Eligibility Policies

To be eligible for support, an applicant must be a Canadian Aboriginal individual or a Canadian corporation, partnership, association or other legal entity that is majority-owned or -controlled by Canadian Aboriginal people.

Indian Bands and First Nations are eligible to apply for support from Aboriginal Business Canada. However, any capital investments must be made to an incorporated business or economic development corporation.

To be eligible for support, the applicant must be involved full time with the proposed business in a management capacity. The proposed business venture may operate year round or be seasonal.

An Aboriginal applicant with a non-Aboriginal spouse is eligible for support under the Program when the Aboriginal applicant has relevant experience and will play a management or otherwise substantive role in the business.

Aboriginal Business Canada supports all viable Aboriginal-Non-Aboriginal business partnerships that are otherwise eligible under Program Priorities, provided the Aboriginal partner holds the majority ownership position. Aboriginal Business Canada prorates support based on the level of Aboriginal ownership and control.

This section allows, in exceptional circumstances, Aboriginal Business Canada to make contributions to "other recipients" (i.e. non-Aboriginal recipients) for projects having a significant impact on Aboriginal business development. Contributions to non-Aboriginal recipients are limited to those for business advisory services and commercial training, market development, and advocacy activities.

Aboriginal Business Canada considers a joint venture to be a business undertaking entered into by an eligible applicant and one or more Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal parties in which control and contribution of resources are shared, but control does not necessarily rest with the eligible applicant, at least at the time of application. Aboriginal Business Canada supports viable joint ventures eligible under its Program Priorities, even when the Aboriginal partner does not own a majority of the business. Aboriginal Business Canada contributes to the Aboriginal partner's share only, whether controlling or not.

Support for acquisitions of new or existing businesses is only available when the business (or business activity) is eligible under Aboriginal Business Canada Program Priorities and policies and guidelines. Business acquisitions must be arm's-length transactions and must demonstrate fair market value.

ABC will ensure that all costs reimbursed by ABC for goods acquired are done so at fair market value. Additional investigation may be required when there is potential that the asset being purchased is not at arms length.