7. – Upcoming Ministerial communications opportunities
For consideration: Below are recommended potential project announcements which can be realized through in-person ministerial announcement events, supported and amplified by news releases and social media posts. Timeframes are often dependent on availability of participating proponents as well as scheduling of federal representatives (i.e. Minister for PrairiesCan or delegated Minister or Member of Parliament). Announcements are managed by PrairiesCan communications teams which support your office in the development of products and sequencing of events.
Winter 2024 (Grouped by region: AB, SK, MB, Ottawa)
Item 1. Calgary, AB – Calgary Airport Authority – $8.0 million
Date: Late January TBC
Note: Announcement timeframe has been in flux due to diverse priorities of proponents, but is expected for late January 2025, or could wait for a milestone event (i.e. groundbreaking ceremony) in March.
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan support to the Calgary Airport Authority to establish the Calgary Aviation Engine Test Cell and Mobile Engine Services facility.
PrairiesCan funding of $8M will go towards total project costs of $17.6M and will fit-out and equip a new aircraft engine testing and servicing facility at the Calgary International Airport (YYC). The facility will be unique to Canada as it will accommodate the next generation of narrow body jet engines and provide engine maintenance and repair services to help airlines avoid more cost prohibitive overhauls and downtime.
The project has linkages to the Green Prairie Economy initiative.
Other partners include Lufthansa Technik and funders from other orders of government.
Item 2. Cochrane, AB – Agriculture Innovation Bundle - $1.485 million
Date: Proposed February 11
Note: This would be timed for Canada’s Agricultural Day. Also, the bundle may grow as additional project approvals are expected.
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan support for three projects that aid Alberta’s agriculture industry to adapt and innovate by enhancing farming capacity through scaling and research opportunities.
Projects include:
- PrairiesCan funding of $1M for New Harvest Canada Inc based in Cochrane (just west of Calgary) to advance sustainable food production technology in western Canada.
- $262K for Mackenzie Applied Research Association (based in Fort Vermillion in northern Alberta) to de-risk adoption of climate resilient farming practices.
- Upward amendment of $223K to Alberta Sugar Beet Growers (base in Taber near Lethbridge in southern Alberta) to commercialize and scale-up sugar beet storage.
Item 3. [Redacted]
Date: TBC
Note: Pending project approval
Description: [Redacted]
Item 4. [Redacted]
Date: TBC
Note: Pending project approval
Description: [Redacted]
Item 5. Edmonton, AB – Accelerated Business Growth Bundle - $8,008,475
Date: TBC
Note: A possible theme day could be January 20 (“Blue Monday”) as promoting mental health is aligned with the Care Group project in this bundle. Also note that Alberta Innovates is an arm of the provincial government.
Description: Opportunity to announce repayable and non repayable PrairiesCan funding for five companies in Edmonton to increase access to products and services such as digital mental health platforms, better energy storage solutions and greater efficiencies for the home building sector.
Companies receiving support include:
- Demir Engineering Ltd. - Expand in-house production of innovative bi-metallic and metal matrix industrial products. $2,500,000
- Grengine Inc. - Establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to increase production capacity and reduce manufacturing costs of its scalable advanced battery energy storage solutions. $1,500,000
- Levven Electronics Ltd. - Increase business operations, enhance manufacturing capacity, expand product line, and build out a national marketing and sales team. $1,257,000
- Mara Group Ltd. CorpCare Medical, EaseCare Medical, InstaCare Tech (Operating as: Care Group) - Scaling its digital mental health platform to over 50 rural and Indigenous communities across Canada. Its goal is to enhance access of high-quality mental health care for underserved populations. $1,500,000
- Alberta Innovates - upward amendment - Support the delivery of an additional 18 cohorts in the Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Pilot Program (Initial $5M investment announced August 2021). $1,251,475
Item 6. Calgary, AB – Clean Energy Sector Bundle - $3,246,886
Date: Late January or February
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan funding for seven energy sector projects across Alberta that advance innovation to ensure the sector continues to adapt to global demands, including studying the feasibility of alternate energy sources in communities.
The anchor project is $1.4M for Calgary Economic Development and Wheatland County to establish a Calgary region hydrogen hub. Other project recipients include Indigenous organizations (Tsuut’ina Nation, Frog Lake First Nations #121 & 122, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park Ltd.) as well as Pathways Alliance Inc. and County of Grande Prairie No. 1.
