A big part of my job is keeping people from wasting time. Every few weeks someone asks me to help them apply for a program a neighbour or a forum swore was still around — and more often than you'd think, it's been closed for years. The form is gone, the budget's gone, and they've lost a month chasing it.
So here's a straight list of the home programs Winnipeggers most often ask about that are no longer available, what each one used to be, and — more usefully — what to look at instead in 2026. I'm a real estate agent with a contractor's eye after more than a decade in the trades, not the administrator of any of these programs, so always confirm current status with the provider before you plan around it. The live alternatives below are covered in more detail elsewhere on the site, including the Resources section.
Energy retrofits
Canada Greener Homes Loan — closed
This was the popular federal interest-free loan ($5,000 to $40,000, 10-year term) for energy retrofits like insulation, windows, and heat pumps. It stopped accepting applications in October 2025, and its funding was fully committed as of March 31, 2026. If your loan was already approved, you're fine — already-approved loans are unaffected. But there's no new money to apply for.
Use instead: the Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL). It's on-bill financing — no down payment, repaid right on your monthly Manitoba Hydro bill — and it pairs nicely with Efficiency Manitoba rebates. It isn't interest-free like the old federal loan was, but it's the practical local option that's actually open.
PACE financing — not available in Manitoba
People who've read about clean-energy upgrades in Ontario or Saskatchewan sometimes ask about PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) — loans you repay through your property taxes. There is no PACE program in Winnipeg or Manitoba. Don't wait for one.
Use instead: again, the Manitoba Hydro on-bill loan is the closest local equivalent. It's the de facto Manitoba answer to "can I finance this through my bills instead of a bank loan?"
Buying your first home
CMHC First-Time Home Buyer Incentive — discontinued
This was the federal shared-equity mortgage, where the government chipped in 5% or 10% toward your down payment in exchange for a stake in your home's future value. It's discontinued — no new applications were accepted after March 21, 2024.
Use instead: there's actually a stronger toolkit for first-time buyers now, and none of it asks for a slice of your home:
- the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) — tax-deductible going in, tax-free coming out for a first home,
- the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) — borrow from your own RRSP toward a first home, and
- the First-Time Home Buyers' GST rebate — which can eliminate the GST on a newly built home, up to $50,000 off.
These are covered in the first-time buyer material on the site, and they're a much cleaner deal than handing the government equity in your house.
Home repairs
Manitoba Emergency Repair / Manitoba Housing repair programs — closed
Manitoba Housing used to run emergency home repair and renovation assistance for low-income homeowners (historically up to around $9,100, more in northern communities). As of 2026, Manitoba Housing states it has no programs available to financially assist with repairs or renovations to your home. This is the one I get asked about most by people in a genuine bind, and I hate being the bearer of bad news — but pointing someone at a dead program helps no one.
Use instead, depending on your situation:
- Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors Program (administered by March of Dimes Canada) if you're 65 or older and need essential safety or accessibility adaptations,
- MMF Home Enhancement Loan Program (HELP) if you're a Red River Métis citizen, and
- Efficiency Manitoba's Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (EEAP) if you're income-qualified — it covers free insulation and other upgrades, which can address some repair needs even though it's framed as energy efficiency.
City of Winnipeg programs
Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy — not funded since 2020
The City used to reimburse a share of the cost of backwater valves and sump-pit systems (60% of invoiced cost, up to set caps). It hasn't received funding since 2020, and there's no active subsidy in 2026. The City's current flooding pages tell homeowners to hire a licensed plumber at their own cost with no rebate.
Use instead: there's no direct replacement, so budget for the work yourself — but it's still worth doing in flood-prone Winnipeg basements. If the upgrade ties into a broader project, the Manitoba Hydro loan can sometimes help spread costs on the energy-related parts. And note that Disaster Financial Assistance can pay out for uninsurable losses, but only when a specific event is formally designated — it's not a standing rebate for prevention work.
Residential Toilet Replacement Credit — discontinued
This gave Winnipeg water-account holders $60 per WaterSense toilet (up to $120 a year) to replace old high-volume toilets. It's discontinued — applications after December 31, 2019 are not processed, and there's no City water-efficiency or toilet rebate in 2026.
Use instead: there's no City money here anymore. A low-flow toilet still pays for itself over time on your water bill, but you'll be covering the swap on your own.
The short version
| Closed / unavailable program | What to use instead |
|---|---|
| Canada Greener Homes Loan | Manitoba Hydro Home Energy Efficiency Loan (HEEL) |
| PACE financing (never offered here) | Manitoba Hydro on-bill loans |
| CMHC First-Time Home Buyer Incentive | FHSA + Home Buyers' Plan + first-time buyers' GST rebate |
| Manitoba Housing repair / Emergency Repair | Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors (65+), MMF HELP (Métis), or Efficiency Manitoba EEAP (income-qualified) |
| Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy | No replacement — homeowner's cost (Disaster Financial Assistance only for designated events) |
| Residential Toilet Replacement Credit | No replacement — homeowner's cost |
The good news is that the programs that are open — the Hydro loan, Efficiency Manitoba's rebates, the first-time buyer tax breaks, and the seniors' and Métis repair programs — cover a lot of the same ground. You just have to point at the right door.
Programs change often, and the closures and alternatives above reflect the situation as of June 2026. This is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always confirm a program's current status and your eligibility directly with the provider before you plan around it.
Not sure which programs you actually qualify for?
Sorting the live programs from the dead ones is half the battle — and the live ones change every year too. Whether you're buying your first place, fixing up the home you have, or weighing which upgrades are worth it before you sell, I'm happy to point you toward what's actually available right now.
Reach out for a free, no-obligation chat — honest answers from a local agent who keeps an eye on this stuff so you don't have to. — Pavel Streltsov, Real Broker Manitoba Ltd.