PrairiesCan is assisting Prairie businesses and organizations to play a bigger role in strengthening national security and meeting international commitments
December 5, 2025 - Edmonton, Alberta - PrairiesCan
A strong defence industry is key to Canada's national sovereignty and security as well as its economic resilience and long-term prosperity. To that end, the Government of Canada is committed to rebuilding our national defence capacity, strengthening our defence industry, and meeting the pressing needs of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, announced that PrairiesCan is now accepting applications for the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) from businesses and organizations in the Prairie Provinces.
The RDII is a three-year, $357.7 million initiative to reequip Canada's military by boosting investment in defence industrial capacity and innovation. The program supports Canadian businesses and organizations looking to grow their capacity, innovate, or adapt their products and services to supply the defence sector at home and abroad. Its aim is to accelerate the integration of businesses and regional ecosystems into domestic and international defence supply chains.
The RDII is being delivered by Canada's seven Regional Development Agencies. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, PrairiesCan will provide RDII support through an investment budget of $48.2 million over three years to strengthen an already competitive Prairie defence sector and help it meet this moment of rising demand for Canadian-built capabilities. RDII investments are part of a broader whole-of-government strategic approach to building sovereign defence capacity while reinforcing industrial strength across the country, ensuring the Canadian Armed Forces get the equipment they need, when they need it.
