Canada Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative

The Canada Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) is a grant from Prairies Economic Development Canada that funds AI technology commercialization and adoption projects in the Prairie provinces. Backed by $33.

8 million over five years (2024–2029), the program supports businesses bringing new AI solutions to market and organizations helping SMEs adopt AI across sectors including agriculture, clean technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing.

Eligible applicants include incorporated for-profit businesses operating at least two years in the Prairies and not-for-profit organizations such as accelerators, post-secondary institutions, and Indigenous organizations. Funding ranges from $250,000 to $5,000,000 per project, covering up to 50% of eligible costs for for-profit applicants, with a 6-year repayment requirement.

Not-for-profit applicants may receive non-repayable contributions.

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) program applicant guide - Canada.

ca Skip to "About government" Immigration and citizenship Environment and natural resources National security and defence Culture, history and sport Policing, justice and emergencies Transport and infrastructure Prairies Economic Development Canada Funding for businesses and not-for-profits in the Prairie provinces Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) in the Prairie Provinces Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) program applicant guide Guidelines for in-kind costs/contributions Attributes of a strong proposal Environmental assessment compliance Frequently asked questions (FAQs) How to complete the application Project primary and secondary contacts All elements marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) reserves the right to modify these guidelines at any time without notice. The purpose of this Applicant Guide is to provide information to assist you with the completion of your full application for funding under the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) .

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can help businesses across Canada compete and grow in a global economy. This rapidly evolving technology has the potential to improve how businesses operate, increase productivity and bring benefits to Canadians. As countries around the world race to develop and use AI, Canada is already a leader in this space.

To stay at the forefront of this technology, the Government of Canada announced $200M for AI-powered businesses. This funding, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), is available in all regions to help bring new AI technologies to market and speed-up AI adoption in critical sectors such as agriculture, clean technology, healthcare and manufacturing. PrairiesCan received $33.

8 million over 5 years, beginning in 2024-25, to deliver the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative . The Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative is open to: Incorporated businesses including businesses in the start-up phase that are commercializing or adopting AI technologies or AI-based solutions. Preference may be given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 500 full-time employees (FTEs).

For-profit businesses must meet the following criteria to be eligible: Incorporated to conduct business in Canada Operating for a minimum of two years Have staffed operating facilities in the Prairie provinces Employ at least one full-time equivalent (FTE) Commercializing or adopting AI technologies or AI based solutions Have confirmed, at the time of expression of interest (EOI) submission, funding from all other sources, including government and non-government (non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs) Not-for-profit organizations that support AI businesses, innovators and entrepreneurs, for start-up, growth, productivity, technology commercialization, technology adoption, export and investment attraction, including: Post-secondary educational institutions; Business Accelerator and Incubators; Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) organizations, including Indigenous-led not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous-owned businesses; A group of eligible recipients such as an industry association or consortium; A municipality and all other municipal-type organizations; and A provincial or crown corporation or organization, provided that the financial assistance will not be used to fund the corporation’s capital or ongoing operational requirements.

All eligible recipients must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.

An eligible project may involve a range of activities to commercialize and/or adopt AI technologies: Pillar 1: AI technology commercialization Showcasing and commercializing Canadian-made AI technologies and solutions ( Technology readiness levels 7-9 ) such as market diagnostics, development, customization of AI technology for broader (off-the-shelf) use, production expansion, supply chain integration and other activities aimed at bringing new AI technologies and solutions to market in the near term.

Building and growing high-performance teams within start-ups and scale-ups developing AI technologies and AI-driven solutions such as adopting best management practices, developing team capacity and talent, and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Strengthening the ecosystem to support start-ups commercializing AI solutions, including top talent attraction activities, provision of business supports, technology demonstration or supplier showcase events, and/or projects aimed at improving access to funding.

Pillar 2: AI technology adoption Strategically adopting/integrating AI technologies and solutions to drive innovation, growth, and productivity such as leveraging AI for complex tasks such as autonomous driving, supply chain optimization, predictive maintenance, process optimization, customer retention and expansion, fraud or threat detection.