Item 7. Saskatoon, SK – Usask Opus Incubator – $998,100
Date: January 17, 2025
Note: Time (10:00 to 12:00 is TBC)
Description: Opportunity to announce additional PrairiesCan funding to expand the Opus Incubator capacity and programing at the University of Saskatchewan to support founders and startups developing deep tech innovations.
The $998K project announcement would presage a January 21 Innovation Expo event where the proponent is planning to market the close of the 3rd cohort of Opus.
Item 8. Manitoba – Hudson Bay Railway – $43.8 million over 2 years
Date: January 2025
Note: This was announced in the FES. A ministerial event to twin this project with the following SPI bundle was planned for December 20, but was postponed due to the cabinet shuffle. It can be rescheduled with cooperation of Transport Canada and their MINO.
Note: Location had been planned for Winnipeg, but could be arranged for be either Thompson, The Pas, or Winnipeg.
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan and Transport Canada support for the long-term stability of the Hudson Bay Railway which serves the port and Indigenous communities in northern Manitoba.
Transport Canada funding to the rail of $43.8M over 2 years, represents a significant Government of Canada investment which continues PrairiesCan’s leadership on support to Churchill and the HBR.
The project has linkages to the Green Prairie Economy initiative through internal GC coordination and external collaboration and will further exemplify the success of Indigenous Economic Reconciliation regarding proponents’ leadership, ownership and management of assets that are to play key roles in future trade corridor development and northern sovereignty.
Item 9. Sagkeeng First Nation, MB – Strategic Partnerships Initiative Bundle – $1.25 million
Date: January 2025
Note: This project was planned to be bundled with the AGG announcement as part of an Indigenous Economic Inclusion/northern trade corridor theme.
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan support for five Indigenous-focused projects, helping to increase participation of Indigenous partners in economic opportunities provided by the critical minerals sector.
Government of Canada support through PrairiesCan, NRCan and other sources, totalling over $1.2M through non-repayable contributions and other funding will assist projects ranging from mining sector workforce development to training programs to business planning through five First Nations in rural and remote parts of Manitoba.
Item 10. Manitoba –Workforce Development and Rural Community Supports Bundle – $11.25 million
Date: TBC
Note: Specific location is TBC
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan funding for 7 projects to showcase workforce development and rural community supports across Manitoba.
Includes $11.2M for projects in communities such as Brandon, Morden and Ashern. Funding is a mix of repayable and non-repayable contributions for projects that include growing manufacturing capacity, expanding markets, supporting downtown businesses and supporting labour markets in official language minority communities.
Note: If event was held in Brandon, would highlight the work being done there through the local PrairiesCan service location.
Item 11. Winnipeg, MB – Business and Community Supports Bundle – $1.34 million
Date: TBC
Note: Specific location is TBC
Description: Opportunity to announce over $1.3M in PrairiesCan funding for 8 projects to showcase PrairiesCan business and community supports in Manitoba.
This bundle totals over $1.3M in funding and largely covers projects ranging from neighborhood recreational facilities in Winnipeg, to COVID-era business supports dating from 2020.
Note: Recommend announcement by News Release only.
Item 12. Winnipeg, MB – Security Glass – $2.7 million
Date: TBC
Note: Specific location is TBC
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan funding of $2,705,000 from the Business Scale-up and Productivity program to Security Glass to expand flat glass manufacturing capacity.
Item 13. Winnipeg, MB – Tourism and Growth Bundle – $652,874
Date: TBC
Note: Specific location is TBC
Description: Opportunity to announce PrairiesCan funding for 4 Tourism and Growth Program projects to showcase diversity of ways PrairiesCan is supporting tourism and growth opportunities in Manitoba.
$652K covers two projects in Winnipeg (Forks Market and Exchange District) and two in rural communities (Falcon Trails and Lac Du Bonnet).
Item 14. Ottawa – Green Prairie Economy Report to Parliament
Date: Prior to end of March 2025 TBC
Note: Specific location is TBC
Description: Opportunity to highlight first progress report to Parliament on the Framework for a Green Prairie Economy.
The progress report will focus on initial results from investments, projects and other activities flowing from engagement and collaboration mandated by the Building a Green Prairies Economy Act to spur clean growth and support a strong and sustainable Prairie economy.
Note: The report must be tabled in Parliament. [Redacted]