Northern equipment purchases
Plan financing alongside equipment delivery
A machine's price is only part of a northern purchase. Its location, inspection access, transport route, intended worksite and service plan help explain the full transaction. Start the review while the seller can still provide equipment records and before committing to a transport booking or payment deadline.
Yukon: equipment for contracting and resource work
For a business operating from Whitehorse or another Yukon community, identify whether the equipment will work locally or travel to a remote site. Excavators, dozers, loaders, drilling equipment, service trucks and trailers can be considered. If buying in British Columbia or Alberta, include the pickup location, transport quote, destination and requested arrival date. Maintenance history and the machine's exact configuration are useful for specialized used equipment.
Northwest Territories: document the access and deployment plan
For road-building, mining-support or field-service work, explain where the asset will operate and how it will reach the site. If delivery depends on seasonal road access or another limited transport window, identify that constraint at the start. Provide the seller's availability for inspection and any separate costs for transport, setup or commissioning. Generator, pump and compressor packages should include a specification and price for each unit.
Nunavut: separate equipment and transport costs
For machinery moving to Nunavut, provide the proposed shipping or air-freight arrangements, destination community and required in-service date. Keep the equipment price separate from freight, handling and installation costs. Remote delivery does not replace the need to confirm ownership, condition and value. If an inspection must happen before shipment, discuss that requirement while the asset is still at the seller's premises.
Equipment leases, purchases and existing assets
Equipment leases and conditional sales contracts may be available for eligible transactions. Businesses that already own equipment can also discuss sale-leaseback financing. The equipment's location, resale value, operating use and lender requirements can affect the structure available. A transport schedule or signed work contract does not guarantee approval.
Information to gather before the equipment moves
- Your Canadian business details, current operations and intended worksite.
- The equipment quote, seller contacts, serial numbers, age and hours.
- Photographs, maintenance history, rebuild details and any inspection report.
- Separate delivery quotes and the proposed transport schedule.
- Details of equipment attachments, setup requirements and intended business use.
- The financial information and insurance documentation requested during review.
Ask which delivery-related costs are eligible before finalizing the budget. Funding, insurance and delivery conditions must be confirmed for the specific transaction. Our application checklist provides a starting point.