Re-engineering processes and developing capacity for AI adoption such as initiatives to enhance data collection, quality and analysis (e.g., data informed decision making), improve product and service outcomes through AI (e.g., better user/customer experience), strengthen data governance and security measures (e.g., improved business operations and risk management).

Assisting SMEs in adopting/integrating AI including advisory services such as business readiness and capacity building support, talent attraction and retention activities, technology testbed or demonstration activities, and/or supports tailored to SME AI adoption needs.

There is a maximum project duration of 3 years focused on 1 or more of the following areas: Advanced Manufacturing - defined by the development and adoption of innovative technologies to create new products, enhance processes and establish more efficient and cost-effective ways of working. Clean Resources refers to transitioning from the old resource economy into a new resource economy.

It is where innovation drives economic and environmental competitiveness in the energy, mining and forestry sectors, and which leverages Canada’s natural resources advantage to transition to a low-carbon economy.

Clean Technology refers to any process, product or service that reduces environmental impacts in order to better control costs, meet new regulatory requirements, improve global competitiveness and reduce impacts on climate, water, land and air.

Digital Industries includes a combination of information and communication technology (ICT), digital and interactive media, and content industries, as well as manufacturers and service companies that creatively capture, transmit and display information electronically in innovative ways Health/Bio-sciences encompasses a wide range of companies, from the developers and manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and biomedical innovations, to producers of digital health solutions and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, 3D printing, robotics and nanotechnologies.

Natural Resources Value-added Processing includes the processing of natural resources in the energy, mineral, or forestry, sectors that adds value to primary products/raw materials. Value-added Agriculture is a complex and interdependent sector that includes agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and food and beverage processing.

Inclusiveness – supporting under-represented groups such as Indigenous peoples, women, youth (between ages 15 and 34) and other under-represented groups.

Note: preference will be given to proposals with a demonstrated focus on: Critical Minerals Processing includes companies and service providers that process or create value added materials and/or products from critical minerals such as advanced batteries, permanent magnets, solar panels, wind turbines, small modular reactors, defence and security technologies, semiconductors and consumer electronics.

Food and Ingredients Processing includes businesses involved in manufacturing plant-based food and ingredients. Zero Emission Heavy Equipment Vehicles includes manufacturers of urban and intercity buses, fire trucks, motor homes, recreational vehicles, trailers, mobile agricultural, construction and mining equipment and their associated suppliers.

Related technologies include battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell drives, electrification of ancillary systems, material light weighting and others. Minimum funding request of $250,000 and maximum of $5,000,000 per project. PrairiesCan will take into consideration all other sources of funding available to the applicant.

For-profit applicants may apply for funding of up to 50% of total eligible costs for each project. The remaining 50% of eligible cost must be supported from a non-government source , and must be confirmed at time of the Expression of Interest and again prior to project approval.

Preference will be given to projects from not-for-profit applicants that leverage funding from provincial governments, the private sector, and other non-government sources. For-profit companies may only receive funding for one RAII project per calendar year. Total support to any one organization cannot exceed $10 million over the life of the program (2024-2029).

PrairiesCan will provide funding to successful projects based on claims submitted by the recipient. PrairiesCan will reimburse you for the approved portion (such as 50%) of eligible project costs that have been incurred and paid. Since successful applicants must submit a claim for reimbursement, there will be a delay between the time costs are incurred, and when claimed costs are partly reimbursed.

Successful applicants will therefore need to plan their project cash flow accordingly. PrairiesCan will provide detailed instructions on this process to those applicants approved for funding. Claims for incurred costs can be submitted quarterly, and are processed within 15 business days of PrairiesCan receiving a complete claim package.

A RAII contribution agreement will require recipients to repay the entire principal within 6 years of project completion. Following a 1-year grace period after project completion, recipients will be required to make 60 equal monthly payments. Although funding is provided interest-free, interest equal to the average bank rate plus 3% will be charged for any late principal payments.

There is no penalty for early repayment. Not-for-profit organizations may receive non-repayable contributions for non-commercial projects. Other government assistance, SR&ED and other tax credits PrairiesCan considers tax credits received for activities undertaken between the project start and end date as a source of government assistance.

