Southern Ontario businesses struggling with the financial fallout of ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the United States are set to receive $160 million in relief funding, part of a joint federal–provincial initiative aimed at cushioning the blow of tariffs.
The funding comes through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), a $450-million national program distributed via Canada’s regional development agencies. The program is designed to support businesses facing higher costs and disrupted markets due to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and retaliatory counter-tariffs introduced by the Carney government in Ottawa.
According to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the region will see $160 million directed to affected enterprises, with a focus on companies in the steel and automotive sectors, industries critical to the province’s economy and infrastructure.
“Southern Ontario businesses are under pressure in today’s shifting trade landscape,” said Evan Solomon, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “This initiative gives businesses the tools they need to innovate, diversify, and grow — especially in key sectors like steel and auto, which are vital to our infrastructure and clean economy.”
Hamilton, long considered the industrial heart of Ontario, will be a major focus of the funding. John-Paul Danko, MP for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas, said the program will help stabilize local industries facing global trade headwinds. “Businesses here in Hamilton and across southern Ontario are feeling the impact of global trade challenges and rising costs,” he said. “The RTRI will provide the support to help them respond, adapt, and compete.”
The combined federal–provincial effort aims not only to prevent lasting economic damage but to position Canadian businesses for long-term resilience. “By backing local economies and helping companies expand into new markets, we are not only securing Canada’s future prosperity, but helping build a stronger, more resilient and more productive economy,” Solomon said.