PrairiesCan funding aids 8 projects under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative and Business Scale-up and Productivity program
Saskatchewan's history is one of perseverance and adaptation. From generations of farmers finding new ways to work the land to businesses developing the province's resource and manufacturing industries, its people have built an economy that reaches far beyond its borders. Through changing markets and difficult times, they have continued to innovate, find new opportunities, and build for the future.
Today, unjustified U.S. tariffs are putting Saskatchewan businesses and workers under pressure again. Companies are responding by investing in new equipment and automation, expanding production, and pursuing new markets. These efforts are helping strengthen domestic supply chains and build greater resilience for Saskatchewan businesses and the Canadian economy.
The Government of Canada is acting decisively to protect workers, defend Canadian industries and support companies as they adapt to tariff-related uncertainty. Canada's counter-tariff actions, combined with targeted investments such as the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), are helping businesses manage immediate pressures while positioning them for long-term growth. On August 25, 2026, the Government of Canada announced an additional $1.5 billion through RTRI to help tariff-affected small and medium-sized businesses address immediate liquidity concerns to maintain employment and day-to-day operations, as well as to diversify markets, boost productivity, reduce costs, and strengthen domestic supply chains.
Today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, on behalf of the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced funding of over $11.2 million through PrairiesCan for eight organizations across Saskatchewan. Today's investments, delivered through RTRI and the Business Scale up and Productivity Program (BSP), will help businesses enter new markets and build long-term economic resilience during uncertain times. The two programs work hand in hand to support business growth and competitiveness.
Secretary of State Belanger also highlighted the Government of Canada's new Productivity Mega Deduction, one of the most significant changes to Canada's business tax system in half a century. This game-changing new tax incentive for businesses will increase the amount of assets eligible for immediate expensing from roughly 15% of assets to more than 65%. The federal government is also making immediate expensing permanent to give businesses more long-term certainty. Together, these changes will reduce the cost of investing in Canada and lower the marginal effective tax rate on new business investment from roughly 13% to 6.4% % - less than half the rate in the United States.
Northern Nutrients Ltd. is receiving support under BSP to purchase, install and commission equipment that will expand production of its enhanced sulphur fertilizers at its new facility. Demand is growing for their Shell Thiogro micronized elemental fertilizer, which overcomes some of the limitations of existing sulphur fertilizers. This investment will scale-up production, giving access to a reliable, locally made, low-salt fertilizer that improves seed safety and reduces storage and transportation costs.
Other projects include:
- Solo Italia Fine Pasta Inc. and South West Terminal Ltd. are expanding their commercial production of pasta in Swift Current with both BSP and RTRI funding, helping to support domestic food production and add value to locally grown durum wheat.
- M.P.S Welding Inc. is receiving BSP funding to expand manufacturing capacity and diversify into new downhole sand control products for the Western Canadian heavy oil and sands sector at its manufacturing facility in Pierceland.
- Western Canadian Short Line Railway Association Inc. is building Prairie Connect with RTRI funding, a publicly accessible, map-based, AI guided digital platform to display prairie trade corridors.
A full list of the eight projects receiving support through PrairiesCan can be found in the linked backgrounder.
