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Source verified October 7, 2026
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance
Temporary liquidity support for Prairie businesses
Latest source updateLast Update: October 7, 2026Latest change: RTRI eligibility now excludes governments, Crown corporations, and nonprofits seeking support for their own operating expenses, and businesses must show direct or indirect tariff exposure.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: October 7, 2026
Latest change: RTRI eligibility now excludes governments, Crown corporations, and nonprofits seeking support for their own operating expenses, and businesses must show direct or indirect tariff exposure.
RTRI eligibility tightened
The Who can apply page now adds ineligible-applicant rules excluding governments, Crown corporations, and nonprofits seeking liquidity support for their own operating expenses. It also now requires businesses to demonstrate direct or indirect tariff exposure to qualify. The eligibility page still includes incorporated businesses, not-for-profit organizations that support tariff-impacted businesses, and Indigenous-owned businesses and organizations, but the updated wording narrows who can apply and what must be shown before applying.
Funding available
$ 2,000,000
Deadline
December 31, 2028
Location
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada
Overview
Regional Tariff Response Initiative liquidity assistance offers incorporated businesses in the Prairie provinces non-repayable support of up to $2 million to address tariff-related financial pressures and maintain Canadian operations and employment. Funding can help cover payroll, rent or commercial lease payments, and utilities.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Ensure financial sustainability
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 2,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 1,000,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2027
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Short-term support to maintain operations and employment during tariff-related disruption
Documents Needed
- Incorporation documents and proof of signing authority, such as bylaws, articles of incorporation, board minutes or record of decision
- Business plan or pitch deck with details about the organization, management team, board of directors and proposed project
- Financial statements for the past 2 years, interim financial statements for at least the last 6 months, and forecasted income statements and cash flows with rationale and assumptions for 3 to 5 years
- Confirmation of non-PrairiesCan project funding, such as bank statements, unused portions of lines of credit, official letters of intent, funding agreements or signed term sheets
- Evidence of tariff impacts; payroll remittance reports and evidence of essential operating costs for the last 12 months; a quantified demonstration of liquidity needs, such as cash flow forecasts; employment retention targets; operational obligations; and supporting documents
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Incorporated businesses
Who is not eligible
- Governments (federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous governments and their agencies) and Crown corporations are ineligible.
- Not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for liquidity assistance.
- Businesses unable to demonstrate direct or indirect tariff exposure are ineligible.
- Retail businesses and businesses providing local consumer services, including hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation, are generally not eligible.
- Oil and gas extraction and construction services are generally not eligible.
Eligible expenses
- Employee salary and wages
- Essential recurring operating expenses, specifically rent or commercial lease payments, utilities, business insurance, and property taxes
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Payments to contractors or contracted service providers
- Dividends or shareholder distributions, owner withdrawals, employee bonuses including retention bonuses, and employee severance costs
- Payments to employees working outside Canada
- The portion of payroll costs covered by another government program, including support provided through EI Work-Sharing
- Tariffs, customs duties or export taxes, penalties or similar government charges
Eligible geographic areas
- Prairie provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba
Selection criteria
- Program criteria, including viability, economic impact, and ability to achieve program objectives
- Demonstrated need
- Proposed response to tariff impacts
How to apply
- Prepare to complete your application by following the steps listed in Before you apply
- Log in to the PrairiesCan portal
- Complete the application form using the applicant guide
- Attach the required documents
- Submit the application form through the PrairiesCan portal after confirming your organization can enter into legally binding agreements and the submitter is authorized to bind the organization
Processing and Agreement
- PrairiesCan will not assess incomplete applications or saved applications that have not been submitted
- Funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of receiving a complete application with satisfactory supporting documentation
- If approved, you will be invited to enter into a contribution agreement with PrairiesCan
- The contribution agreement must be signed within 30 days of notification and cannot be signed until all funding sources are confirmed
- Funding is provided as periodic reimbursements based on claims submitted, and successful applicants must provide progress reports at least twice per year, annual financial statements if applicable, and track key project activities, milestones, deliverables, and expected outcomes
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- FedNor — Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Ontario — Pivot projectsFunding for Northern Ontario pivot projects that improve productivity, diversify markets or strengthen supply chains in response to tariff impacts.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) – Atlantic Canada — Pivot projectsSupport for tariff-affected Atlantic Canadian businesses and business-support organizations to implement pivot projects, improve productivity, diversify markets and strengthen supply chains.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Atlantic Canada — Liquidity assistanceLiquidity support for businesses affected by tariffs
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — British Columbia — Liquidity assistanceHelp for businesses affected by tariffs
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — British Columbia — Pivot projectsFunding for B.C. pivot projects that strengthen productivity, competitiveness and supply chain resilience in response to tariffs.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Canada — Pivot projectsFunding for pivot projects by tariff-affected businesses and business-support organizations in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon to improve productivity, diversify markets and strengthen supply chains.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Prairie Provinces — Pivot projectsSupports tariff-affected Prairie businesses with pivot projects that improve productivity, develop markets and strengthen supply chains, and organizations helping these businesses adapt.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Quebec — Liquidity assistanceSupport for Quebec businesses affected by tariffs
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Quebec — Pivot projectsFunding for Quebec pivot projects that improve productivity, diversify markets and strengthen supply chains in response to tariffs.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Southern Ontario — Pivot projectsProject funding for tariff-affected southern Ontario businesses to improve productivity, diversify markets and strengthen supply chains.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance Program
What is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance?
Regional Tariff Response Initiative liquidity assistance offers incorporated businesses in the Prairie provinces non-repayable support of up to $2 million to address tariff-related financial pressures and maintain Canadian operations and employment. Funding can help cover payroll, rent or commercial lease payments, and utilities.
How much funding can be received?
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $2,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance program?
To be eligible for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance program, you must:
The applicant must be an incorporated for-profit business located and operating in the Prairies.
The business must have at least $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of its last two fiscal years.
The business must have been viable before tariffs and must demonstrate ongoing trade disruptions, including U.S. tariffs, Canadian countermeasures, or countervailing duties.
What expenses are eligible under Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance?
Short-term support to maintain operations and employment during tariff-related disruption
Who can I contact for more information about the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance?
You can contact Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) or by phone at 1-888-338-9378.
Where is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance available?
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (Prairies) — Liquidity assistance program is available the province of Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan.