The Canadian government system has money set aside to help qualifying businesses, entrepreneurs and not for profits. Some of this money is non-dilutive government grant money. Thus, you may have access to government funding, without having to relinquish control or equity in your venture. However, the system is not intuitive, nor easy to navigate. The Canadian government system is layered and multi-faceted. Froese Law recently launched a program whereby we assist our clients to research, source, strategize and apply for government grants. As part of our regular newsletters, we are going to feature small tips on the Canadian government grant system so that you can understand the process better. We hope you find this helpful!
Navigating Canada’s Government System
The Canadian government is divided into 3 levels: Federal, provincial and municipal. Each level of government has a number of different ministries that deals with different subject matters, such as Canadian culture, the arts, employment, industry, health, employment, and so on. The scope of each ministry is ultimately dedicated to legislating, governing, protecting and assisting the industry that it focuses on. Depending on the ministry, government funds can be available to qualifying players in those industries. Do you think you could qualify?
Who May be Eligible for Canadian Grants?
Depending on the grant, private sector corporations, individuals, not for profits, government players and/or industry organizations may be eligible for government grants. However, there may be certain eligibility bars for government grants such as overdue taxes, overdue corporate annual returns, bankruptcy filings, employee complaints, non-Canadian ownership. We can help you understand your hurdles.
What Type of Sectors and Industries may be Eligible for Canadian Grants?
Sourcing grants is a very individualized process and should be customized to your particular venture. However, there are certain types of sectors and industries that are known to be targeted in the Canadian government grant process, such as digital media, video games, telecommunications, technology, automotive, aviation, manufacturing, arts/creative, agriculture/farming, media, music, education, tourism, marketing, film/TV, writing/publishing, sports/athletes, environment and so on. Moreover, if your venture targets particular demographics, such as youth, indigenous, BIPOC, Francophone, women, LGBTQ, disabled communities, your eligibility for funding may increase. We can strategically work with you to help you position your venture to fall within these categories.
What Types of Activities may be Eligible for Canadian Grants?
Sourcing grants is a very individualized process and should be customized to your particular venture. However, there are certain types activities that are known to be targeted in the Canadian government grant process, such as product development, purchasing new equipment, artistic development, recruitment, commercialization, employee training, market expansion, attending trade shows, producing events and so on. Do you think you could qualify?
Froese Law can assist you with navigating Canada’s grant program. If you want assistance, please contact us.