Funds meant to help businesses 'respond to tariff pressures, strengthen supply chains, build resilience, and pursue new market opportunities’
HR professionals and employers in the Prairies and southern Ontario can now apply for expanded federal tariff relief amid the new tariffs from the United States.
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) both opened applications Sept. 8, 2026 for the enhanced Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).
PrairiesCan confirmed eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and organizations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba can now apply, while FedDev Ontario confirmed the same expanded program is open to businesses in its region.
Funding details
Eligible Prairie businesses may now receive up to $3 million in non-repayable funding, including up to $2 million for demonstrated liquidity needs and up to $1 million for pivot projects, according to PrairiesCan.
FedDev Ontario confirmed the same $3 million non-repayable ceiling and $2 million liquidity cap for southern Ontario businesses, with continued support for productivity improvements, resilience initiatives and capital investment projects. Repayable funding remains available in both regions for larger adaptation projects.
Not-for-profit organizations that help businesses adapt and expand trade opportunities are also eligible for support under the initiative, both releases confirmed.
Ottawa announced the RTRI in August 2025, investing $450 million over the next three years to help businesses improve productivity, expand and diversify markets, and strengthen domestic supply chains and trade resilience.
Ministerial statements
“Canada has the businesses, the skilled workers, and the expertise to compete and grow,” said Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
“Through the expanded Regional Tariff Response Initiative, we are providing additional support to help businesses respond to tariff pressures, strengthen supply chains, build resilience, and pursue new market opportunities. By investing in Canadian workers, businesses, and industries, we are helping protect jobs, strengthen our economy, and build a more competitive and prosperous future for Canadians.”
Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for PrairiesCan added: “Prairie businesses are facing real challenges as unjustified U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and add costs. The enhanced Regional Tariff Response Initiative will help businesses weather the storm, protect good paying jobs, and make the investments needed to grow, compete, and reach new markets all across the globe. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Prairie economy and a stronger Canada.”
Both ministers tied the funding to supply chain resilience and competitiveness, language both releases repeated when describing the broader goals of the initiative.
Recently, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) called on the federal government to create a Small Business Tariff Relief (SBTR) program.
National context
The RTRI expansion is part of a $7.5-billion package of new and enhanced measures for workers and businesses that Ottawa announced Aug. 25, 2026, which included an additional $1.5 billion for the RTRI, bringing its national total to $3.45 billion.
The package also includes a $2 billion Canada Strong Diversification Fund, $500 million in new liquidity support through the Business Development Bank of Canada, and $3.5 billion in Rapid Response Supports for Workers and Employers, both releases stated.
New flexibilities under the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility round out the package for larger employers, according to both releases.
Recently, the Alberta government launched an online portal allowing businesses across the province to disclose the operational, employment, and growth impacts of tariffs and counter-tariffs. According to the government, the data collected is meant to shape the province's policy response to real-world impacts across affected sectors.
