PrairiesCan · REGIONAL TARIFF RESPONSE INITIATIVE

PrairiesCan tariff relief funding

RTRI for businesses in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) delivers the Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Businesses complete a detailed application in PrairiesCan's online portal, intake runs until December 31, 2028 or until funding is committed, and PrairiesCan treats RTRI as a competitive process.

How to apply in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Free one-on-one consultation. Practical guidance for your business. No obligation to hire us.

Checked against PrairiesCan's RTRI pages on October 29, 2026 • Official sources linked below

Read the Canada-wide tariff relief guide

FUNDING IN ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA

Liquidity assistance
and pivot projects.

Liquidity assistance covers tariff-related cash-flow shortfalls in your existing labour and overhead. Pivot projects fund net-new investment on top of the business you already run. You can apply for either, or both. PrairiesCan applies the national terms below in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

You do not need a pivot project to request liquidity assistance. Not-for-profits that support businesses can apply for project funding but not for liquidity.

01 / EXISTING LABOUR AND OVERHEAD

Liquidity assistance

Non-repayable support for a tariff-related cash-flow shortfall in the business you already run. It is based on your average payroll over the last 12 months, with overhead such as rent, utilities, insurance and property taxes considered where needed.

Funding
Up to $2M, non-repayable
Basis
50% of average monthly payroll, capped at your demonstrated 12-month need
Period
Up to 12 months, ending by March 31, 2028

In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

PrairiesCan bases liquidity mainly on 50% of average monthly payroll for up to 12 months, capped at your demonstrated need and $2M. Essential operating costs can be considered if necessary.

Tariffs, customs duties, raw materials, inventory and debt payments are not eligible liquidity costs. Dividends are restricted while liquidity support is in place.

02 / NET-NEW INVESTMENT

Pivot projects

Funding for net-new investment on top of your existing labour, overhead and operations: equipment, automation, expansion, new markets and reinvestment in the business.

Non-repayable
Up to $1M; up to 50% of eligible costs
Repayable
Over $1M; up to 75% of eligible costs, interest-free
Completion
By March 31, 2029

In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Pivot costs can be counted retroactively for up to 12 months, but no earlier than March 21, 2025. RTRI does not support projects that move operations outside Canada.

Land and building purchases, entertainment, vehicles and refinancing are not eligible. Projects need measurable, incremental results.

How the limits fit together

Up to $3M in combined non-repayable support: $2M for liquidity plus $1M for a non-repayable pivot. Total RTRI support, including repayable funding, is capped at $20M per business. The same costs cannot be funded twice.

WHO CAN APPLY

Who qualifies in
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

PrairiesCan funds incorporated, for-profit businesses located and operating in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Retail, local consumer services (such as hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation), oil and gas extraction and construction services are generally not eligible.

$1M+ in annual revenue

In at least one of your last two fiscal years. This is a revenue threshold, not a minimum project size. Smaller firms can still ask the agency about other options.

Viable before tariffs

Assessed through your attestation, financial statements and operating history. Businesses founded after March 21, 2025 are considered case by case.

Manufacturers, suppliers and value-added firms

PrairiesCan says RTRI normally supports manufacturers, suppliers and value-added businesses in tariff-impacted sectors, plus transportation tied to forestry exporters and services critical to a manufacturing exporter's supply chain.

Indigenous businesses and organizations

Indigenous-led organizations and businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. PrairiesCan can fund up to 80% of eligible costs for Indigenous commercial projects and up to 100% for non-commercial projects.

THE CORE OF THE APPLICATION

Tariff impact is
what gets assessed.

Every RTRI application has to show how tariffs, Canadian counter-tariffs or the uncertainty around them affected your business. You need to meet at least one of these tests, and liquidity requests must also show a cash-flow need caused by tariffs.

Because PrairiesCan runs RTRI as a competitive process and may prioritize projects with the strongest impacts, the strength of the tariff case and the economic benefit of the response both matter.

  1. 01

    Operates in a sector hit by Section 232 or Section 338 tariffs, including indirect exposure as a supplier to an affected exporter, or in another tariff-impacted sector.

  2. 02

    Earns at least 25% of revenue from goods that are ultimately exported to the U.S.

  3. 03

    Can show harm from tariffs or the uncertainty they created: higher input costs, supply chain disruption, or lost revenue and customers.

A general slowdown on its own does not establish tariff impact. The connection has to be documented.

HOW TO APPLY WITH PRAIRIESCAN

The PrairiesCan process,
step by step.

Detailed application in the PrairiesCan online portal. Here is how the process runs in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, based on PrairiesCan's published guidance.

  1. 01

    Prepare before you apply

    Confirm eligibility, assign a project lead and gather every document. PrairiesCan encourages you to contact an officer first. You speak with PrairiesCan; we help you prepare.

