What is BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Support Program?
BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Support Program is delivered by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) as a loan. Funding reaches $2M–$50M loans (total envelope: $1B over the program life). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | $2M–$50M loans (total envelope: $1B over the program life) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | N/A (loan) |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Loan |
| Delivered by | Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open — apply via BDC Tariff Support page; dedicated portal not yet live |
| Last verified | May 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Manufacturers and exporters that produce or significantly use steel, aluminum, or copper
- Eligible activities: Three-year, low-interest loans for working capital, market adjustment, and capital investment by manufacturers and exporters with material exposure to U.S. Section 232 steel/aluminum/copper tariffs. Repayment deferred for the first three years.
Watch out for
Revenue under $5M; businesses without material exposure to steel, aluminum, or copper in production or supply chain; not yet able to apply until dedicated portal opens
Deadlines & how to apply
Announced May 4, 2026 by Minister Joly as part of a $1.5B tariff-relief package ($1B BDC envelope + $500M RTRI top-up). Loan size $2M–$50M, three-year term, repayment deferred for the first three years, low interest. Min revenue $5M; Canadian-based businesses with material exposure to steel/aluminum/copper tariffs. As of May 2026 there is no dedicated application portal — eligible businesses register interest through BDC's Tariff Support page or by contacting BDC directly. BDC Pivot to Grow Loan remains the parallel non-metals tariff relief vehicle.
How NorthGrants helps with BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Support Program
Most business owners read about BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Support Program, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.