Canada invests over $30 million to help B.C. businesses navigate trade disruptions

Canada invests over $30 million to help B.C. businesses navigate trade disruptions

The Government of Canada is investing over $30.5 million to help B.C. businesses respond to trade disruptions. The funding, delivered through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, will support 24 companies and organizations as they adapt operations, expand into new markets and reduce costs.

Minister of housing and infrastructure Gregor Robertson said B.C.’s businesses help in creating jobs and supporting communities, and must continue to adapt to remain competitive. He announced the funding at Quadrogen, a Burnaby clean technology company developing systems to clean and upgrade biogas for use in developing markets.

The government said trade disruptions are creating uncertainty for businesses and that new investments are needed to strengthen supply chain resilience and support growth across key sectors. This context leads into the minister’s remarks.

“Trade disruptions are creating real challenges for the B.C. businesses that are the backbone of our economy. That is why the Government of Canada is stepping up with investments – to help these businesses build more resilient supply chains, grow productivity and open doors to new markets. By investing in B.C. businesses, we’re creating the conditions they need to thrive, succeed and build Canada strong,” Robertson said.

Quadrogen is receiving a $3.6 million PacifiCan investment to design, manufacture and demonstrate a lower cost biogas clean up and upgrading system for deployment in developing markets, including India. Quadrogen president and CEO Alakh Prasad said the funding will accelerate the advancement of biogas upgrading systems and support Canadian clean technology exports.

“PacifiCan has been an important partner in our growth, and this funding will help us accelerate the advancement of biogas clean up and upgrading systems for developing countries. Our goal is to make renewable natural gas production more accessible worldwide while showcasing Canadian clean technology on the global stage,” Prasad said.

Additional investments include $1 million for Mahler Machining to modernize its Coquitlam facility with advanced equipment, automation and new software, and $1 million for COTA Aviation, a majority Indigenous owned manufacturer in Parksville, to expand production of specialized aircraft and defence components.

The Regional Tariff Response Initiative is a $1.95 billion national program designed to help businesses boost productivity, cut costs, build more resilient supply chains and reach new markets. Recent expansions include $1.5 billion announced in May to support tariff impacted industries, $300 million announced in June to support forest sector transformation and $150 million announced in June to strengthen Canada’s food system.