Many Canadian businesses received RRRF support during COVID‑19. Now, many are asking: what do I actually have to repay, and by when? The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) was set up as a loan with partial forgiveness. The rules depend on how and where your funding was delivered. If you miss a deadline, you may have to repay 100% of the loan.
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) was part of Canada’s COVID‑19 Economic Response Plan. It provided more than $2 billion across the country to help businesses survive the pandemic. About 25% of RRRF funding went to tourism, and nearly $865 million was allocated to Western Canada.
RRRF funding was not a grant. It was a repayable loan with a forgiveness option, but only if you met certain conditions.
Here are the main points:
Applications are now closed, but repayment and forgiveness rules still apply to all recipients.
Most RRRF loans had two parts:
Unconditional portion
This amount must be repaid to qualify for forgiveness.
Conditional (forgivable) portion
This part is forgiven only if you pay the unconditional portion by the deadline.
If you miss the repayment deadline, the whole RRRF loan must be repaid.
Deadlines depend on the organization that delivered your RRRF funding. For businesses that received RRRF funding directly from PacifiCan:
If your RRRF loan came from:
Your terms may be slightly different. Always check your original funding agreement or contact your loan officer.
Thinking RRRF was a grant
RRRF was a loan with conditions. Many businesses confuse it with non‑repayable funding.
Missing the repayment deadline
Even a small delay can mean you lose forgiveness and must repay the full loan.
Contacting the wrong organization
Repayment is handled by the partner who delivered your funding, not always by the federal department.
Ignoring tax planning
Forgiven amounts may affect your taxes if not recorded properly.
Your repayment process depends on who delivered the funding, not just your province.
You may need to contact:
Each administrator handles invoicing, confirmations, and forgiveness tracking.
RRRF funding is usually treated as a government assistance loan, not immediate taxable income. However:
Q: Is the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund still open?
No. Applications are closed, but repayment and forgiveness rules still apply to all recipients.
Q: How much of my RRRF loan can be forgiven?
A portion of the loan may be forgiven if you pay the required amount by the deadline set in your agreement.
Q: What happens if I miss the RRRF repayment deadline?
You lose eligibility for forgiveness and must repay 100% of the loan.
Q: Was RRRF only for tourism businesses?
No. Tourism was a priority, but RRRF also supported other sectors affected by COVID‑19.
Q: Who do I contact about my RRRF loan?
Contact the organization that delivered your funding, such as PacifiCan, Community Futures, or WeBC, based on your agreement.
If you received RRRF funding, check your repayment deadline and forgiveness eligibility as soon as possible. If you are looking for new funding, tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you find current programs that fit your business needs. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and loan programs across Canada. This can help you see what support options are available as your business moves forward.
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