2025-2026 Transfer Payment Programs
Table of contents
Promoting Regional Development in Canada's Three Territories
Start date: April 1, 2009
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions
Type of appropriation: Annually through estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2014–15
Link to departmental result(s):
- Businesses are developing in the Territories
- People and Communities participate in the economy in the Territories
Link to the department's program inventory:
- Business Development
- Community Development
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Through this umbrella transfer payment authority, CanNor delivers a range of northern economic development contribution programs and funding initiatives, promoting the economic development of the North in order to strengthen territorial economies and increase participation by Northerners.
For 2025–26, these programs and funding initiatives include: Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth), the Northern Isolated Communities Initiative Fund (NICI), Economic Development Initiative (EDI) and Tourism Growth Program (TGP).
Expected results:
Expected Results (IDEANorth)
- Territorial economic growth and capacity is supported.
- Gaps in territorial small-scale economic infrastructure (e.g., tourism infrastructure and commercial spaces available for businesses) are addressed.
- Increased readiness to address territorial foundational infrastructure gaps.
- Partnerships are established with Northern governments and organizations.
- Investments to advance territorial economic growth and sector development, and small-scale economic infrastructure to contribute to increased local or regional economic development activity (e.g., new jobs (direct or indirect)).
- Pre-construction readiness activities (e.g., feasibility studies, plans, drawings) are used to advance foundational infrastructure projects.
- Foundational investments in key sectors of the territorial economies (e.g., mining, arts and culture, tourism, commercial fisheries) contribute to enhanced sectoral growth.
- Strong, dynamic, diverse innovative and inclusive territorial economies for the benefit of Northerners and all Canadians.
Expected Results (NICI)
- Northern Indigenous and Inuit communities, organizations, and businesses receive strategic investments and services to support local and Indigenous food production systems.
- Northern Indigenous and Inuit communities, organizations, and businesses are making structural changes to pivot to more innovative and sustainable local food systems, processes, and technologies.
- Viability and sustainability is improved across the Northern food sector.
Expected Results (EDI)
- Increased number of organizations and businesses within Official Languages Minority Communities (OLMCs) implementing economic development initiatives.
- Improved business and organization capacities for economic development initiatives that respond to the need of OLMCs.
Expected Results (TGP)
- Support and financing are available to tourism small and medium sized enterprises and organizations in the Canadian Territories.
- Tourism-related revenues increase in the Canadian Territories.
- Tourism sector continues to grow in the Canadian Territories.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation:
- IDEANorth: 2023–24
- NICI: 2023–24
- EDI: 2023–24
- TGP: N/A
Decision following the results of last evaluation:
- IDEANorth: Continuation
- NICI: Continuation (3 year time-limited)
- EDI: Continuation
- TGP: N/A
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation:
- IDEANorth: 2028–29
- NICI: N/A
- EDI: 2028–29
- TGP: time-limited program, evaluation not required
General targeted recipient groups: Eligible recipients include individuals, businesses, social enterprises, other levels of government and other non-federal entities, public or private, that have an interest in economic development in the North.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: CanNor's economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle.
Financial information (dollars) - Promoting Regional Development in Canada's Three Territories
| Type of transfer payment | 2024–25 forecast spending | 2025–26 planned spending | 2026–27 planned spending | 2027–28 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | $12,325,500 | $8,000,000 | $8,000,000 | $2,500,000 |
| Total contributions | $24,532,163 | $24,532,163 | $23,737,000 | $15,737,000 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total program | $36,857,663 | $32,532,163 | $31,737,000 | $18,237,000 |
Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Programs (Voted)
Start date: April 1, 2014
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Contribution
Type of appropriation: Annually through estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2013–14, revised 2017, revised 2022
Link to departmental result(s):
- Businesses are developing in the Territories
- People and Communities participate in the economy in the Territories
Link to the department's program inventory:
- Business Development
- Community Development
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Through this transfer payment authority and additional funding received under Budget 2022, CanNor delivers the Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Program (NIEOP), to create Indigenous employment, support Indigenous entrepreneurship, and help build resilience in Indigenous communities through economic development, leading to territorial economic growth. The enhanced program comprises three streams:
- Community Readiness and Opportunities Planning (CROP) stream provides project-based support to Indigenous communities and organizations for capacity and readiness activities so that communities are able to plan for, pursue and participate in economic opportunities. A Budget 2022 decision also approved additional funds to support the reintroduction of core funding to Indigenous rights-holding organizations.
