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NOW LIVE: $3M non-repayable and $20M total, operative 8 September 2026

Regional Tariff Response InitiativeUp to $20M Per Business, $3M of It Non-Repayable

Is your business impacted by U.S., China, or Canadian counter-tariffs? RTRI helps you boost productivity, diversify markets, and build supply chain resilience, delivered in every province and territory through Canada's 7 regional development agencies.

Up to $3M
Non-repayable once published; $1M today
$500K to $5M
Total funding request per project
~90 Days
Expected funding decision
Chase Miller

Written and reviewed by

Chase Miller, Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder

Chase Miller is Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder of Impact Applications, a Calgary grant consultancy that works with businesses across Canada on federal and provincial grants, tax credits and interest-free loans, and manages the whole process from first assessment through claims and reporting. He built the Regional Tariff Response Initiative recipient dataset published on this site, and works with companies on RTRI eligibility and which of the seven delivering agencies to apply through. LinkedIn

Program facts checked against the official source:

average funding secured per client
$334,132 average funding secured per client
approval rate
94% approval rate
Funding Estimator

What Could Your Business Get?

RTRI funds two different things, and they are assessed differently. Pick the one that matches your situation.

$2M
$200K$20M+

Non-repayable route

$1M

Up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at $1M. You keep it. Your whole 50% share fits under the cap.

Repayable route, interest-free

$1.50M

Up to 75% of eligible costs for larger transformative projects, interest-free, to a $20M lifetime maximum. Repaid on the schedule in your contribution agreement.

These are alternatives, not a sequence. A business normally takes one route or the other for a given project. The repayable route funds a larger share, but you pay it back.

You can take both: up to $3M non-repayable in total, and up to $20M including repayable support.

Estimate only. The actual amount and the funding mix are set by your regional development agency per application. No agency publishes a minimum request, so a smaller ask is still worth a conversation. Figures verified against all seven agencies on September 9, 2026.

Eligible Activities

What Can You Use RTRI Funding For?

Three core activity streams are supported under RTRI, each designed to help your business weather the impact of tariffs.

Productivity Improvement

  • •Investing in digitization, automation, or technology
  • •Reshoring production, R&D operations
  • •Recruiting highly qualified personnel and expertise

Market Expansion & Diversification

  • •Developing and diversifying markets to find new customers
  • •Business support and market development services
  • •Guidance services and advice from sectoral intermediaries

Strengthening Supply Chains

  • •Optimizing global supply chain logistics
  • •Ensuring compliance with standards for market access
  • •Strengthening domestic supply chains and internal trade

Eligible Cost Categories

Labour costs (wages and benefits)
Capital costs (machinery or equipment)
Management fees
Consultancy & professional fees
Advisory expenses (planning, coaching, workshops)
Costs related to expanding or maintaining markets
Material costs
Client Result · Verified

We secured the full $1,000,000 RTRI grant for a tariff-hit manufacturer.

Grant Metal Products, an Alberta metal fabricator, was squeezed by U.S. steel tariffs. We built their RTRI application, won the full $1,000,000 non-repayable grant, then stacked two more programs for $2,027,000 in total funding. That money paid for new fabrication equipment, a robotic welding cell, and line modernization.

That $1M was the ceiling when they applied. Since the expansion took effect on 8 September 2026 the non-repayable cap is $3,000,000, three times the room for the next application we write.

Read the Full Case Study

Funding secured

$1,000,000RTRI grant, the maximum available at the time
$1,000,000Emissions Reduction Alberta (SEMI)
$27,000CanExport for new markets
Total non-dilutive funding$2,027,000
✓ Eligibility Requirements

Does Your Business Qualify?

Canadian for-profit businesses negatively impacted by tariffs may be eligible. Your business must meet all of the following criteria.

Must Meet All Requirements

Viable prior to newly imposed tariffs (before March 21, 2025)

1 to 499 full-time employees

Incorporated to conduct business in Canada

In operation for at least 2 years

Staffed operating facilities in Canada (you apply through your region's development agency)

At least 25% of sales in tariff-targeted markets, OR demonstrably impacted by tariffs

Confirmed funding from all other sources at time of application

Capable of entering legally binding agreements

Cannot Include These Costs

Basic and applied R&D (technology readiness levels 1 to 6)

Land acquisition and goodwill

Salary bonuses and dividend payments

Entertainment and hospitality expenses

Refinancing of existing debts

Projects that move operations outside of Canada

By agency and province

RTRI is one federal initiative delivered by seven regional development agencies, and each publishes its own thresholds. You apply through the agency for your province. The expansion became operative on 8 September 2026: all seven agencies now publish a combined non-repayable cap of up to $3 million, as up to $2 million in liquidity assistance plus up to $1 million for a pivot project, and up to $20 million in total once interest-free repayable support is included. Every agency also now asks for annual revenue of at least $1 million. The rules below were read from each agency's own pages on 9 September 2026.

See who has actually received RTRI funding: 706 confirmed awards worth $685,441,195, by agency, province and amount, with the full dataset to download.

