The federal government is rolling out new funding to help Prairie businesses weather global trade disruptions.
Eleanor Olszewski, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, announced Thursday that support will be available through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. The program is designed to help businesses adapt to shifting export markets, strengthen supply chains, and expand into new markets as tariffs continue to weigh on Canadian industries.
“Canadian and Prairie businesses are facing real pressures in a shifting global trade landscape,” Olszewski said in a statement. “The Regional Tariff Response Initiative equips them to respond with strength, to adapt, innovate, and lead.”
The initiative will provide funding both to companies and to not-for-profit organizations that support businesses facing trade shocks. PrairiesCan officials say the program is aimed at reinforcing Canada’s industrial base while protecting jobs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Applications will open Sept. 15 through PrairiesCan’s online portal.
The measure comes as part of a broader federal package announced in July that included up to $150 million in targeted support for the steel industry, as well as loan facilities and enhancements to the Strategic Innovation Fund. Ottawa has said the suite of programs is meant to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs while bolstering Canadian competitiveness.
Olszewski said the federal government will release more details on eligibility in the coming days.