Latest news with #EleanorOlszewski
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘An urgent need': Alberta cabinet minister says Bill C-5 needed to fast track nation building projects
Edmonton Centre MP Eleanor Olszewski speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about Bill C-5 and more on Alberta Primetime. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: Let's start on Bill C-5. Why rush it through before rising for the summer? Especially considering the degree of opposition from Indigenous groups and environmental groups? Eleanor Olszewski: I would start off by saying that there is an imperative to building projects, Canadian projects, national projects. It's an imperative in terms of national security and in terms of our economy as well. The prime minister and cabinet understand that. There was, in my view, and in the view of many, quite an urgent need to get the legislation in place quickly so that we can get nation building projects moving. MH: Given the pressure that is building on your government to get many of those nation building projects underway, a lot of the loudest voices are here in Alberta. How do you respond to the Albertans that say pipelines, energy corridors, need to be at the top of the list? EO: I would respond very favourably to that. In fact, I met a number of energy leaders at a roundtable in Calgary a few weeks ago with the prime minister and others and they were very excited to hear that we were moving forward with this legislation. It means a lot in terms of economic predictability, in terms of smoothing over the uncertainty, not just from the U.S. tariffs, but all of the uncertainty that surrounds the tariffs. The indirect result of uncertainty as well. That really is a hamper on investment in this province. So they were quite excited to have this bill move ahead. MH: You mentioned Calgary during the G7 Summit. We saw you on the tarmac greeting many of the leaders. At the same time, you were shoulder to shoulder with Premier Danielle Smith. Where do things stand in building new relations with the Alberta government, especially considering your portfolio responsibilities now in the Carney cabinet? EO: I think that relationship is in a very good place. I've had, through the emergency management side of things, the opportunity to have a number of discussions with Mike Ellis and he's the deputy premier but also my counterpart in terms of emergency management in Alberta. I also had the opportunity to spend quite a few hours of time, as you mentioned, on the tarmac with Premier Smith and I think that was a really good use of time, in terms of building a relationship with her. We had some really constructive discussions and some constructive discussions with the mayor of Calgary, who was also on the tarmac. All of those things bode really well for the federal relationship with Alberta. Certainly from my perspective I consider it fundamental to have a cooperative and collaborative relationship with the province. I'm this province's voice in cabinet as well and that's a responsibility that I take very seriously. MH: You bring up deputy premier Mike Ellis. You've very suddenly landed in cabinet with a very important portfolio at a time of year where a lot of provinces are struggling. There are growing calls for creation of a national fire service. Where does that sit on the priorities list? EO: That's actually a number one priority. What I learned over the last number of weeks is there are indeed some gaps in how we deliver emergency management and there's room for some changes. Certainly from my perspective, the safety of Canadians is absolutely top of mind, a top priority. Myself and my department, we'll be looking at changes we can make which will include considering whether or not there should be a national strategy, and if so, what would that look like? Does it cover how we deal with firefighters and bringing over international firefighters? Does it cover provision of equipment such as water bombers? There's a lot of work to do in the next few months and I'm optimistic that by August we'll have a plan for making some changes to the Emergency Management Protocol. MH: The other half of your cabinet portfolio, community resilience. What are you diving into there and how does that impact Alberta? EO: Just with respect to community resilience in general. It's basically making sure that we deal with wildfires and other emergency incidents by preparing for them properly. So by mitigating, by taking steps to make sure that we can keep communities safe. That might be something like in the case of a town that has only one access road, and in the case where there might be a fire on both sides of that road. It's thinking about what we can do in advance to make sure that people in that community are protected. That might mean a different access road leading to a field where we can evacuate people from a small airstrip. It might mean things like ensuring that building codes are appropriate given the situation. With respect to wildfires and other emergencies, it might mean using different kinds of shingles for example, in certain kinds of communities. It might mean having a proper plan for evacuating, especially remote communities. That was one of the most difficult things that we did, certainly in the province of Manitoba, is evacuate First Nations peoples from very small communities that don't have road access, that have a very tiny airstrip, and you can't land a Hercules to evacuate people. So you're bringing helicopters in and moving people out a few at a time. This is the kind of thing that we deal with in terms of emergency management. MH: In the span of a number of weeks you've gone from running to be an MP, to landing in a very key portfolio in the Carney cabinet. What does the road forward look like? EO: It looks busy, I can tell you that. I'm just remembering having a discussion with you, it seems like a few short weeks ago, and I think I had my Canada Strong t-shirt on and a jacket. To your point, things have changed so much for me, and the road ahead is very optimistic. I am very proud indeed to be part of this government. I'm very proud to be a voice for my province and for my city and for my riding. Although this moment in time has a lot of challenges, it's also going to provide us with many economic opportunities, opportunities to strengthen relations with other countries and to reduce our dependence on the United States.
