Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses and Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced the measures, saying the package is designed to protect jobs, improve access to capital and help Manitoba industries diversify their markets as trade tensions with the United States continue to intensify.
The support package includes a $50-million boost for the Manitoba Trade Resilience Loan Program, providing low-interest working capital financing to businesses facing tariff-related pressures. The province is also increasing funding for export development initiatives, including support for market diversification, export advisory services and the expansion of the Made-in-Manitoba program.
To help employers retain workers, Manitoba is investing $13.7 million in a new Tariff Workforce Stabilization and Youth Employment Program that will provide wage subsidies and other job-support measures. Businesses will also be able to defer provincial tax payments, including retail sales tax and payroll taxes, between September and December 2026.
Agriculture is a major focus of the announcement.
Through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), the province is increasing its Operating Credit Guarantee Program limit to $3 million and raising the guaranteed portion of eligible loans to one-third from the previous 25 per cent. The government is also expanding eligibility under the Diversification Loan Guarantee Program to include grain and oilseed operations, while increasing the threshold for larger projects that can proceed without Treasury Board approval.
Kostyshyn said the measures are intended to ensure Manitoba producers remain competitive while positioning the sector for future growth.
The package has received support from industry and labour groups. Keystone Agricultural Producers welcomed the expanded access to capital, while the Manitoba Federation of Labour and the Business Council of Manitoba said the measures will help businesses and workers cope with trade-related uncertainty.
The province said it will continue working with federal partners, industry groups and Manitoba’s U.S. Trade Council to monitor tariff impacts and adjust support programs as needed. Additional sector-specific assistance is also being developed for Manitoba’s beekeeping industry.
Source: Province of Manitoba Government
