First Nations Enhanced Education Infrastructure Fund
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) works with First Nations through the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program to provide financial and advisory assistance to First Nations in the development of their basic public infrastructure, including education facilities. The Enhanced Education Infrastructure Fund is part of the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program.
Update
Budget 2016 is investing $969.4 million over 5 years, starting in 2016-2017, for the construction, repair and maintenance of First Nations education facilities. This commitment enhances the existing Education Infrastructure Fund by increasing its available funding and is part of a long-term strategy to improve First Nations education infrastructure.
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About education infrastructure
First Nations own and operate education facilities on reserve and are responsible for managing projects to renovate or build new facilities. The Government of Canada provides funding to First Nations to build new schools, renovate and expand existing facilities, and operate and maintain existing education infrastructure. Education infrastructure can include school facilities such as classrooms, gyms, science labs, sports fields, home economics and shop facilities.
Between 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, the Government of Canada invested some $1.5 billion in school infrastructure including building new schools, major additions, renovations and the operation and maintenance of existing facilities.
Budget 2014 committed $500 million over seven years (starting in 2015-2016) for education facilities, plus $175 million in additional funding.
As part of the Enhanced Education Infrastructure Fund, ISC has also established an Innovation Fund to provide funding to First Nations communities to build school facilities that are innovative, promote education reform or achieve cost savings.
Who can apply?
First Nations communities.
Deadlines
To be eligible to receive funding, First Nations communities must submit their First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan every year to their ISC regional office by September 30.
How to apply?
There is no application. Funding is determined based on information provided in the mandatory annual First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan. This report details the First Nation's infrastructure plans over the next five years and alerts ISC of any proposed capital projects the community may require, including education facilities projects. An updated report must be provided each year before capital funds are released to First Nations. This report should only include eligible projects under the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program.
Proposed projects are assessed by ISC regional officials and prioritized according to the School Priority Ranking Framework. The results guide ISC's investment decisions about education facilities. The framework uses nationally established criteria that consider:
- condition of existing facility (with a focus on health and safety)
- overcrowding
- accessibility to off-reserve schools
- design (grade distribution and amenities offered)
- cost-efficiency opportunities (external funding sources and aggregation)
Other factors taken into account include:
- state of project readiness
- cost-sharing opportunities
- opportunities to achieve efficiencies
- innovative solutions and financing
For more information, contact ISC through our public enquiries centre.