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Liberal cabinet minister announces $11 million for Alberta businesses
Article content Edmonton Centre Liberal MP and cabinet minister Eleanor Olszewski brought the federal bacon home Tuesday with $11 million in funding to support high tech for seven Alberta businesses and organizations to leverage artificial intelligence (AI), digital adoption and advanced manufacturing. Article content It's the first official announcement from the PrairiesCan portfolio for Olszewski. Elected in April, the freshman member of Parliament was immediately catapulted to ministerial portfolios for emergency management and community resilience and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) — a fit niche for a province growing its reputation as an innovation hub, tapping her background as a local trailblazer for women as the first female partner at an Edmonton law firm. Article content Article content Article content Olszewski said Canadian companies face 'unprecedented global uncertainty, unprecedented economic unpredictability,' on market access, hiring, and supply chains — not just from tariffs being imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Article content Article content 'It's the unpredictability that goes with whether or not there'll be more, whether they'll be higher, whether they'll affect different sectors,' she said. Article content Opportunities come with the challenges, as well as cause for great optimism, she said. Article content 'We've been able to capitalize on some great opportunities and build on leadership that Alberta companies are showing to Alberta, to Canada and to the world,' Olszewski said, citing the seven 'high-growth' companies included in the package. Article content 'Sponsoring companies like this, companies that are advancing technology and innovation, it's really more than bringing just a product or just a service to market because, ultimately, it's really about empowering people and our communities to be resilient, to be adaptable and to be prosperous. Article content Article content 'Whether it's equipping farms in southern Alberta with AI to increase their productivity, or introducing automated production lines to a commercial bakery in Edmonton, today's investments are really about unleashing the incredible ingenuity of Alberta innovators,' she said. Article content Article content PrairiesCan is investing $10,901,711 in repayable and non-repayable funding for seven projects in Alberta to enhance productivity, scale up, boost production efficiencies, and tackle challenges with innovative technologies. Article content These include $1.15 million for 48Hour Discovery, and $2 million for Crust to relocate and install advanced automated production lines. Article content Corey Smith, president and CEO at RAM Elevators + Lifts, said the capital-intensive industry will make good use of $2 million to expand manufacturing capacity. Article content 'All three areas are exploding in North America because people are thinking about aging in place and public accessibility is as top as top of mind as ever. Almost every state or province has legislation around when public spaces need to be accessible by. So this little Edmonton company is well poised to take advantage of the North American market,' Smith said.
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Liberal cabinet minister announces $11 million for Alberta businesses
"Whether it's equipping farms in southern Alberta with AI to increase their productivity, or introducing automated production lines to a commercial bakery in Edmonton, today's investments are really about unleashing the incredible ingenuity of Alberta innovators." Doug Griffiths, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, left, Corey Smith, president and CEO of RAM Elevators and Lifts, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Edmonton Centre Liberal MP Eleanor Olszewski, cabinet minister for emergency management and community resilience and Prairies Economic Development Canada, and James Neufeld, founder and CEO at samdesk, at a funding announcement of $11 million for seven Alberta businesses and organizations to leverage artificial intelligence, digital adoption and advanced manufacturing. Photo by Jackie Carmichael / Postmedia Edmonton Centre Liberal MP and cabinet minister Eleanor Olszewski brought the federal bacon home Tuesday with $11 million in funding to support high tech for seven Alberta businesses and organizations to leverage artificial intelligence (AI), digital adoption and advanced manufacturing. It's the first official announcement from the PrairiesCan portfolio for Olszewski. Elected in April, the freshman member of Parliament was immediately catapulted to ministerial portfolios for emergency management and community resilience and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) — a fit niche for a province growing its reputation as an innovation hub, tapping her background as a local trailblazer for women as the first female partner at an Edmonton law firm. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Olszewski said Canadian companies face 'unprecedented global uncertainty, unprecedented economic unpredictability,' on market access, hiring, and supply chains — not just from tariffs being imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. 'It's the unpredictability that goes with whether or not there'll be more, whether they'll be higher, whether they'll affect different sectors,' she said. Opportunities come with the challenges, as well as cause for great optimism, she said. 'We've been able to capitalize on some great opportunities and build on leadership that Alberta companies are showing to Alberta, to Canada and to the world,' Olszewski said, citing the seven 'high-growth' companies included in the package. 