Government of Canada invests over $30 million to help B.C. businesses navigate trade disruptions and seize new opportunities

From: Pacific Economic Development Canada

News release

Quadrogen's Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) system. Text reads: Government of Canada invests over $30 million to help B.C. businesses navigate trade disruptions and seize new opportunities.

August 10, 2026 – Burnaby, British Columbia

As global trade disruptions continue to create uncertainty for businesses, the Government of Canada is focused on what we can control: building a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy. B.C.’s innovative businesses play a vital role in creating good jobs and supporting vibrant communities throughout the province. To remain competitive and resilient, they must continue to adapt and seize opportunities for growth.

Through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), the Government of Canada is helping businesses across the country navigate ongoing trade challenges by boosting productivity, strengthening supply chains, and reaching new domestic and global markets.

Today, the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), announced an investment of over $30.5 million in RTRI funding for 24 businesses and organizations across B.C. to help them pivot to new pathways for growth, improve productivity, expand into new markets, reduce costs, and build more resilient supply chains. This investment will also help protect jobs in key sectors affected by global trade disruptions such as advanced manufacturing, forestry, and steel and aluminum.

Minister Robertson made the announcement at Quadrogen, a Burnaby-based clean technology company that develops systems to clean and upgrade biogas — a renewable gas made from organic waste — into energy. 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. This will support skilled jobs in B.C., strengthen clean technology exports, and help reduce methane emissions.

This announcement includes investments for 23 additional B.C. businesses and organizations, including Mahler Machining and COTA Aviation. Mahler is a Coquitlam-based manufacturer of complex metal and plastic components for sectors such as aerospace, defence, medical devices, robotics, clean technology and forestry. An investment of $1 million will help Mahler modernize its facility by adding advanced equipment, automation, and new software to improve productivity and support expansion into new markets. COTA is a Parksville based, majority Indigenous owned company that manufactures specialized parts used for aircraft and defence applications. An investment of $1 million will help COTA purchase and install advanced equipment to produce gears for use in aircraft and defence systems in B.C.

Through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, the Government of Canada is helping businesses turn today's trade challenges into opportunities for growth. The investments announced today will provide B.C. businesses with the tools they need to adapt to an increasingly uncertain global environment, grow locally, diversify export markets, and create prosperity for British Columbians and all Canadians.

More details about these investments can be found in the backgrounder.

Quotes

"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."

-The Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada

“We sincerely thank PacifiCan for its support through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. 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.”

-Alakh Prasad, President & CEO, Quadrogen Power Systems

Quick facts

The investments announced today were provided through PacifiCan’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI).
The RTRI, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs) is a $1.95 billion initiative to help protect Canadian businesses and workers while strengthening the competitiveness of businesses across the country by helping them boost productivity, cut costs, build more resilient supply chains and reach new markets.
On May 4, 2026, the Government of Canada announced an additional $1.5 billion to support Canadian businesses facing tariff-related pressures and to help them adapt, compete and grow. This included the creation of a new $1 billion Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) program for industries that manufacture and export products containing steel, aluminum or copper. The announcement also included an additional $500 million through the RTRI to support tariff-impacted businesses in all sectors of our economy, including $200 million carved out for small- and medium-sized enterprises that have been affected by steel, aluminum and copper tariffs.
On June 3, 2026, the Government announced an additional $300 million through the RTRI to support the transformation of Canada's forest sector.
On June 11, 2026, the Government announced an additional $150 million through the RTRI to strengthen Canada's food system by helping food-related small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and food-system organizations expand domestic processing capacity, food production, storage, distribution, and community food delivery.

Associated links

Contacts

Arianna Durgerian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister responsible for PacifiCan
arianna.durgerian@infc.gc.ca

Lynsey Brothers
Communications Manager
PacifiCan
lynsey.brothers@pacifican.gc.ca

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2026-08-10

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