If tariff-related cost changes keep forcing your team to reprice orders, trace the problem from supplier invoice to customer quote. That gives you a way to show the impact, choose what to automate and test whether the change helps.
Show which tariff disruption changed your operations
PacifiCan was accepting applications for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) in B.C. as of November 7, 2026. Its business eligibility page lists incorporated for-profit companies located and operating in B.C., viable before tariffs, with at least C$1 million in revenue in either of their last two fiscal years. Applicants also need evidence of direct or indirect trade disruption. Start with the official intake overview and eligibility criteria.
Imagine a B.C. metal fabricator that buys fasteners from a distributor. The distributor sends a dated notice attributing a surcharge on specified parts to tariffs. Several quotes already in progress need to be recalculated. The fabricator can attach the notice, comparable invoices and affected quote IDs, then show when and where the surcharge changed its costs. Keep freight and exchange-rate movements separate so the claim isolates what the records support.
Choose between a pivot project and liquidity assistance
A pivot project can fund work that improves competitiveness or reduces exposure to trade disruptions. For projects with local or regional benefits, PacifiCan lists non-repayable contributions up to C$1 million and up to 50% of eligible costs. Larger transformative projects may qualify for repayable contributions over C$1 million and up to 75% of eligible costs. The published project completion deadline is March 31, 2029. See PacifiCan’s support terms, checked November 7, 2026.
Liquidity assistance covers eligible day-to-day costs such as payroll or rent when an eligible business can show a tariff-related cash need. PacifiCan lists up to C$2 million in non-repayable support and up to 50% of eligible costs for a period of up to 12 months ending no later than March 31, 2028. Eligible businesses can apply for both types of support. Track the operating cash need separately from the automation work. See PacifiCan’s support terms.
Start with one product family and measure it
Link a single family of quoted products to its approved supplier parts. Record part and supplier IDs, unit of measure, currency, price, surcharges, lead time and effective date. When a price expires or a supplier changes its terms, flag the open quotes affected. Show the estimator which approved alternative can meet the specification and delivery date. Purchasing validates new sources, and the estimator signs off before a revised quote goes out.
Use eight weeks of quote history to establish a baseline. For example, 18 of 120 quotes required a cost correction after release, and the median time from supplier notice to reviewed replacement quote was two business days. In the pilot, use the same definitions on comparable jobs and track the counts alongside the rates. A proposed test is to bring corrections below 8% and the median review time below one business day, while recording every approval. These are illustrative targets.
Price the milestones and set a stop point
| Milestone | Budget | Acceptance evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–3, map parts and establish the baseline | C$18,000 | Approved part-to-supplier map and reconciled sample invoices |
| Weeks 4–8, build and test the quote alerts | C$46,000 | Replay tests for stale prices, unit changes and missing data |
| Weeks 9–12, pilot and train staff | C$26,000 | Pilot scorecard, signed acceptance and a manual fallback |
| Total | C$90,000 | Planning estimate |
Pause after the first milestone if the team cannot reconcile supplier parts to the quote data. Separate regular licence renewals and ongoing support from the project budget. Confirm the treatment and timing of each cost with PacifiCan before committing funds. The business applicant guide explains which project costs PacifiCan considers and how to report milestones and cash flows.
Prepare the application around the evidence
Bring together the tariff records, financial statements, work plan, dated milestones, supplier estimates and sources of financing. PacifiCan directs pivot applicants to its business applicant guide for the required documents. Liquidity applicants must also provide forecast income and cash flow for the assistance period, payroll records and evidence supporting the cash need. Use the official application instructions to check the requirements for your stream.
For projects centred on AI adoption, compare the separate PacifiCan RAII guide and the Canadian funding and financing directory. To map your own supplier data and quoting process into a pilot, discuss the scope with Creatrixe.