Government grants, loans and funding for individuals and families

Ranked programs

Top 36 of 57 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   A refundable tax credit for people who are working and earning a low income. It has a basic amount and a disability supplement and is paid through the tax return.

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   55

   Top pick

2. Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (qualified small business corporation shares and farm/fishing property)

   Canada Revenue Agency / Finance Canada

   Individuals can shelter capital gains on the sale of qualified small business corporation shares and qualified farm or fishing property up to a lifetime limit.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $1.3M
   55

   Top pick

3. Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Lets first-time buyers withdraw from their RRSPs to buy or build a qualifying home without tax on the withdrawal, repaying it over time. It can be combined with a first...

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $60K
   53

   Top pick

4. Save on Energy Energy Affordability Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Free energy-saving upgrades and kits for income-eligible Ontario households, including appliance replacement and, in some cases, a free cold climate heat pump.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentives
   47

   Strong

5. First-Time Home Buyers' GST/HST Rebate

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Rebate of the federal GST/HST on a newly built or substantially renovated first home. Ontario adds a provincial first-time buyer HST rebate.

   OpenFederalOther incentives
   46

   Strong

6. Ontario Child Care Tax Credit (Ontario CARE Tax Credit)

   Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

   Refundable credit that gives families up to 75% of eligible child care expenses back, including child care centres, home care and camps.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesLimit $8K
   46

   Strong

7. Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

   Employment and Social Development Canada

   Federal grants paid into a child's RESP: the CESG matches contributions, and the Canada Learning Bond adds money for lower-income families.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $7K
   45

   Strong

8. Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP)

   Transport Canada

   Point-of-sale incentives for Canadians, organizations and businesses buying or leasing an eligible new electric vehicle. It replaces the closed iZEV program.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesUp to $5K
   45

   Strong

9. First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   A registered plan that lets first-time home buyers save for a qualifying first home tax-free, with deductible contributions.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $8K
   45

   Strong

10. Home Winterproofing Program

    Enbridge Gas (delivered together with the Energy Affordability Program)

    Enbridge Gas offers eligible lower-income households free energy-saving home upgrades such as insulation and draft proofing. Participants get a home energy assessment...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    45

    Strong

11. Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC)

    Canada Revenue Agency

    A non-refundable federal tax credit that helps homeowners cover the cost of renovations that make a home more accessible and safer for seniors and people eligible for...

    OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $20K
    44

    Strong

12. Home Renovation Savings Program (Save on Energy / Enbridge Gas)

    IESO (Save on Energy) and Enbridge Gas, supported by the Government of Ontario

    Rebates for home energy upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, windows and doors, heat pumps, smart thermostats, solar and storage, and efficient appliances...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $12K
    44

    Strong

13. Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

    Ministry of Health

    Helps people with long-term physical disabilities pay for customized equipment and supplies such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, diabetic and ostomy supplies.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    43

    Strong

14. Canada Training Credit

    Canada Revenue Agency

    Refundable tax credit that reimburses part of eligible tuition and fees for workers aged 26 to 65 using a limit that accrues each year they file.

    OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $5K
    42

    Strong

15. Canada Student Grants and Loans

    Employment and Social Development Canada / provincial student aid

    Grants and loans for post-secondary students of low and middle incomes, students with dependants and students with disabilities.

    OngoingFederalGrants
    41

    Strong

16. Ontario Focused Flow-Through Share Tax Credit

    Ontario Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

    Refundable personal tax credit for individuals who invest in flow-through shares of Ontario mining exploration companies, improving access to capital for junior...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    41

    Strong

17. Better Jobs Ontario

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Employment Ontario)

    Funds tuition, books and living support for laid-off or long-term unemployed workers to retrain for in-demand jobs. Aimed at individuals rather than employers.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $35K
    39

    Strong

18. Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program

    Employment and Social Development Canada (Reserve Force employer support)

    One-time financial support to civilian employers and self-employed reservists to offset operational costs when a reservist employee deploys on full-time operational duty.