Such credits are included when calculating the total amount of government funding that has been provided to a project. Likewise, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) may consider funding received from RAII to be government assistance, even though it will eventually be repaid.

Successful applicants who are in receipt of Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credits and other similar federal or provincial tax credits for activities defined in the project are required to inform PrairiesCan. PrairiesCan may be required to reduce its overall level of project funding to ensure the total amount of government assistance does not exceed 50% of project costs.

Applicants are strongly advised to seek independent professional advice to determine the potential effect of RAII funding on project activities for which SR&ED tax credits, or other federal and provincial tax credits, are likely to be sought.

Eligible project costs include, but are not limited to: Cost of labour (e.g. wages and benefits) Capital costs (e.g. purchase of machinery, equipment) Operating costs that are directly related to the project (e.g. management fees) Professional, advisory and technical services Costs related to intellectual property Technological development and commercial demonstrations Production and distribution of promotional material and management tools Other incremental costs essential to the project Costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis up to a 12-month period prior to the receipt of a signed funding application, but no earlier than April 16, 2024.

PrairiesCan reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the RAII. Project costs that are deemed unreasonable, non-incremental or not directly related to project activities will be ineligible for reimbursement.

These include, but are not limited to: basic and applied research and development ( Technology Readiness Level 1-6 ) land acquisition and goodwill salary bonuses and dividend payments allowance for interest on invested capital, bonds, debentures, and other debts.

losses on investments, bad debts and associated expenses, other projects and contracts refinancing of existing debts amortization or depreciation of assets federal and provincial income taxes, GST (recoverable portion), taxes or surtaxes on excess profit provisions for contingencies or commissions paid to consultants to secure funding donations, dues and membership fees Generally, the following costs/activities will not be supported: business plan preparation hospitality and other related costs sole sourced consultant fees fees related to advocacy work Project costs incurred by the applicant in the absence of a signed funding agreement with PrairiesCan are incurred at the sole risk of the applicant.

Guidelines for in-kind costs/contributions Only project costs incurred and directly paid by the applicant can be reimbursed by PrairiesCan. An in-kind contribution is a project cost that does not involve an expense incurred and paid for by the project applicant.

Typically, these expenses are borne by third parties for items or services that are in turn provided to the applicant at no cost or at a reduced cost (e.g., a deep discount not typically offered to others). Such costs are used to demonstrate a more accurate picture of the project scope, including project funding, leveraging, and demonstration of participant and/or private sector contributions to a project.

The cost must be for an item considered by PrairiesCan to be essential to a project's success, eligible under the programming, and would otherwise be purchased and paid for by the applicant. For example: An industry partner will provide trucks to a college for use in a project to train truck drivers.

In this case, the college did not incur or pay any incremental costs but the project could not reasonably go forward without the trucks, so this would be an in-kind contribution to project costs. In-kind costs may only be included in the project when there is a clear plan and commitment from the applicant on how the costs can be verified. In the example above, the value of the trucks to the project can be quantified via sales records.

PrairiesCan is looking to support AI technology and adoption projects that have a viable plan to produce strong economic outcomes.

Applicants must quantify, substantiate, and later report on the following mandatory expected results: number of highly qualified personnel (HQP) including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs created in Canada number of non-HQP jobs created in Canada incremental private sector investment attracted ($) number of SMEs assisted (not-for-profit projects only) number of technologies to market business sales growth resulting from commercialization or adoption ($) – where applicable value of business expenditures in research and development ($) – where applicable If any of the mandatory indicators are not selected, then please explain why the indicator in question cannot be selected for your project.

Additional performance indicators available to measure the success for your project include: value of expenditures in research and development ($) number of Western Canadian businesses investing in adoption of advanced technologies, sound management/business practices foreign direct investment growth ($) number of Western Canadian businesses pursuing international opportunities number of Western Canadian businesses with new export sales PrairiesCan is working to improve the economic participation (e.g. job creation) of Indigenous Peoples, women and youth.

Note: recipients will be encouraged to establish and track inclusiveness indicators. The RAII is a competitive process. Expressions of Interest that demonstrate the highest merit and strongest alignment with program objectives, PrairiesCan’s priorities, and significant economic benefit are invited to complete a full application.

