Ontario Grant Gazette

Governmental Signals

Federal (Canada.ca)

• PrairiesCan Commits Funding to Six Alberta Defence Innovation Projects Under Regional Defence Investment Initiative — Prairies Economic Development Canada announced repayable investments for six projects in Alberta under the Regional Defence Investment Initiative, aimed at advancing made-in-Canada defence solutions and expanding the province's defence manufacturing capacity. (funding)
• Ottawa Launches $1B BDC Program and Adds $500M to Regional Tariff Response Initiative — The federal government announced a new $1 billion Business Development Bank of Canada program alongside $500 million in additional funding for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, both delivered through regional development agencies to support businesses affected by U.S. tariffs. (funding)
• Federal Government Directs $30 Million to Six Organizations to Accelerate Clean Tech in Canadian Agriculture — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is investing $30 million in six not-for-profit organizations to help agri-businesses develop, validate, and commercialize clean technologies aimed at reducing emissions and building sector resilience across Canada. (funding)
• Ottawa to Extend Income Tax Deferral for Alberta Livestock Producers Affected by Bovine TB Outbreaks — The federal government intends to amend the Income Tax Act to extend the income tax deferral period for livestock producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who received compensation for animals destroyed during the 2024 and 2025 bovine tuberculosis events, giving producers more time to replenish herds in the same tax year. (policy)
• Canada to Release New National Nuclear Energy Strategy by End of 2026 — Natural Resources Canada announced it is developing a comprehensive Nuclear Energy Strategy to be released by year-end, a policy signal that could shape future federal funding programs for nuclear power projects, small modular reactors, and related supply chains relevant to Alberta's energy sector. (policy)

Ontario Gov

• Ontario Puts $10 Million Into Georgia-Pacific OSB Plant Upgrade as Part of Tariff Response Strategy — Ontario is contributing $10 million toward a $191 million modernization of Georgia-Pacific North Woods' oriented strand board plant, protecting more than 220 direct jobs and signalling provincial willingness to fund forest sector capital projects facing U.S. tariff headwinds. (funding)
• Ontario Opens Fourth Round of Life Sciences Innovation Fund, Awarding $5 Million to 10 Companies — Ontario's fourth Life Sciences Innovation Fund intake is deploying $5 million to 10 companies commercializing medical technologies spanning AI-enabled diagnostics, next-generation drug discovery, and advanced biomaterials under the province's broader Life Sciences Strategy. (funding)

Data (Statistics Canada)

• Canada's Unemployment Rate Climbs to 6.9% in April as Employment Falls by 18,000 — Statistics Canada's April Labour Force Survey recorded a net job loss of 18,000 positions and an unemployment rate increase of 0.2 percentage points to 6.9%, as more Canadians began actively searching for work amid ongoing economic uncertainty. (sectoral)
• Canada Posts First Merchandise Trade Surplus Since September 2025 as Exports Jump 8.5% in March — Canada's merchandise trade balance swung from a $5.1 billion deficit in February to a $1.8 billion surplus in March, driven by an 8.5% surge in exports and a 1.6% decline in imports, a potential positive signal for export-dependent Alberta industries. (sectoral)
• Canadian Stocks of Wheat, Canola, Oats and Corn All Up Year-Over-Year as of March 31, 2026 — Statistics Canada reports that stocks of wheat, canola, oats, and corn were all higher than the same period in 2025 as of March 31, 2026, while barley held steady and soybean stocks declined, providing a key benchmark for Alberta grain and oilseed producers planning the 2026 season. (sectoral)