Question Period Note: Departmental Plan 2026-27

PrairiesCan’s 2026-27 Departmental Plan was recently tabled. The plan details the department’s priorities, plans, and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years.

• The 2026-27 PrairiesCan Departmental Plan was recently tabled in Parliament and outlines the department’s mandate to promote economic development in the Prairies.
• PrairiesCan four priorities for 2026-27 are:
o trade and competitiveness;
o building one Canadian economy;
o defence and industrial capabilities; and,
oinnovative housing solutions.
• To advance trade and competitiveness, PrairiesCan will assist Prairie small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become more productive, strengthen domestic supply chains, and diversify trade globally and within Canada.
• To advance one Canadian economy, PrairiesCan will develop and invest in impactful regional economic projects. This includes using the Prairie Partnership Initiative Project Table and continued work with the Port of Churchill.
• To advance defence and industrial capabilities, PrairiesCan will strengthen the Prairie defence industrial base by investing in SMEs that produce goods and services needed by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and our allies.
• To advance innovative housing solutions, PrairiesCan will support SMEs to develop innovative construction practices and technologies to drive productivity and reduce the cost of home construction.
• By focusing on these priorities, PrairiesCan will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), not for profit organizations, and communities across the Prairies to strengthen our economy.

Priorities in the Departmental Plan
• PrairiesCan’s four priorities for 2026-27 are trade and competitiveness, building one Canadian economy, defence and industrial capabilities, and innovative housing solutions.
• Trade and Competitiveness
o PrairiesCan is delivering the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to support businesses and not-for-profit organizations to adapt to trade disruptions.
o The department is also developing new domestic trade missions to improve internal trade.
• Building One Canadian Economy
o Through the Prairie Partnership Initiative, PrairiesCan will engage with other key federal departments to supercharge the Prairie project table and invest in impactful regional economic projects.
o PrairiesCan will deliver $50 million investment in the Port of Churchill and will continue to advance work towards the Port of Churchill economic corridor.
o To support Indigenous economic development, PrairiesCan will advance partnerships and create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
• Defence and Industrial Capabilities
o As part of the Defence Industrial Strategy, PrairiesCan will deliver the Regional Defence Investment Initiative to accelerate the integration of Prairie businesses and regional ecosystems into domestic and international defence supply chains.
o PrairiesCan will also enhance its longstanding role supporting the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy.
• Innovative Housing Solutions
o PrairiesCan is delivering the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative and other departmental funding programs to support local innovative housing solutions.
Spending in the Departmental Plan
• The PrairiesCan Departmental Plan reflects planned spending of $334.7 million in 2026-2027.
• Of this total, $319.1 million will support economic development initiatives in the Prairies.
• The remaining $15.6 million will be allocated to PrairiesCan’s internal services, such as communications, legal services, and financial management.

Q1 – What results will PrairiesCan achieve in 2026-27?
• By focusing on our four priorities, PrairiesCan will ensure that:
o businesses are growing in the Prairies;
o communities are developing economically in the Prairies; and,
o businesses are commercializing technology and adopting it in the Prairies.
• The department will support Prairie SMEs, create and maintain jobs, promote revenue and export growth for Prairie businesses, attract private sector investment, and collaborate with economic development partners.
Q2- What is the impact of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review on PrairiesCan?
• PrairiesCan is committed to the responsible and transparent stewardship of public funds to achieve results and support business competitiveness and productivity, innovation, and community economic development across the Prairies.
• To meet its Comprehensive Expenditure Review commitments, PrairiesCan will:
o reorient programming to focus on the department’s mandate to promote long-term economic development;
o phase out the Tourism Growth Program after 2025-26;
o modernise operations and internal services; and,
o minimize the impacts of reductions on client services though digital transformation, integrating artificial intelligence, and simplifying processes.