  2. 02

    Complete the portal application

    Log in to the PrairiesCan portal, complete the detailed application using the applicant guide, attach documents and submit. Saved but unsubmitted applications are not assessed.

  3. 03

    Assessment

    PrairiesCan assesses viability, economic impact, need and your response to tariffs. Decisions are usually made within 90 business days of a complete application.

  4. 04

    Agreement and reporting

    Sign the contribution agreement within 30 days of notice, once all funding sources are confirmed. Expect progress reports at least twice a year and claims-based reimbursement.

Documents to prepare

  • Incorporation documents and proof of signing authority
  • A business plan or pitch deck
  • Financial statements for the past two years and interim statements for at least the last six months
  • Confirmation of any non-PrairiesCan project funding
  • Liquidity: payroll records, a quantified liquidity need such as cash-flow forecasts, and employment retention targets
  • Evidence of tariff impact, such as export sales information

What is different in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

A set intake deadline

Applications are accepted until December 31, 2028, or until all available funding is committed, whichever comes first.

A published decision standard

Funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of a complete application.

Confirmed funding only

Forecast revenue, receivables, planned equity or bank financing, and SR&ED credit receivables do not count as confirmed project funding.

Phone
1-888-338-9378
Offices
Listed on PrairiesCan's contact page
Existing recipients
Contact your PrairiesCan project officer

HOW FUNDSPOKE HELPS

You run the business.
We build the funding case.

In a competitive intake with a 90-day clock that only starts once the file is complete, completeness and a strong economic case are the advantage. We build both with you before anything is submitted.

01

Find the fit

Review your operations, revenue history and tariff exposure against PrairiesCan's criteria. Decide on liquidity, a pivot project, or both.

02

Prepare the application

Build the tariff impact evidence, payroll and cash-flow forecasts, project budget and narrative. You review and approve everything before you submit.

03

Stay through delivery

Support due diligence, the contribution agreement, claims and reporting after approval. You speak with the agency; we prepare you for each conversation.

A useful starting point

Your location, revenue for the last two fiscal years and a short description of how tariffs have affected you. We will work through the rest together.

PrairiesCan RTRI QUESTIONS

Tariff relief in
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, answered.

Answers drawn from PrairiesCan's published RTRI guidance.

PrairiesCan's official RTRI page
How do I apply for PrairiesCan tariff relief funding?

Businesses complete a detailed application in PrairiesCan's online portal using the applicant guide, attach the required documents and submit. PrairiesCan encourages you to contact an officer before submitting, and will not assess incomplete applications or saved applications that were never submitted.

Is there a deadline for RTRI in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba?

Yes. PrairiesCan accepts RTRI applications until December 31, 2028, or until all available funding is committed. Liquidity support must end by March 31, 2028 and pivot projects must be completed by March 31, 2029, so applying earlier leaves more room.

How long does PrairiesCan take to decide?

PrairiesCan says funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of receiving a complete application, including satisfactory supporting documents. RTRI is a competitive process, and not every application that reaches detailed assessment receives an offer.

What counts as confirmed funding for a PrairiesCan project?

Other funding must be confirmed before the contribution agreement is signed. PrairiesCan does not accept forecast revenue, accounts receivable, commitments to raise equity or future bank financing, or SR&ED credit receivables as confirmed project funding.

What are PrairiesCan's repayment terms for larger pivot projects?

Repayable contributions normally have a one-year grace period followed by equal monthly repayments over five years, with no interest, no security or collateral, and no penalty for early repayment.

ONE NATIONAL INITIATIVE. SEVEN AGENCIES.

Operating in more
than one region?

Each regional development agency funds its own region. If you have employees in more than one agency's area, separate requests are needed for each. See how RTRI works elsewhere in Canada.

FedDev Ontario

Southern Ontario

Fillable PDF form, submitted from Adobe Acrobat Reader

FedNor

Northern Ontario

FedNor self-service portal, after a call with a FedNor officer

CED

Quebec

Contact CED first; CED assesses eligibility, then sends the form

ACOA

Atlantic Canada

MyACOA Client Portal, after talking to your nearest ACOA office

PacifiCan

British Columbia

PacifiCan online portal, stream “BC (PacifiCan) - RTRI-Business”

CanNor

Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

PDF application form, submitted from the form or by email to CanNor

CANADA-WIDE

Tariff relief guide

How RTRI works, indirect impacts and common questions

LET'S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP

Tariffs changed the plan.
Let's work on the response.

Tell us what has changed for your business. In a free, one-on-one consultation, we will help you understand your PrairiesCan funding options and next steps, whether or not you work with us.

Independent advisory by Fundspoke. We are not a government agency. Your business remains the applicant and speaks with PrairiesCan directly. Program terms and intake availability may change; PrairiesCan's current rules and your contribution agreement govern funding.