Transfer payment programs
Table of contents
- Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Grants and Contributions for Promoting Regional Development in Canada’s Three Territories
- Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Programs
- Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Grants and Contributions for Promoting Regional Development in Canada’s Three Territories
Timeframe of the transfer payment program
- Start date: April 1, 2009
- End date: Ongoing
- Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2014-15, updated 2018-19, updated 2025-26
Funding Details
- Name of program terms and conditions: Grants and Contributions for Promoting Regional Development in Canada’s Three Territories – Transfer Payment Program Terms and Conditions
- Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions
- Type of appropriation: Annually through Estimates
Purpose and objectives
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Through this umbrella transfer payment authority, CanNor delivers a range of northern economic development contribution programs/funding initiatives to promote economic development in the North that strengthens territorial economies and increases participation by Northerners.
For 2026-2027, these programs/funding initiatives include: the Economic Development Initiative (EDI), Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth), the Northern Isolated Communities Initiative (NICI) Fund, Pilimmaksaivik’s Grants and Contributions Program, the Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII), the Support for Northern Infrastructure Development (SNID) initiative, and the Yukon Gathering Place.
Recipients
General targeted recipient groups: Eligible recipients include individuals, businesses, social enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, educational partners, for-profit enterprises, Indigenous governments and organizations, other levels of government, and other non-federal entities, public or private, that have an interest in economic development in the North.
Departmental Results Framework
Link to departmental result(s):
- Businesses are Developing in the Territories
- People and Communities Participate in the Economy in the Territories
- Efficient and predictable environmental review process in the territories
- Representative Inuit federal workforce within Nunavut
Link to the department’s Program Inventory:
- Business Development
- Community Development
- Pilimmaksaivik
Expected results:
Key expected results include:
- Building the knowledge base – increased scientific and policy data and knowledge, as well as increased public access to data and knowledge, and better-informed plans and priority setting.
- Economic infrastructure – project proponents are better positioned to advance economic infrastructure projects in the North, including increased readiness plus ability to attract public and private sector investment; new/revitalized small-scale economic infrastructure; and increased access to technology, equipment, and telecommunication services.
- Developing capacity – increased capacity of private, public and community organizations to define, plan, participate in and carry out projects, including business and skills development and major projects; improved skills, expert support and information systems; increased availability of skilled northern workers; and building a representative federal public service in Nunavut.
- Economic diversification – continued sector development (e.g., mining, arts and culture, tourism, commercial fisheries, etc.); diversification of northern economies; increased production and innovation capacity, productivity, competitiveness, and supply chain and new market integration amongst northern businesses.
Evaluation
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2026-27
- EDI: N/A
- IDEANorth: 2026-27
- Pilimmaksaivik: 2028-29
- NICI: N/A
- RDII: N/A
- SNID: N/A
- Yukon Gathering Place: N/A
Financial information (dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2025-26 forecast spending | 2026-27 planned spending | 2027-28 planned spending | 2028-29 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 8,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 2,500,000 | 2,500,000 |
| Total contributions | 46,032,163 | 66,737,000 | 47,987,000 | 15,737,000 |
| Total other transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 54,032,163 | 74,737,000 | 50,487,000 | 18,237,000 |
Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Northern Indigenous Economic Opportunities Programs
Timeframe of the transfer payment program
- Start date: April 1, 2014
- End date: Ongoing
- Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2013-14, updated 2017-18, updated 2022-23
Funding Details
- Name of program terms and conditions: Contributions to Support Indigenous Participation in the Northern Economy – Transfer Payment Program Terms and Conditions
- Type of transfer payment: Contributions
- Type of appropriation: Annually through Estimates
Purpose and objectives
- Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Through this transfer payment authority, including additional funding received through 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, all of which contribute to territorial economic growth. The enhanced program comprises three streams:
- The 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.
- The 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 Economic Research Stream (ERS) provides project-based support for research, knowledge transfer, and the distribution of information to establish a research agenda by targeting research proposals that can contribute to the territorial Indigenous business ecosystem.
Recipients
General targeted recipient groups: Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, and businesses in the territories
Departmental Results Framework
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
Expected results:
- 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.
Evaluation
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2026-27
Financial information (dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2025-26 forecast spending | 2026-27 planned spending | 2027-28 planned spending | 2028-29 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 13,200,000 | 13,200,000 | 10,800,000 | 10,800,000 |
| Total other transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 13,200,000 | 13,200,000 | 10,800,000 | 10,800,000 |
Transfer Payment Program or Funding Agreement: Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
Timeframe of the transfer payment program
- Start date: October 18, 2018
- End date: 2029-2030
- Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2019-2020, updated 2024-25, updated 2025-26
Funding Details
- Name of program terms and conditions: Growth Through Regional Innovation Program
- Type of transfer payment: Grants and contributions
- Type of appropriation: Annually through Estimates
Purpose and objectives
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 2026-27, these programs and funding initiatives include: Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP), the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), and the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII).
Recipients
General targeted recipient groups: businesses such as partnerships, social enterprises, incorporated companies, corporations, co-operatives, and Indigenous-owned businesses; not-for-profit organizations such as sectoral and industry associations, post-secondary educational institutions; Indigenous-led not-for-profits and organizations, municipal, provincial, or territorial governments, including crown corporations.
Departmental Results Framework
Link to departmental result(s):
- Businesses are Developing in the Territories
Link to the department’s Program Inventory:
- Business Development
Expected results:
- The region’s businesses are innovative and growing, and they invest in the development, commercialization and adoption of innovative technologies.
- Regional innovation ecosystems are strong, dynamic and inclusive.
Evaluation
Fiscal year of next planned evaluation:
- BEP: N/A
- RTRI: N/A
- RAII: N/A
Financial information (dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2025-26 forecast spending | 2026-27 planned spending | 2027-28 planned spending | 2028-29 planned spending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 2,047,282 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 6,648,985 | 4,706,511 | 4,706,511 | 1,120,000 |
| Total other transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 8,696,267 | 4,706,511 | 4,706,511 | 1,120,000 |