'Sponsoring companies like this, companies that are advancing technology and innovation, it's really more than bringing just a product or just a service to market because, ultimately, it's really about empowering people and our communities to be resilient, to be adaptable and to be prosperous. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'Whether it's equipping farms in southern Alberta with AI to increase their productivity, or introducing automated production lines to a commercial bakery in Edmonton, today's investments are really about unleashing the incredible ingenuity of Alberta innovators,' she said. PrairiesCan is investing $10,901,711 in repayable and non-repayable funding for seven projects in Alberta to enhance productivity, scale up, boost production efficiencies, and tackle challenges with innovative technologies. These include $1.15 million for 48Hour Discovery, and $2 million for Crust to relocate and install advanced automated production lines. Corey Smith, president and CEO at RAM Elevators + Lifts, said the capital-intensive industry will make good use of $2 million to expand manufacturing capacity. 'All three areas are exploding in North America because people are thinking about aging in place and public accessibility is as top as top of mind as ever. Almost every state or province has legislation around when public spaces need to be accessible by. So this little Edmonton company is well poised to take advantage of the North American market,' Smith said. 'It turns out Edmonton is a great place to manufacture elevators,' he said, citing a strong workforce and education support. With commercial accessibility, home vertical wheelchair lifts, and home elevators, RAM gets about 50 per cent of its revenue from the U.S., and the rest from Canada. 'Not a week goes by (but) one of our installers gets to go into a home and watch a veteran ride an elevator up to his home for the first time in five years, and see the pictures of his kids on the wall that he hasn't seen in five years,' Smith said. Repayable and non-repayable funding for the regional Artificial Intelligence initiative will bring new AI technologies to market and speed adoption in critical sectors such as agriculture, clean technology, health care, and manufacturing. For the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network, $494,000 launches a technology demonstration program to support the commercial adoption of AI-based agriculture technology. For Phoenix Farms Ltd., $918,176 will fund an AI optical sorter to grade and sort potatoes. Edmonton-based samdesk gets $1.8 million to commercialize and accelerate the marketplace adoption of an AI-powered platform for crisis and travel risk management. Under the regional homebuilding innovation initiative, Promise Robotics Inc. gets $2.5 million to establish a robotics-driven homebuilding factory in Calgary supporting the production of sustainable and affordable homes. Doug Griffiths, president and CEO at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, recalled the essence of growing up on an Alberta farm was to be 'scrappy and innovative and entrepreneurial.' 'It was usually about how to put up a barbed wire fence when the cattle were getting out. You had to be entrepreneurial and scrappy and know how to do things yourself. Edmonton captures that entrepreneurial, scrappy, innovative solution-seeking mindset that so many businesses need,' Griffiths said. Noting Edmonton is the third largest leader in the country on artificial intelligence, and leads the country in construction engineering, he dubbed Edmonton 'the entrepreneurial capital of Canada.' 'Edmonton has the potential to be a global city, but it's not just the city that's going to do that. It's the business community that's going to help elevate the Edmonton brand and reputation for being entrepreneurial, for being scrappy, for being innovative, to solution seeking for so many problems that we have all over in every economy across the country,' he said. jcarmichael@ Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters . You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Cult of Hockey Local News Local News Edmonton Oilers News
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Minister Olszewski announces support to help Alberta businesses diversify, scale up and thrive
These targeted investments will help seven Alberta businesses and organizations in various sectors navigate a rapidly evolving economic landscape EDMONTON, AB, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced federal investments of over $10.9 million for seven Alberta-based businesses and organizations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), digital adoption and advanced manufacturing. These investments will help them grow, diversify and adapt to a rapidly evolving economic landscape. Building on the Prairies' established strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence and technology, today's announcement reinforces the province's reputation as an innovation hub. They include: Over $1.9 million for RAM Elevators + Lifts to expand the manufacturing capacity of its elevators and lifts for home and commercial spaces. $1.8 million for samdesk to commercialize and accelerate marketplace adoption of its AI-powered platform for crisis and travel risk management. $2.5 million for Promise Robotics to establish a robotics-driven homebuilding factory that will support the production of sustainable and affordable homes. This strategic investment advances the Government of Canada's commitment to building a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy. Quotes "The world is changing fast, and Alberta businesses are rising to meet that challenge with innovation and ambition. Our new government is investing in high-growth companies so they can harness AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing—not just to stay competitive, but to lead. These are the kinds of forward-looking investments that create good jobs and position Canada for long-term success in a shifting global economy."