    OpenFederalGrants
    37

    Worth a look

19. Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP)

    Ministry of Natural Resources

    Recognizes private stewardship of provincially important natural areas by exempting eligible portions of a property from property tax.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    36

    Worth a look

20. Land Transfer Tax Refund for First-Time Homebuyers

    Ministry of Finance

    Refund of Ontario land transfer tax for first-time homebuyers; no tax is payable on the first $368,000 of consideration for eligible homes and the maximum refund is...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $4K
    36

    Worth a look

21. Ontario Learn and Stay Grant

    Ministry of Colleges and Universities (via OSAP)

    Covers tuition, books, compulsory fees and other education costs for students in priority postsecondary healthcare programs (nursing, paramedic, medical laboratory) in...

    OpenOntarioGrants
    36

    Worth a look

22. Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Funds Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training and employment services to First Nations, Inuit, Metis and urban/non-affiliated...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    35

    Worth a look

23. Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

    Provincially funded pre-apprenticeship training of up to 52 weeks, delivered by colleges and community agencies, with an 8 to 12 week work placement, for people who want...

    OngoingOntarioGrants
    35

    Worth a look

24. Veterans Emergency Fund

    Veterans Affairs Canada

    Prompt non-taxable financial support for Veterans and their families facing an emergency that threatens their health and well-being, such as food, clothing, uninsured...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    34

    Worth a look

25. Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP)

    Natural Resources Canada (transitioning to Environment and Climate Change Canada); delivered through provincial and territorial programs

    Provides low-to-median-income homeowners and tenants with no-cost home retrofits such as insulation and heat pumps. Selected organizations deliver the work directly, so...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    33

    Worth a look

26. Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)

    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services / Canada Revenue Agency

    Monthly payments to low- to moderate-income families with children under 18, administered by the CRA together with the Canada Child Benefit.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $2K
    33

    Worth a look

27. Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)

    Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

    Combines the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit and Ontario Sales Tax Credit into one tax-free payment, to help low- to...

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $1K
    33

    Worth a look

28. Disability Tax Credit (DTC)

    Canada Revenue Agency

    A non-refundable credit that reduces income tax for people with a severe and prolonged impairment or their supporting family member. DTC approval also opens the door to...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    32

    Worth a look

29. Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)

    Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada

    A monthly federal payment providing direct financial support to working-age people with disabilities.

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    31

    Worth a look

30. Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP)

    Ministry of Natural Resources

    Property tax reduction for landowners who prepare and follow an approved Managed Forest Plan; enrolled forest is taxed at 25% of the municipal residential rate.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentives
    31

    Worth a look

31. Changing Narratives Fund

    Department of Canadian Heritage

    The Changing Narratives Fund supports diverse communities (Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+) in sharing...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

32. Education and Training Benefit (Veterans)

    Veterans Affairs Canada

    A taxable benefit that helps pay for education and training for former Canadian Armed Forces members, including degrees, certificates and shorter courses such as...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    30

    Worth a look

33. London Additional Residential Unit (ARU) Loan

    City of London

    Loan helping owner-occupying homeowners in London pay for creating an additional residential unit on their property.

    OngoingOntarioLoansLoans up to $45K
    29

    Worth a look

34. Mitacs Globalink Research Award

    Mitacs

    Funds senior undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for 12 to 48 weeks of research with a host supervisor, inbound to Canada or abroad from Canada...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    28

    Worth a look

35. Starter Company Plus

    Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (via Small Business Enterprise Centres)

    Training, mentoring and a grant for people starting, expanding or buying a business.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $5K
    28

    Worth a look

36. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral program (CGRS D)

    CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

    A tri-agency doctoral scholarship supporting a high-quality research training experience for students pursuing a doctoral degree in health, natural sciences and...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $40K
    27

    Worth a look

There are 21 more. Create a free account to filter the full list by your own profile.

Questions

How many programs for individuals and families are open right now?

Of the 71 programs for individuals and families in our database, 48 are open or ongoing and 9 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 31, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (qualified small business corporation shares and farm/fishing property) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Limit $1.3M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which programs for individuals and families rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Canada Workers Benefit (55, Top pick), Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (55, Top pick), Home Buyers' Plan (53, Top pick). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 48 open or ongoing programs here, 17 are in our Grants category, 2 are loans and 29 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

27 of the 48 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 21 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.