All applications will be evaluated on their ability to achieve RAII objectives, the viability and economic impact of the project, as well as their relative strengths in the following areas: technology readiness (technology commercialization projects only) degree of alignment with departmental/regional priorities If undergoing a detailed assessment, PrairiesCan will request: business plan or pitch deck (if not already submitted) financial statements for the past 2 years, as well as interim financial statements for at least the last 6-month period (if not already submitted) forecasted income statements and cash flow including relevant assumptions for the duration of the project detailed breakdown of project costs disclosure of pre-existing disbursements to third parties or senior executives Note that PrairiesCan will also conduct a credit check (e.g. Equifax).

Where required, PrairiesCan will engage the technical services of the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to conduct the technical assessment of proposals for projects using novel technology. Although PrairiesCan may engage companies directly on outstanding questions or issues, applicants are advised to submit a complete and thorough application.

Not all applications undergoing a detailed assessment will receive an offer of funding. PrairiesCan anticipates funding decisions within approximately 90 business days from receiving a complete funding application. Attributes of a strong proposal Strong proposals will have a complete and detailed application which will allow PrairiesCan to thoroughly review and validate the information provided.

A strong for-profit proposal can include the following: comprehensive and well-written business plan independent market assessment and/or evidence of unmet market demand clearly defined market size and opportunity direct competitors identified and assessed detailed description of both the applicant organization and project management team credible financial statements accompanied by logical and reasonable financial projections demonstrated financial capacity to execute the project and the ability to repay (if applicable) clear alignment with at least one priority area as well as other PrairiesCan’s key priorities where applicable significant economic benefits/outcomes supported by reasonable assumptions and rationale demonstrated understanding of the current and anticipated AI regulations in Canada (e.g., Bill C-27 to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act, the Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act and the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act ) and other countries (e.g., the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the U.S. Voluntary AI Risk Management Framework), and potential requirements to ensure the security of data and the responsible use of AI.

well-defined IP strategy (if applicable) clear explanation as to how the productivity or efficiency savings will enable the company to grow and expand (if applicable) A strong not-for-profit proposal should include the following: clear alignment to RAII objectives clear alignment with at least one priority area as well as other PrairiesCan’s key priorities where applicable strong market/industry demand (such as the project addresses a significant gap in the market or there is a demonstrated industry demand for the project) measurable economic benefits for the prairie provinces effective governance measures and management team in place to carry out the project strong, evidence-based rationale for the project financial statements that demonstrate the organization is financially self-sustaining leveraged funding from provincial governments, the private sector, and other non-government sources (typically 50% or more) non-PrairiesCan funding is confirmed with written proof.

* *Written proof, confirmed or conditional upon PrairiesCan’s funding, will be considered acceptable confirmation of non-PrairiesCan funding. Examples of written proof include current bank statements detailing existing cash balances or the unused portion of lines of credit. If third parties are included in project funding, letters of intent or funding agreements from third parties, may be acceptable.

The expectation is that RAII applicants will normally have already sought funding from other sources (e.g., banks, venture capitalists, etc.) prior to applying to PrairiesCan, and as such, will already possess a written business plan and financial statements. Submissions to the RAII must include : A completed application , with a request of at least $250,000 and no more than $5 million.

A business plan or pitch deck that addresses each area outlined below. The plan should include clear rationale/assumptions where necessary and must include: A description of your business/organization. A description of each major product or service your business currently provides, and the value proposition to your customer base.

A detailed operating/execution plan for implementing the proposed project. A description of how your project will affect the value proposition to your current key customer segments and/or how your customer base will grow or change; how it will strengthen revenue or reduce costs. A description of your businesses’ competitive advantage and how your project will affect your competitive position (where applicable).

An analysis of the marketplace (including industry factors, competition, and customers). A detailed sales, pricing, and marketing strategy. A third party market assessment (if available).

A description of the management team and corporate governance structure. This should include both the ability to manage day-to-day operations as well as to manage the project. If the management team is not yet complete, please comment as to the reasoning, and if applicable, future intentions.

