The Self-Employment Program provides financial assistance and entrepreneurial support to eligible individuals while they develop and implement their business plan.

Do you qualify?

• Are you currently on an employment insurance claim?
• Are you unemployed and had an employment insurance claim that ended within the last three years?
• Are you unemployed and have a maternity or parental claim which has been established within the 5 years prior to the date of requesting assistance?

If you can answer "Yes" to one of the above questions, click here.

If you do not qualify for the provincially funded self-employment programs, here are some other options:

EMBERS Build A Business and Grow a Business entrepreneurial courses are affordable and accessible training programs that assist individuals to get from business idea, to business launch and business growth. These programs have no EI eligibility requirement and are available for an affordable fee.

Here are two possible federal sources of funding for business:

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)

offers numerous funding and assistance programs through the Western Diversification Program, including:

• Funding for Business: WD works in partnership with financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations to improve access to funding for small businesses.
• Funding for Not-for-Profits: WD provides assistance to research organizations applying to Canada Foundation for Innovation grants, and support for conferences organized by non-profit organizations.
• Funding for Infrastructure: WD works with provincial and municipal governments, as well as other federal departments, to deliver a wide variety of programs that benefit the West.

is a federally funded organization that provides assistance with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They can provide:

• Financing: long-term loans for projects and working capital.
• Consulting services: tailored, quality consulting services at a price businesses can afford.
• Subordinate financing: hybrid debt and equity financing.
• Venture capital: direct and indirect investments in high technology companies.