- Entrepreneurship and Business Development (EBD) stream assists Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations in the pursuit of economic opportunities for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples. The stream includes project-based support for activities that facilitate the establishment or expansion of Indigenous businesses.
- The NIEOP Economic Research Stream (ERS) provides project-based support for research, knowledge transfer, and distribution of information to establish a research agenda and target research proposals that can contribute to the territorial Indigenous business ecosystem. This transfer payment program may be conditionally or unconditionally repayable.
Considerations for repayability are outlined in the program's terms and conditions.
Expected results:
- Northern Indigenous governments and northern communities have the capacity to plan the economic development of their community or build new partnerships that contribute to grow their economies.
- Economic development partnerships are established with Northern Indigenous organizations and northern communities.
- Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses are provided with the support needed to respond to economic development opportunities.
- Northern Indigenous communities, governments, businesses and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to access financial supports in order to position themselves to benefit from economic opportunities.
- Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses benefit from a supportive business environment and have easier access to commercial financing.
- Increased availability of capacity development support for Indigenous Northerners.
- Indigenous Northerners are provided with the training and capacity development support needed to respond to economic development opportunities.
- Northern Indigenous communities and governments, both local or regional, have the economic infrastructure to support economic development and generate more revenue from economic development.
- Strong, stable territorial economy for the benefit of Indigenous Northerners and all Canadians.
- Increased evidence available for decision-making.
- Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses and communities benefit from Northern economic growth and fully participate in it.
- Increased economic development and diversification driven by investments in Indigenous economic development.
- NIEOP continues to support activities for prosperity and a strong, stable economy in the territories for the benefit of Indigenous peoples in the region.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation: 2023–24
Decision following the results of last evaluation: Continuation
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2027–28
General targeted recipient groups: Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, and businesses in the territories.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: CanNor's economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle. CanNor also collaborates with its partners and engages key stakeholders in discussions regarding community economic development and business growth to ensure that CanNor's investments respond to the needs of Indigenous peoples in the territorial economies. Key stakeholders may include other levels of government, community leaders, industry associations, academics, and private-sector organizations.
Financial information (dollars) - Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Programs (Voted)
| Type of transfer payment | 2024–25 forecast spending | 2025–26 planned spending | 2026–27 planned spending | 2027–28 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total contributions | $13,200,000 | $13,200,000 | $13,200,000 | $10,800,000 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total program | $13,200,000 | $13,200,000 | $13,200,000 | $10,800,000 |
Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation
Start date: October 18, 2018
End date: REGI – CanNor specific funding until 2025–26
Type of transfer payment: Grants and contribution
Type of appropriation: Annually through estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2019–2020
Link to departmental result(s): Businesses are developing in the Territories
Link to the department's program inventory: Business Development
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Through this transfer payment authority, CanNor delivers a number of economic development contribution programs and funding initiatives. These initiatives provide streamlined, nationally consistent and yet regionally tailored support for business productivity and scale-up, particularly for SMEs, women entrepreneurs and other underrepresented groups, and assist the enhancement of regional industrial and technology clusters and regional innovation ecosystems.
For 2025–26, these programs and funding initiatives include: Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI), Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) and Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (RHII).
Expected results:
Expected results (REGI, RAII and RHI)
- Businesses are supported to grow.
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems are supported to grow.
- Local innovative housing solutions are supported to grow.
- Businesses are adopting innovations and commercializing innovative products or services.
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems are expanding the number of supported businesses.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation:
- REGI: 2023–24
- RAII: New Program
- RHII: New Program
Decision following the results of last evaluation:
- REGI: Continuation
- RAII: Not applicable
- RHII: Not applicable
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation:
- REGI: 2027–28
- RAII: Not applicable
- RHII: Not applicable
General targeted recipient groups: The recipients include businesses such as partnerships, social enterprises, incorporated companies, corporations, co-operatives, and Indigenous-owned businesses. It also includes not-for-profit organizations such as sectoral and industry associations, post-secondary educational institutions, as well as Indigenous-led not-for-profits and organizations, municipal, provincial, or territorial governments, including crown corporations.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: CanNor's economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle.
Financial information (dollars) - Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation
| Type of transfer payment | 2024–25 forecast spending | 2025–26 planned spending | 2026–27 planned spending | 2027–28 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | $2,047,282 | $2,047,282 | $0 | $0 |
| Total contributions | $3,316,924 | $3,644,924 | $820,000 | $820,000 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total program | $5,364,206 | $5,692,206 | $820,000 | $820,000 |