New federal support is coming for tariff-affected employers and workers, including retention and retraining measures, expanded regional funding and business financing. But not every measure is open yet. The Canada Strong Diversification Fund is effective immediately, the Regional Tariff Response Initiative expansion begins in September 2026, and detailed rules for the new Workforce Retention and Retraining Program are still pending.

Ontario hosts Canada's most diverse labour market — and its most demanding compliance environment. From the fast-paced hospitality ecosystem of the GTA to the heavy infrastructure projects stretching along the Windsor-to-Ottawa construction corridor, employers are navigating a convergence of strict anti-fraud immigration updates, expanded federal audits, and the collapse of key retention incentives.