The CA$4 billion CDAP initiative was first announced in 2021 Canadian federal budget, and subsequently launched in 2022 to help SMBs adopt digital technologies.
It is based on the "Digital Main Street" concept, which was launched in 2014 by the City of Toronto in partnership with local Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).
[1] CDAP provides eligible businesses with financial grants up to CA$ 15,000 and expert advice to support their digital transformation.
[5] Businesses faced a rigid application process and government-hosted marketplace, requiring them to navigate new accounts and platforms and choose from government-approved consultants.
[6] On the other hand, it has been reported that the maximum subsidies of CA$15,000 grants to hire consultants led to a cottage industry of questionably credentialed advisers bombarding small-business owners with $15,000 plan offers.