–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) "As a proud Canadian company, samdesk is thrilled to be recognized among Alberta's most innovative businesses. This support helps us accelerate the global adoption of our AI-powered crisis and risk intelligence platform – technology that's already proving critical in helping governments, enterprises, and humanitarian organizations respond faster to wildfires, natural disasters, geopolitical disruptions, and more. From defence to disaster response, our AI is enabling smarter, real-time decisions when they matter most."–James Neufeld, CEO and Founder, samdesk "At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we have a vision of making 10,000 more buildings accessible by 2028. With the support of PrairiesCan's Business Scale-Up funding, we will be able to move into a larger plant to increase our manufacturing capacity, invest in modern equipment that will enhance our productivity, and add key people to our team, all of which will help make this goal a reality."–Corey Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer, RAM Elevators + Lifts "This kind of investment is exactly what Alberta needs to compete and thrive in a changing economy. By supporting businesses that are scaling up, adopting advanced technologies, and creating high-quality jobs, PrairiesCan is helping to grow a more productive, resilient, and globally competitive Alberta economy. The Edmonton Chamber applauds this commitment to innovation and economic growth—and the confidence it shows in Alberta's potential."–Doug Griffiths, CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Quick facts Today's announcement of over $10.9 million is through PrairiesCan's Business Scale-up and Productivity program, the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, and the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative. The investments announced today are expected to support approximately 200 jobs. Backgrounder PrairiesCan is investing $10,901,711 in repayable and non-repayable funding for seven projects in Alberta through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII), and the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII). These targeted investments will help businesses and organizations access diverse funding opportunities to enhance their productivity, scale up, boost production efficiencies, and tackle challenges with new and innovative technologies. They are expected to support approximately 200 jobs and enable Alberta businesses to capitalize on new opportunities. Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program – $5,189,535 The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up, and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under BSP: 48Hour Discovery ($1,149,504)Enhance the organization's drug discovery platform through AI to gain access to new markets. Crust Craft ($2,040,270)Expand commercial baking capacity in Edmonton by relocating and installing advanced automated production lines. RAM Elevators + Lifts ($1,999,761)Expand the manufacturing capacity of its elevators and lifts for home and commercial spaces in North America, including the introduction of the Flex Lift to market. Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) – $3,212,176 The RAII provides $200 million to help businesses bring new AI technologies to market and speed up adoption in critical sectors such as agriculture, clean technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. This repayable and non-repayable interest-free funding is part of the government's 2024 budget commitment to ensure Canada is a world leader in AI. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under the RAII: Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network ($494,000)Establish and launch a technology demonstration program to support the commercial adoption of AI-based agriculture technology. Phoenix Farms Ltd. ($918,176)Adopt an optical sorter with AI detection to grade and sort potatoes to expand on-farm efficiency and quality market offerings. samdesk ($1,800,000)Commercialize and accelerate the marketplace adoption of an AI-powered platform for crisis and travel risk management. Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII) – $2,500,000 Through the RHII, the Government of Canada is investing $50 million over two years to support innovative housing solutions across the country. The RHII provides repayable interest-free funding to pursue new approaches for building houses, including designing and upscaling modular homes, using 3D printing, leveraging panelized construction, as well as implementing net-zero and climate resilient homebuilding practices. PrairiesCan announced investment for one project under the RHII: Promise Robotics Inc. ($2,500,000)Establish a robotics-driven homebuilding factory in Calgary that will support the production of sustainable and affordable homes. Associated links Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII) Stay connected Follow PrairiesCan on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Minister Olszewski announces support to help Alberta businesses diversify, scale up and thrive
