Prairies Financial Improvement Canada investing greater than $8.2 million in Saskatchewan to spice up made‑in‑Canada defence capabilities
YORKTON, SK, April 24, 2026 /CNW/ – In a quickly altering world, Canada’s safety and sovereignty depend upon having the capability to construct, preserve, and provide crucial gear and providers proper right here inside our borders.
Authorities of Canada strengthening our economic system and army readiness by new defence investments in Saskatchewan (CNW Group/Prairies Financial Improvement Canada)
At this time, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Improvement, on behalf of Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Administration and Neighborhood Resilience and Minister answerable for Prairies Financial Improvement Canada (PrairiesCan), introduced greater than $8.2 million in federal funding by the Regional Defence Funding Initiative (RDII), for 3 tasks within the Yorkton space. These funds will assist the expansion and integration of Canadian small and medium-sized companies into home and worldwide defence provide chains.
The investments introduced in the present day are:
Parkland Welding & Machine Ltd. and PWM Hydraulics Ltd. (PWM) in Yorkton will develop its engineering, superior manufacturing, fabrication, meeting, testing and proofing capabilities by the addition of CNC machining, robotics, and quality-control laboratory, enabling home manufacturing of defence merchandise for patrons in Canada and NATO allies. PrairiesCan is offering a repayable funding of $5 million in the direction of this venture.
Prairie Agricultural Equipment Institute in Humboldt will create a complicated army engineering and testing facility to offer off-road and on-road heavy-vehicle testing, cold and warm environmental chambers, and robotic and drone testing supported by knowledge analytics for prairie producers to satisfy home and worldwide requirements. PrairiesCan is offering $3 million in non-repayable funding in the direction of this new capability.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE) in Saskatoon will develop and check a low-cost multi-agent synthetic intelligence drone system for autonomous command and management. It will strengthen Canada’s sovereign industrial base by delivering domestically developed counter-Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) capabilities. PrairiesCan’s non-repayable funding of $277,000 will assist this venture.
Rising regional defence capability on the Prairies reduces reliance on overseas suppliers whereas creating good jobs and long-term financial alternatives at house.
At this time’s announcement aligns with the Authorities of Canada’s Defence Industrial Technique (DIS) which goals to equip the Canadian Armed Forces by increasing home manufacturing, strengthening provide chains, and lowering reliance on overseas expertise. These investments will assist develop Saskatchewan’s defence manufacturing sector, create good jobs, advance analysis and growth, and produce new applied sciences to market, supporting long-term financial alternatives.
Secretary of State Belanger additionally highlighted latest authorities measures to construct an economic system the place Canadians are empowered with better safety, certainty, and a decrease price of dwelling, together with the suspension of the federal gas excise tax till Labour Day 2026. That is anticipated to scale back Canadians’ invoice on the gasoline station by 10 cents per litre on common gasoline and 4 cents on diesel. The federal government can also be briefly suspending the federal gas excise tax on aviation fuels.
Reducing the tax on gasoline and diesel is a accountable measure that can cut back working prices for truckers and companies within the meals, agriculture, housing, building, and supply sectors. With decrease prices and better monetary power, companies can rent extra staff, confidently construct, and export extra merchandise to world markets.
Quotes
“In an more and more unsure world atmosphere, Canada should be capable of depend on sturdy, home industrial capabilities. By means of the Regional Defence Funding Initiative, our authorities is investing in Saskatchewan’s defence sector to develop capability, advance analysis and growth, and strengthen manufacturing right here at house. These investments assist the expansion of progressive prairie companies and assist guarantee Canada has the instruments and applied sciences wanted to guard our safety whereas creating new alternatives for Canadians.”
–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Administration and Neighborhood Resilience and Minister answerable for Prairies Financial Improvement Canada (PrairiesCan)
“Saskatchewan’s defence sector is rising and innovating to ship new applied sciences and manufacturing capability to assist good jobs right here at house and the nationwide safety wants of Canada and of our NATO allies. These defence investments are about positioning Saskatchewan to guide as we transfer ahead with our plan to construct a safe, affluent, and resilient Canada, now and for generations to return.”
–The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Improvement
“PWM is proud to companion with the Authorities of Canada in advancing Canada’s defence manufacturing capabilities. This funding permits us to scale superior manufacturing, strengthen our function in world provide chains, and create alternatives for extremely certified personnel in Canada.”
–Karen Fransishyn, Proprietor, PWM
“The PAMI workforce and its Board of Administrators is happy to companion with PrairiesCan and appears ahead to working collectively to boost and broaden our testing assist for Canada’s defence sector. By means of entry to superior gear and trendy amenities, PAMI’s providers assist place Canadian suppliers to compete efficiently on the worldwide stage. This collaboration may also create new alternatives to drive innovation and assist the expansion of the business.”
–Paul Buczkowski, President & CEO, Prairie Agricultural Equipment Institute
“By means of our Digital Integration Centre of Excellence, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is well-positioned to share experience in digital innovation, synthetic intelligence and machine studying to assist the Canadian defence sector. This funding strengthens our means to develop the expertise and expertise wanted to guard Canada’s safety and sovereignty. We recognize this distinctive assist from PrairiesCan and their funding within the DICE autonomous command and management drone venture.”
–Dr. Larry Rosia, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Quick Info
Investments beneath the Defence Industrial Technique, together with this RDII funding, will contribute to Canada spending two % of gross home product on defence in 2025–26.
Growing investments in core army capabilities, increase Canadian business, and dual-use investments are placing Canada on a pathway to satisfy the brand new North Atlantic Treaty Group Defence Funding Pledge to take a position 5 % of gross home product by 2035.
The Canadian defence business contributes practically $10 billion to the gross home product and helps over 81,000 jobs.
The RDII is a three-year $379.2 million nationwide program delivered by Canada’s seven Regional Improvement Businesses that aligns with the Defence Industrial Technique, advancing Canada’s means to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in its army whereas strengthening provide chains, readiness, and worldwide partnerships.
PrairiesCan continues to simply accept RDII purposes from eligible companies and organizations working throughout the Prairie provinces.
