Ottawa Unveils $7.5B Plan to Protect Jobs and Support Businesses Hit by U.S. Tariffs
Latest news on WhatsApp أجدد الأخبار على واتسابThe Canadian government announced a new $7.5-billion support package on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, aimed at protecting workers and businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, with measures focused on liquidity, job retention, training and helping companies adjust to the escalating trade dispute.
The package follows Washington's decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods, effective August 22. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed that Canada will respond on September 8 with tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent on an equivalent value of U.S. imports.
A major share of the new support is directed at businesses facing immediate financial pressure. Ottawa is adding $1.5 billion to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative for small and medium-sized businesses and creating a new $500-million liquidity stream through BDC's Pivot to Grow program. Access to tariff-related BDC programs will also be broadened by lowering the minimum revenue requirement to $1 million.
Another $2 billion will go to the Canada Strong Diversification Fund to support tariff-affected companies with projects ready to move forward, while $3.5 billion will fund Rapid Response Supports for Workers and Employers. Those measures include temporary Employment Insurance flexibilities, workplace training, improvements to Job Bank and a new program designed to help employers retain and retrain workers.
The government is also making its loan facility for large tariff-affected companies more flexible. Taken together, the measures are designed to prevent short-term cash-flow problems from turning into job losses while helping Canadian businesses diversify and become less vulnerable to trade disruptions. Ottawa says the new package builds on nearly $25 billion in support already provided since the U.S. tariffs began.