These targeted investments will help seven Alberta businesses and organizations in various sectors navigate a rapidly evolving economic landscape EDMONTON, AB, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced federal investments of over $10.9 million for seven Alberta-based businesses and organizations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), digital adoption and advanced manufacturing. These investments will help them grow, diversify and adapt to a rapidly evolving economic landscape. Building on the Prairies' established strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence and technology, today's announcement reinforces the province's reputation as an innovation hub. They include: Over $1.9 million for RAM Elevators + Lifts to expand the manufacturing capacity of its elevators and lifts for home and commercial spaces. $1.8 million for samdesk to commercialize and accelerate marketplace adoption of its AI-powered platform for crisis and travel risk management. $2.5 million for Promise Robotics to establish a robotics-driven homebuilding factory that will support the production of sustainable and affordable homes. This strategic investment advances the Government of Canada's commitment to building a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy. Quotes "The world is changing fast, and Alberta businesses are rising to meet that challenge with innovation and ambition. Our new government is investing in high-growth companies so they can harness AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing—not just to stay competitive, but to lead. These are the kinds of forward-looking investments that create good jobs and position Canada for long-term success in a shifting global economy." –The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) " As a proud Canadian company, samdesk is thrilled to be recognized among Alberta's most innovative businesses. This support helps us accelerate the global adoption of our AI-powered crisis and risk intelligence platform – technology that's already proving critical in helping governments, enterprises, and humanitarian organizations respond faster to wildfires, natural disasters, geopolitical disruptions, and more. From defence to disaster response, our AI is enabling smarter, real-time decisions when they matter most." – James Neufeld, CEO and Founder, samdesk "At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we have a vision of making 10,000 more buildings accessible by 2028. With the support of PrairiesCan's Business Scale-Up funding, we will be able to move into a larger plant to increase our manufacturing capacity, invest in modern equipment that will enhance our productivity, and add key people to our team, all of which will help make this goal a reality." – Corey Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer, RAM Elevators + Lifts "This kind of investment is exactly what Alberta needs to compete and thrive in a changing economy. By supporting businesses that are scaling up, adopting advanced technologies, and creating high-quality jobs, PrairiesCan is helping to grow a more productive, resilient, and globally competitive Alberta economy. The Edmonton Chamber applauds this commitment to innovation and economic growth—and the confidence it shows in Alberta's potential." – Doug Griffiths, CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Quick facts Today's announcement of over $10.9 million is through PrairiesCan's Business Scale-up and Productivity program, the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, and the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative. The investments announced today are expected to support approximately 200 jobs. Backgrounder PrairiesCan is investing $10,901,711 in repayable and non-repayable funding for seven projects in Alberta through the Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program, the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII), and the Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII). These targeted investments will help businesses and organizations access diverse funding opportunities to enhance their productivity, scale up, boost production efficiencies, and tackle challenges with new and innovative technologies. They are expected to support approximately 200 jobs and enable Alberta businesses to capitalize on new opportunities. Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) program – $5,189,535 The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up, and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under BSP: 48Hour Discovery ($1,149,504) Enhance the organization's drug discovery platform through AI to gain access to new markets. Crust Craft ($2,040,270) Expand commercial baking capacity in Edmonton by relocating and installing advanced automated production lines. RAM Elevators + Lifts ($1,999,761) Expand the manufacturing capacity of its elevators and lifts for home and commercial spaces in North America, including the introduction of the Flex Lift to market. Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) – $3,212,176 The RAII provides $200 million to help businesses bring new AI technologies to market and speed up adoption in critical sectors such as agriculture, clean technology, healthcare, and manufacturing. This repayable and non-repayable interest-free funding is part of the government's 2024 budget commitment to ensure Canada is a world leader in AI. PrairiesCan announced investments for three projects under the RAII: Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network ($494,000) Establish and launch a technology demonstration program to support the commercial adoption of AI-based agriculture technology. Phoenix Farms Ltd. ($918,176) Adopt an optical sorter with AI detection to grade and sort potatoes to expand on-farm efficiency and quality market offerings. samdesk ($1,800,000) Commercialize and accelerate the marketplace adoption of an AI-powered platform for crisis and travel risk management. Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII) – $2,500,000 Through the RHII, the Government of Canada is investing $50 million over two years to support innovative housing solutions across the country. The RHII provides repayable interest-free funding to pursue new approaches for building houses, including designing and upscaling modular homes, using 3D printing, leveraging panelized construction, as well as implementing net-zero and climate resilient homebuilding practices. PrairiesCan announced investment for one project under the RHII: Associated links Stay connected Follow PrairiesCan on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-9378 TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388 SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada
