Photo Credit: Prairies Economic Development Canada

🇨🇦🍁💵 Government of Canada Investing in Business Growth and Trade Resilience in Alberta

Monday, 06 July 2026 12:00.PM

- PrairiesCan investments through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative will help six businesses across southern Alberta strengthen competitiveness and adapt to tariff-related market pressures -

Tariffs and shifting global trade conditions are increasing pressures on businesses across the country, affecting costs, supply chains and market access. In response, Canada is focused on what we can control to adapt and remain competitive: building strength at home and diversifying partnerships abroad.

Across Alberta, businesses are already doing that work. They are improving productivity, strengthening supply chains, and pursuing new opportunities to grow within Canada and across the globe. The Government of Canada recognizes these efforts and is providing financial support for businesses through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).

Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced a federal investment of $9 million through the RTRI for six projects in Lethbridge and across southern Alberta.

These investments will help local small- and medium-sized businesses build on existing efforts to grow, improve productivity, strengthen domestic trade opportunities, and position themselves to diversify their markets. PrairiesCan funding is expected to support more than 217 jobs in southern Alberta while advancing innovation and manufacturing efficiency in key regional sectors, including transportation, homebuilding and manufacturing.

A full list of projects receiving an investment through PrairiesCan today can be found in the linked backgrounder.

Through targeted investments like these, the federal government is backing Alberta businesses as they adapt, grow, and lead--creating good jobs and building a stronger, more resilient, and more competitive Canadian economy in the process.

"Alberta businesses have long been leaders. When markets shift, they adapt, innovate and find new opportunities to grow. Amid today's global economic uncertainty, they are doing exactly that: focusing on what they can control--building strength at home while diversifying partnerships abroad. Through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), our government is proud to support businesses with that work like those in Lethbridge across southern Alberta, receiving funding today. These investments will help them improve productivity, strengthen supply chains, reach new markets, and create good jobs. This is how we build a stronger Alberta and a stronger Canadian economy."
–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)

Quick Facts

• The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) is a $1.5 billion national program aimed at helping Canadian businesses impacted by global tariff disruptions. This includes support for businesses across all sectors, including those in the steel and automotive industries, as well as those working to enhance food security.
• PrairiesCan continues to accept RTRI applications from eligible businesses and organizations operating across the Prairie provinces.
• The RTRI aligns with a broader Government of Canada tariff response plan, which includes new measures to protect Canadian businesses and workers, including an expansion of the Strategic Innovation Fund, labour market development agreements, and the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility.

SOURCE: Prairies Economic Development Canada