Category: Uncategorized

September 15, 2026 – Whitehorse, Yukon – Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

This information adds to the news release issued today The Government of Canada invests over $1.9 million to support workers and strengthen businesses in the Yukon about CanNor’s support, the businesses and organizations that received funding through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) and their projects.

The Government of Canada, through CanNor, is providing up to $1,903,869 to four projects that will help strengthen organizational efficiency and local capacity, create new growth opportunities, and build a more resilient and diversified economy for Northerners and all Canadians.

Project information

Project: Pivot from U.S. to Yukon markets for solar and battery energy storage system 
Recipient: Solvest Inc. 
Location: Whitehorse 
Details: A two-year project to design, build, and test a prototype portable solar and battery energy storage system for deployment at placer mines in the Yukon. The project will create a standardized renewable energy platform for Yukon placer mines that will reduce diesel dependency, improve energy reliability, and position Solvest to commercialize a Yukon-manufactured product through future sales and leasing opportunities. The project will enable Solvest to redirect investment from U.S. expansion into Canadian and territorial markets following tariff-related impacts on its Alaska growth strategy.
CanNor contribution: Up to $264,585

Project: Improving efficiency and productivity by modernizing grading operations 
Recipient: Cobalt Construction Inc.
Location: Whitehorse
Details: A two-year project to acquire and install four 3D grade control devices. This will modernize grading operations, improve productivity, reduce training time, enhance worksite safety, and strengthen the business. It will also lead to higher productivity and improved technical capability to help Cobalt secure more local contracts, allowing it to maintain its Yukon-based workforce. For over 35 years, Cobalt Construction has specialized in large earth moving projects in both the road construction and mining sectors.
CanNor contribution: Up to $389,285

Project: Technology modernization initiative
Recipient: Northern Vision Development LP
Location: Whitehorse
Details: A three-year project to modernize financial and operational systems for the Northern Vision Development LP group of companies. It is implementing a modern, cloud-based enterprise platform that will unify financial management, purchasing, inventory, and business-unit reporting across all 14 of its entities. It will improve productivity, financial accuracy and organizational capacity. 
CanNor contribution: Up to $1,000,000

Project: AI-enhanced productivity, estimating and digitization
Recipient: Ketza Construction Corporation
Location: Whitehorse
Details: A two-year project to implement AI-enabled productivity and estimating enhancements and upgrade Ketza Construction’s digital operations to modernize workflow and operations. This will enhance the business’s ability to model supply-chain risk, compare suppliers, manage volatile pricing, and reduce rework and inefficiency, building a more resilient and future-ready operating model. Ketza Construction has provided general contracting and project management and advisory services in the Yukon for over 50 years.
CanNor contribution: Up to $249,999

Four Yukon businesses are seizing new opportunities, finding efficiencies and improving productivity to mitigate tariff and trade disruptions.

September 15, 2026 — Whitehorse, Yukon — Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

The Yukon is home to innovative entrepreneurs and businesses that have long contributed to a strong northern economy. As tariff pressures and changing trade conditions continue to create uncertainty, the Government of Canada is taking action by supporting businesses to adapt, seize new opportunities and protect jobs in the territory.

Today, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced up to $1,903,869 in contributions to four Yukon businesses. These investments, through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), will equip Yukon businesses and workers with the tools they need to adapt to a rapidly changing global environment, strengthen organizational efficiency and local capacity, reinforce regional supply chains, and create new growth opportunities.

Minister Chartrand made the announcement at Solvest Inc., alongside Dr. Brendan Hanley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Member of Parliament for the Yukon. Solvest Inc. is receiving up to $264,585 to design, build, and test a prototype portable solar and battery energy storage system for use at Yukon placer mines. Through this project, Solvest will pivot to national and territorial markets from a planned U.S. expansion, following tariff-related impacts on its Alaska-growth strategy.

For more information on the other businesses in this announcement, please see Backgrounder: The Government of Canada invests over $1.9M in Yukon workers and businesses.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting businesses and workers as they strengthen competitiveness, build resilience, and create long-term economic prosperity for Northerners and all Canadians.

Whitehorse, Yukon, September 14, 2026 — The Honourable Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, along with Dr. Brendan Hanley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Member of Parliament for the Yukon, will announce supports to help Yukon businesses adapt, find efficiencies and improve productivity.

A media availability will follow.

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. Yukon Time (YT)
Please arrive by 8:50 a.m. (YT)

Location: 
Solvest Inc.
118 Titanium Way, 
Whitehorse, Yukon

September 8, 2026 – St. John’s, Newfoundland Labrador – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries and the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Social Supports and Well-Being, Housing, Poverty Reduction, and Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, announced the Co-operation Agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada on Environmental and Impact Assessment. Minister Thompson attended on behalf of the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Nature, and  Minister Tibbs attended on behalf of the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Environment, Conservation, and Climate Change.

The world is changing rapidly. In response, the Government of Canada is focused on building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy by accelerating projects, in partnership with provinces and territories.

Moving forward, the Agreement enables Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador to implement a “one project, one review” approach that provides a streamlined, flexible assessment process that minimizes duplication for projects in Newfoundland and Labrador that are subject to both federal and provincial assessments. This ensures both governments can adopt the most effective assessment process on a case-by-case basis.

The Agreement provides a simplified and more predictable approach that upholds federal and provincial responsibilities for environmental protection and Indigenous Peoples rights. It also promotes coordinated communication, information sharing, and affirms the importance of consultation and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples throughout the assessment process.

This Agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador will help create the conditions to build infrastructure faster, just like those agreements with British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. The Agreement will attract more investment in new infrastructure that will grow the economy, support workers and their families, and create high-paying careers from coast to coast to coast.