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (PrairiesCan)

Covers Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

  • For-profit businesses with 1 to 499 full-time employees, in operation for at least 2 years
  • Funding requests from $500,000 to $5 million per project, with up to $1 million non-repayable on the current applicant guide
  • Cost share of up to 50% for businesses
  • Intake open for a limited time: apply any time before December 31, 2027, or until all funding is used; projects must be complete by March 31, 2028
Official PrairiesCan RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in British Columbia (PacifiCan)

Covers British Columbia

  • Incorporated, for-profit businesses staffed in British Columbia, with at least two complete years of externally prepared or reviewed financial statements
  • Up to $1 million non-repayable for businesses, and $200,000 to $1,000,000 for Indigenous-led businesses
  • Cost share of up to 50% on non-repayable contributions and up to 75% on repayable contributions
  • Accepting applications; PacifiCan will give 20 business days' notice before setting a closing date; projects must be complete by March 31, 2028
Official PacifiCan RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Covers Southern Ontario

  • Businesses incorporated for at least 3 years with a minimum of 5 and fewer than 500 full-time employees
  • Non-repayable contributions from $125,000 up to $1,000,000 for businesses
  • Cost share of up to 50% on non-repayable contributions and up to 75% on repayable contributions
  • Intake open with no deadline; projects must be complete by March 31, 2028
Official FedDev Ontario RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Northern Ontario (FedNor)

Covers Northern Ontario, across its 12 census divisions

  • Incorporated SMEs, including Indigenous businesses, operating and generating revenue for at least three consecutive years
  • Up to $1 million non-repayable
  • Cost share of up to 50% on non-repayable contributions and up to 75% on repayable contributions
  • Applications assessed as they are received; projects must be complete by March 31, 2028
Official FedNor RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Quebec (CED)

Covers Quebec

  • Manufacturing SMEs with fewer than 500 employees, located and operating in Quebec, in business for at least three years, with revenue of $2 million or more in the last completed fiscal year (CED's landing banner says $1 million, and the page does not reconcile the two)
  • Non-repayable contributions from $100,000 up to $1 million for a structuring project, or up to $300,000 for diversification only
  • Cost share of 50% on non-repayable contributions and 75% on repayable contributions
  • Ongoing program, accepting applications until the budget is used; applications missing any criterion are automatically rejected
Official CED RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Atlantic Canada (ACOA)

Covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Incorporated companies, co-operatives, Indigenous-owned businesses and non-profits, with no hard employee cap
  • Up to $1 million non-repayable
  • Cost share set by the program officer rather than published as a fixed rate
  • Open; ACOA describes the initiative as time-limited, ending March 31, 2029 or when funds are fully committed, while its FAQ says projects should be completed by March 31, 2028
Official ACOA RTRI page

Regional Tariff Response Initiative in the Territories (CanNor)

Covers Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut

  • Incorporated companies, co-operatives, Indigenous-owned businesses and non-profits
  • Publishes the expanded terms in full: up to $2 million in liquidity assistance and up to $1 million for a non-repayable pivot project, $3 million combined, and up to $20 million in total including repayable support
  • Liquidity assistance runs up to 12 months ending no later than 31 March 2028; pivot projects must complete by 31 March 2029. CanNor states no intake deadline of its own, so confirm timing directly
Official CanNor RTRI page
Application Process

How the RTRI Process Works

From application to funding, here's what to expect at each stage.

01

Check Eligibility

Confirm your business meets the criteria: Canadian, 1 to 499 employees, operational 2+ years, and impacted by tariffs.

02

Prepare Your Application

Gather incorporation documents, a business plan, 2 years of financial statements, and evidence of tariff impact. Confirm all other funding sources.

03

Submit & Get Assessed

Applications are assessed competitively on economic impact, project viability, management capability, and alignment with RTRI objectives.

04

Receive Funding Decision

Your regional development agency targets decisions within ~90 business days. If approved, a contribution agreement is signed and your project can officially begin.

05

Submit Claims & Reports

Submit quarterly reimbursement claims and progress reports at least twice per year. Project must complete by March 31, 2028.

Program Details

The Fine Print, All in One Place

Exact caps, repayment terms, and how disbursement works once you're approved.

Funding Amounts

Liquidity assistanceUp to $2M non-repayable, at up to 50% of eligible costs, for up to 12 months ending no later than March 31, 2028
Pivot project, non-repayableUp to $1M at up to 50% of eligible costs, for projects with local or regional economic benefit
Pivot project, repayableOver $1M for larger transformative projects, at up to 75% of eligible costs, interest-free
Combined non-repayable cap$3M, as up to $2M liquidity plus up to $1M pivot. The two streams are separate, so a pivot-only project stops at $1M
Total RTRI fundingUp to $20M per business once repayable support is included
Revenue floorMinimum $1M in annual revenue, new as of September 2026
Project deadlinePivot projects complete by March 31, 2029; liquidity assistance ends by March 31, 2028
Total government funding cap90% of total project costs, or 100% for Indigenous-led projects

Repayment Terms

  • • Repaid within 6 years of project completion
  • • 1-year grace period after completion
  • • Then 60 equal monthly payments, interest-free
  • • No penalty for early repayment

These are PrairiesCan's published terms. Other agencies set the repayment schedule in your contribution agreement.

Disbursement

  • • Claims submitted quarterly
  • • Processed within 15 business days
  • • Costs retroactive up to 12 months (no earlier than March 21, 2025)
  • • Project must end by March 31, 2028
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about RTRI before applying.

Free RTRI Eligibility Assessment

Don't leave up to $3 million non-repayable on the table.

It takes 2 minutes to find out if your business qualifies for RTRI funding. No commitment required.

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This guide is maintained by Impact Applications Inc. Last verified against the official source: . The $3M non-repayable cap is an increase announced for September 2026 that has not yet been published; the applicant guide still shows $1M. Figures on this page are drawn from the PrairiesCan applicant guide, and thresholds vary by agency. Program details change, so always verify with the official RTRI website.