Top Western Canada Grant and Loan Funding Programs

Ready to grow your Western Canada business with government funding? You’re in the right place.  

Western Canada businesses have access to a rich mix of federal and provincial grants and loans. Whether your business is expanding operations, innovating with new technology, or hiring and training staff, there are funding programs available, especially in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.  

At the time of posting, this blog highlights active government funding programs and directs your Canadian business to deeper resources like our Western Canada funding page and other regional articles. 

 

Sustainable Agriculture: SCAP in Western Canada 

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP) runs from April 2023 to March 2028 and covers a suite of federal cost‑share programs designed for agri-food innovation, marketing, research, and inclusion.  

Among the streams available in Saskatchewan and Manitoba: 

• AgriInnovate: Covers up to 50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $10 million per application, for commercialization of new technologies 

• AgriMarketing: Supports export and market diversification, up to 50% of costs, with a maximum of $10 million over five years 

• AgriScience: Accelerates pre‑commercial research and innovation, up to $5 million per project 

• AgriDiversity: Builds participation among under‑represented groups, covers up to 70% of project costs, with a maximum of $200,000 

• Provincial Research and Innovation Program (Manitoba): Supports science-based agricultural solutions, starting at around $100K in funding to tackle disruptions or climate threats 

These SCAP streams are currently open for intake or in regularly recurring rounds across Western Canada. If your business operates in agri-food, this suite of government funding programs remains one of the most robust supports available. 

Provincial and Regional Funding: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia 

Manitoba Business Funding 

• Manitoba Export Development Program (EDP) offers up to 50% reimbursement on eligible export activities, up to $30,000 per year. 

• Manitoba Industrial Opportunities Program (MIOP) provides low‑interest loans between $500K and $5M, repayable over 5–7 years for businesses expanding operations in Manitoba. 

Saskatchewan Grants for Businesses 

• Western Business Scale‑up and Productivity (BSP) helps high‑growth Saskatchewan small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) adopt innovative technology and scale exports. It covers up to 50% of costs, to a maximum of $5M per application, and $10M per applicant across projects. 

• Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) supports cluster growth in clean tech, life sciences, manufacturing, and more; funding levels vary.  

• Saskatchewan businesses also access national programs like the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) (grant up to $15,000), CanExport SMEs (covers 50% of costs up to $50K), and NRC IRAP (covers 60–80% of costs up to $10M). 

British Columbia Business Grants 

• CleanBC Custom Incentives offers capital and energy study streams, up to 50% cost support, capital incentives up to $250K, and study grants to $20K. 

• Food Processing Growth Fund (FPG) supports expansion of established B.C. food processors with up to $1M cost‑share funding. 

• Regional Quantum Initiative offers up to 90% of project costs to companies developing quantum solutions, with no maximum cap yet set. 

• British Columbia firms can also tap into Canada-wide options like the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), Mitacs Accelerate/Elevate, CanExport SMEs, CDAP, and NRC IRAP. 

Federal Government Funding Serving All Western Provinces 

Many federal government funding programs overlap across all provinces, including those crucial to Western Canadian businesses: 

• Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP): Offers loans up to $1 million for eligible capital investments and broad business growth support 

• Canada Job Grant (CJG): Provides reimbursement for third-party training for up to 50–100% of eligible costs depending on the province and employer type 

• Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ): Subsidizes youth wages, covers up to 50% (or 100% for nonprofits), and is capped per employer and position 

• NRC IRAP: Supports research and development (R&D) projects with SMEs and covers up to 60–80% of costs to a maximum of $10 million 

• Mitacs Accelerate/Elevate: Supports R&D and innovation through academic partnerships with grants up to $30K per project 

• CanExport SMEs: Helps businesses expand globally, up to 50% support, with a maximum of $50K per year 

These federal government funding programs compliment provincially tailored funding programs and are well‑suited for Western Canada entrepreneurs. 

Ready to Apply?  

Western Canada entrepreneurs, including those in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia, have more government funding options today than ever before.  

Whether your business is shifting production lines, hiring talent, entering export markets, or scaling innovative tech, government funding is open and accessible. 

Want help identifying government funding programs that suit your project and increasing your chances of approval? Get in touch with our Ryan Canada government funding team. We’ll assess your eligibility, match your goals with the right grants or loans, and support you through the full application. Let’s get your funding journey started.