the Parking Control By-law, Noise By-law,  Property Standards e By-law, etc.

If you have a concern with the use of a Short-Term Rental being a disturbance or not abiding by the applicable laws and regulations.

1. Visit our online web portal and Report a Concern.
2. In the body content within the Report a Concern, ensure to explain the exact details, the address for the property you are reporting the concern and your contact information 

• Once a complaint is received through the web portal, a Municipal Enforcement service call occurrence number is generated, and an email will be forwarded to the complainant with the corresponding number.   
• Once a complaint is received, it is deemed an Open Law Enforcement matter, and an Officer will be assigned to investigate the concern to validate and ensure compliance. All concerns received are confidential 
• Note: If the concern you are lodging appears to be ongoing and requires immediate attention after the Municipality’s office administration hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, call the non-emergency number for OPP 1-888-310-1122. If your concern is an immediate threat to life or safety or a crime is actively happening, call 9-1-1.

A refreshment vendor licence is required for food vendors operating at any festival, market, or special event on municipal property. 

This includes: 

• Festivals and markets 

• Community events 

• Private or ticketed events held on municipal land 

Application timelines:

• Already licenced in another municipality: apply at least 7 business days before the event 

• Not licenced elsewhere: apply at least 10 business days before the event 

A refreshment vendor licence and a Municipal Land Use Agreement are required. The Municipality provides a limited number of designated seasonal vendor locations on municipal property, and vendors may operate from May to October, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Seasonal Locations

Up to three (3) locations are available each season:

• Fred Raper Park
• Harbour
• Blue Dolphin Pool

Lottery Process

• Applications for municipal locations must be submitted before March 1 to be included in the lottery.

Fees and Agreements

• Applicable vendor licence fee
• $375 land use fee(included in the seasonal licence rates)
• Municipal Use Agreement required before operating

A refreshment vendor licence is required when operating on private property for more than 5 consecutive days.

Requirements:

• Property must be in an eligible zone 
  (Eligible: C1, C2, C3, RT, UAW; Conditional with farm produce outlet: A, SA, RU) 

• Detailed site plan 

• Valid Health Unit food premises permit 

• Fire inspection (if applicable) 

• Insurance naming the Municipality as additional insured