Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters has received approximately $3 million from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) to support manufacturing competitiveness across the Prairie provinces.

The funding, delivered through PrairiesCan under the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, will run from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028 and is aimed at helping small and medium-sized manufacturers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba navigate trade volatility and tariff pressures, according to a press release.

The investment will allow CME to expand its training and competitiveness programming, including courses such as Lean 101, Supervisory Leadership 101, AI 101, HR 101 and Safety 101, along with company-specific competitiveness assessments, an operational excellence conference tied to the Advanced Manufacturing Summit Series, export readiness and market- diversification support through its From Tariffs to Trade Workshop, and expert consultations and networking opportunities.

The initiative is expected to support more than 400 SMEs across the three Prairie provinces over the program’s duration.

“Prairie manufacturers are facing ongoing trade volatility and competitive pressure,” said Jillian Einarson, CME’s vice-president of policy and government relations for the Prairies region. “This investment gives CME the ability to provide practical tools that strengthen productivity, develop leadership capacity, and help companies adapt to changing market conditions. We are proud to partner with PrairiesCan to deliver meaningful support that helps manufacturers compete and grow.”

CME said its operational-excellence and leadership-development programming has helped manufacturers improve efficiency, reduce costs and build stronger teams, and that the federal funding will allow those services to reach more companies in the Prairie region.

The organization represents manufacturers and exporters across Canada, with more than 85% of its members classified as SMEs.

Pictured: Roquette Pea Plant in Portage La Prairie, Man.

Photo: Wescan Construction