$1 Million for COTA Aviation as Part of Regional Tariff Response Initiative
A Parksville-area company, COTA Aviation, will receive $1 million in funding as part of the federal government's Regional Tariff Response Initiative. This initiative aims to help businesses navigate ongoing trade challenges by boosting productivity, strengthening supply chains, and reaching new domestic and global markets.
The investment will enable COTA Aviation, a majority Indigenous-owned company that manufactures specialized parts for aircraft and defence applications, to purchase and install advanced equipment to produce gears for use in aircraft and defence systems. This project is expected to support skilled jobs, strengthen Indigenous-led advanced manufacturing, and build domestic aerospace and defence supply chain capacity in Western Canada.
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative has allocated $30.5 million for 24 B.C.-based companies, including several Island businesses and associations. The announcement by Gregor Robertson, minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, mentioned funding for these organizations: Nanaimo Forest Products ($5.5 million), Niik Steel (Nanaimo) ($1 million), Canadian Bavarian Millwork & Lumber (Chemainus) ($1 million), the BC Shellfish Growers' Association (Comox) ($363,800), and the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance ($300,000).
The investment aims to help businesses grow, improve productivity, expand into new markets, reduce costs, and build more resilient supply chains. Robertson stated that 'trade disruptions are creating real challenges for the B.C. businesses that are the backbone of our economy.' He added that the government is stepping up with investments to help these businesses thrive, succeed, and build Canada strong.