Forecasted income statements and cash flow information for the duration of the project. These statements should be for current operations, for the new project alone and on a combined basis. The forecasts must include all rationale/assumptions on which they are based, and could include various scenarios such as breakeven.

Financial statements for the past 2 years , as well as interim statements for the current period (i.e., less than 3 months from the date of this application). The financial statements should be prepared by an external accountant. If externally prepared statements are not available, please provide a rationale as to why they are not available.

Proof of confirmed funding , of both government and non-government sources, with the submission of the Expression of Interest; and again if your project is approved, prior to receiving a funding agreement. Note that non-government funding must represent at least 50% of the proposed project costs.

PrairiesCan considers proof of confirmed funding to include: For funding to be provided by the applicant firm – current bank statements detailing existing cash balances or the unused portion of lines of credit. For third-party funding sources – official letters (on letterhead, signed) of confirmed or conditional funding, and/or funding agreements that can be verified.

The proof of confirmed funding provided with the Expression of Interest will be retained in the portal account.

PrairiesCan does not consider the following as proof of confirmed funding: forecasted revenues from future activities commitments to raise equity commitments to obtain future bank financing scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) credit Complete a financial disbursement disclosure form , which was included with the email to complete a full application.

Complete a cost clarification form , which was included with the email to complete a full application. Technology Commercialization projects only are required to complete a technology questionnaire , which was included with the email to complete a full application. Complete the supplemental form and attach it as part of your full application.

The following optional information could also be attached in order to strengthen your application: Written endorsement or review of the technology. Independent market assessment. Evidence of market demand such as purchase orders, letter of intent, etc. Productivity analysis for Productivity Improvement projects (if available).

PrairiesCan will not assess saved applications that have not been submitted. Signing and submitting the application form does not constitute a commitment from PrairiesCan for financial assistance. All proprietary data, commercially sensitive information and potentially valuable results or ideas will be protected from unauthorized, inadvertent or untimely disclosure.

Information provided by applicants in the application and in all supporting documentation is collected under the authority of the Western Economic Diversification Act . This information will be treated in accordance with that Act and with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act .

These laws govern, protect and limit the collection, use and disclosure of personal and confidential information by federal government departments and agencies. Beyond the parties already mentioned above, confidential commercial information will not be shared without the applicant’s consent.

Under the Official Languages Act , the Government of Canada is committed to supporting the development of official language minority communities (English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities in the rest of Canada). More than 2 million Canadians belong to an official language minority community. The intention is to enable these communities to thrive and to enjoy the same benefits as the rest of the population.

Applicants seeking funding under not-for-profit programming may assist PrairiesCan in fulfilling its obligations under the Official Languages Act by identifying aspects of the proposed project that may benefit Francophone communities in Western Canada or by being willing to modify the proposed project to extend its benefits to the Francophone community.

This may be as simple as including a French-speaking service provider who is able to offer business services in French as part of the project or offering the final product resulting from the project in French. Please follow up with your PrairiesCan project officer to explore how you might modify your proposed project to assist the department in extending benefits to the Francophone community.

Environmental assessment compliance Projects involving physical works may be subject to the Impact Assessment Act (2019) . Recipients of PrairiesCan funding will be responsible for obtaining all certificates, consents, permits and approvals required for compliance with applicable legislation and for complying with the requirements of such legislation.

Should an environmental assessment be required, it will be necessary to plan several months before the project Proposed Start Date to allow sufficient time for the completion of the assessment. All contribution agreements issued under the RAII program include performance indicators to measure the individual project performance and the program’s effectiveness relative to objectives.

Recipients will be required to submit, along with funding claims, regular progress reports and financial statements to PrairiesCan throughout the project, from implementation through to the repayment period. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) Please refer to our website for more information on the RAII and other PrairiesCan programs.

Below is a short glossary of terms used in this guide: Assessment Thorough review and analysis of all aspects of an application prior to entering into a contribution agreement. This includes scoping of the project to meet program and department objectives as well as Government of Canada guidelines for funding contributions.

