Business encouraged to apply for Regional Tariff Response Initiative

Businesses across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba impacted by global trade disruptions can now apply for financial support of up to $5 million through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).

In August, Ottawa announced it is investing $450 million over the next three years through the initiative, which is intended to help businesses improve productivity, expand and diversify markets, and strengthen domestic supply chains and trade resilience.

The RTRI offers both repayable and non-repayable contributions, with non-repayable support of up to $1 million and repayable contributions typically up to $5 million.

“Prairie businesses keep proving they can adapt and lead, even in tough times,” said Eleanor Olszewski, minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan).

“Through RTRI, our government is helping them push past tariff pressures and keep growing — with the tools and resources they need to unlock their full potential in today’s economy. By investing in the opportunities ahead, we can shape our own future and keep building Canada’s economy into the strongest in the G7.”

A total of $160 million was made available for businesses in Southern Ontario.

Who is eligible for RTRI?

Eligible applicants include incorporated for-profit businesses, Indigenous-owned organisations, and non-profit groups that support business development. Applications are open to all industries, but priority may be given to sectors most affected by tariffs or those that deliver significant economic benefits to their local or regional economies.

Funding is available for projects that promote growth and resiliency. Eligible costs include labour, supplies and materials, equipment and infrastructure, consultancy fees, training, and participation in networking or mentoring events.

Projects must be completed by March 31, 2028, and costs may be retroactively eligible for up to 12 months prior to application, but not before March 21, 2025.

The RTRI, announced in March 2025, is part of a $1 billion federal fund delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies.

How to apply for RTRI funding?

Interested employers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba by submitting an expression of interest (EOI), a short online form where you explain your project’s purpose, eligibility, activities and budget.

To submit an expression of interest:

1. Prepare to complete your expression of interest by following the steps listed in Before you apply.
2. Login to the PrairiesCan portal.
3. Complete the EOI form using the EOI help guide.
   • Bookmark the page for reference and refer back to it while completing the EOI form.
4. Attach the required documents:
   • supporting documents;
     • incorporation documents for your organization and proof of signing authority (e.g. bylaws, articles of incorporation, board minutes or record of decision);
     • a business plan or pitch deck providing details about your organization (including management team, board of directors) and details about the proposed project;
     • a signed Regional Tariff Response Initiative attestation and supplemental form must be completed, signed, and submitted with your EOI; download the fillable PDF form here;
     • other supporting documentation;
   • financial statements;
     • for the past 2 years;
     • interim financial statements for at least the last 6 months;
   • confirmed funding;
     • confirmation of non-PrairiesCan project funding* (e.g. bank statements, unused portion of lines of credit, official letters of intent, funding agreements, signed term sheets).
5. Submit the EOI form through the PrairiesCan portal.
   • Before submitting, make sure your organization can enter into legally binding agreements and that the individual submitting is authorized to bind the organization.

A copy of the EOI will be saved into the portal account. PrairiesCan will not assess incomplete EOIs or saved EOIs that have not been submitted.

Companies can apply to RTRI until Dec. 31, 2027, or until all funding is committed. 

Confidence among Canadian small business owners has dropped significantly amid rising costs, and nearly one in five (19%) Canadian small businesses facing tariff-related costs say they will not survive more than six months if current conditions persist, according to separate studies.