Black community(ies) This term is a designation used for people of full or partial descent from over 200 ethnic or cultural origins, including sub-Saharan African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

The majority of “Black” Canadians are of Caribbean origin, though the population also consists of African-American immigrants and their descendants (including Black Nova Scotians), as well as many native African immigrants.

Business sales growth resulting from commercialization A numerical value that totals the anticipated sales growth from the specific product or process being commercialized through the project year over year from the project proposed start date up to 1 year following the proposed end date. Mandatory for technology commercialization projects.

Commercialization For the purposes of the RAII, commercialization is the process of introducing a new product, process, or service into the market place and is achieved when commercial level sales and/or production are realized. Contribution A monetary payment to a successful Recipient that does not result in the acquisition by the Government of Canada of any goods, services, or assets.

The payment(s) will be for assisted costs as identified in the Contribution Agreement with PrairiesCan. The successful Recipient must first pay the cost of the service or good and then submit a claim, which provides proof that the cost has been incurred and paid for by the Recipient. PrairiesCan then reimburses such costs on the percentage basis specified in the Contribution Agreement.

Contributions are subject to performance conditions specified in a Contribution Agreement and therefore a Recipient is required to report to PrairiesCan on results achieved. A contribution is to be accounted for, is subject to audit and, where profit is generated by the project, it may be subject to repayment conditions also specified in the contribution agreement.

Diverse groups Includes, but is not limited to people living with disabilities, Indigenous persons, youth, immigrants, persons from racialized communities and people from official language minority communities (OLMCs). Export sales growth A numerical value that totals the anticipated entire firm sales growth related to exports year over year from the project proposed start date up to 1 year following the proposed end date.

Full-time equivalent The number of full-time employees working for the organization. Gender This refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and gender diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and each other, how they act and interact and the distribution of power and resources in society.

Gender is usually conceptualized as a binary (girl/women and boy/man), yet there is considerable diversity in how individuals and groups understand, experience, and express it. Self-identifying gender is an expression of what a person internally feels and/or the gender a person publicly expresses in their daily life.

A person’s current gender may differ from the sex a person was assigned at birth (male, female, or intersex) and may differ from what is indicated on their current legal documents. A person’s gender may change over time. Government assistance Funding from any level of government (federal, provincial or municipal).

Also includes funding from any organization that is fully funded by government, and does not make investment decisions independent from government or on a commercial basis. Highly qualified personnel (HQP) Canada’s Highly Qualified personnel (HQP) are defined as individuals with university degrees at the bachelor’s level and above.

Incremental Activities to be undertaken that are additional to the applicant’s current operations or activities. Indigenous Peoples Refers to those persons who identify with at least 1 Indigenous group, that is First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Aboriginal peoples of Canada (referred to here as Indigenous peoples) are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982 , Section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

In-kind costs/contributions Contributions toward project costs that do not involve a cost incurred or paid for by the recipient. These types of contributions should be demonstrated in the application at fair market value.

2SLGBTQI+ Refers to those persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, 2-spirit, non-binary or gender queer, questioning, asexual, pansexual, agender, bigender, gender variant, and pangender.

Majority-owned/led Majority owned or led is defined as an enterprise where 1 or more of the diverse groups has long-term control and management of the organization and an active role in both strategic and day to day decision making. In for-profit enterprises, this may include an equity stake.

Long-term control and management of the organization – have been engaged in the operation, management and ownership of the organization for at least 2 years Active role in strategic decision making – involved in elements related to the establishment of priorities, objective and goals for the organization; overall operations of the organization Day to day decision making – involved in elements related to the financial management, human resources, supply management, logistics or customer services (for example) Equity stake – demonstrates an ownership in the company Majority-owned is where an individual(s) owns more than 50% of the company.

Newcomer to Canada or immigrant Person(s) who have landed in Canada within in the last 10 years. Official language minority communities (OLMCs) English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities in provinces and territories other than Quebec.

Person with a disability A person with long-term or recurring disabilities related to hearing, vision, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, mental health, memory, and developmental impairment or functional limitation and who consider themselves to be disadvantaged by reason of that impairment. Project The group of activities and actions,