First Nation Infrastructure Fund Program guide
This guide, updated as of February 3, 2022, outlines how projects are selected under the First Nation Infrastructure Fund (FNIF) and which projects are eligible for funding. It also lists the criteria used to prioritize eligible projects.
On this page
- About the fund
- Eligible funding recipients
- Where the funding comes from
- The process for getting a project funded
- How projects are identified for funding
- Eligible infrastructure categories
- Other mandatory requirements
- How eligible projects are assessed
- Which costs are covered under the fund
- How to submit a proposal
About the fund
The FNIF supports the delivery of on-reserve infrastructure that falls under the Other Community Infrastructure program. The goal of the FNIF is to improve the quality of life and the environment in First Nations communities. The fund helps improve and increase public infrastructure for First Nations located on reserves, on Crown land and on land set aside for the use and benefit of a First Nation. The FNIF also funds projects outside of reserves if certain conditions are met.
The FNIF is managed under the same processes and controls as the Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program (CFMP), through which the federal government funds on-reserve community infrastructure. The FNIF uses the same program control framework, performance management strategy as the CFMP.
However, the FNIF has different program criteria from the CFMP. The FNIF program criteria are detailed in the terms and conditions of the Contribution to Support the Construction and Maintenance of Community Infrastructure.
Eligible funding recipients
The fund invests in projects that are on reserves, on Crown Land or on lands set aside for the use and benefit of First Nations. It has 3 classes of eligible recipients:
- Indigenous beneficiaries
- First Nations or Inuit governments
- bands or settlements such as land, reserves, trusts
- district councils
- chief councils
- tribal councils
- Organizations
- societies
- institutions
- corporations where the major stakeholders are First Nations, Innu or Inuit
- partnerships, such as public-private partnerships
- Private and public groups
- associations
- corporations
- universities, colleges and training institutions
- local authorities
- municipalities
- provincial and territorial governments and agencies
Proposals for off-reserve projects can be considered if the primary beneficiary is a participating First Nation community or communities. Proposals will also be considered if the off-reserve project will be cost-shared between an on-reserve First Nation and non-First Nations partners, such as nearby municipalities or other Indigenous partners, such as self-governing First Nations or Inuit organizations.
Where the funding comes from
The FNIF pools funding from multiple sources to simplify delivery and maximize the financial impact of funds to address First Nations' infrastructure needs. In past years, some of the funding sources that comprised the FNIF included the Federal Gas Tax Fund, the Building Canada Fund, Budget 2017 for Other Community Infrastructure, Budget 2016 for Structural Mitigation and Cultural & Recreation Facilities, the Revenue Recycling Carbon Tax and Budget 2019 for Structural Mitigation. On a year-to-year basis, the Government of Canada may introduce additional funding sources to reinforce the FNIF in a continued commitment to provide on-going community infrastructure funding that will improve wellbeing and the environment in First Nations communities across the country.
There are no stacking limits that apply directly to the FNIF. Recipients can receive money from other federal funding sources, including the CFMP. If a recipient receives funding from the Building Canada Fund portion of the FNIF, Infrastructure Canada may apply a stacking limit.
The process for getting a project funded
There are 3 main stages to having a project funded through the FNIF:
- Project identification: Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) uses First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans (FNIIPs) to identify projects for potential FNIF funding. Communities interested in receiving funding from the FNIF are encouraged to identify eligible projects in their infrastructure investment plans
- Eligibility screening: After projects have been identified through FNIIPs, project proposals are screened for eligibility
- Prioritization: Eligible projects are then prioritized at a national level based on additional project assessment criteria
How projects are identified for funding
ISC uses FNIIPs to identify projects for potential FNIF funding. Each year, First Nations communities develop infrastructure investment plans and share them with their ISC regional office. In their FNIIPs, First Nations provide a detailed list of their 5-year community infrastructure plans, including information about projects that have been completed, multi-year projects that are underway and future infrastructure investment needs proposals.
In some cases, ISC regional offices, in consultation with First Nations communities, may identify projects that are not documented in a FNIIP. These projects are screened for eligibility and assessed by the same criteria as projects received through the FNIIP process.
The project identification process follows these steps:
- Each fall, First Nations submit their community FNIIPs to ISC regional offices, where projects are screened for eligibility.
- In late fall and early winter, ISC regional offices make investment decisions for the Gas Tax Fund portion of the FNIF. For the remaining FNIF targeted funds of, ISC headquarters establishes the regional based on considerations that include population and number of communities within the region. Every effort is made to ensure the regional distribution of funding is equitable.
- In late winter or early spring, ISC regional offices identify and submit their list of eligible project proposals to ISC headquarters for the following year's funding consideration. ISC headquarters reviews the list of regionally prioritized projects to ensure compliance with program guidelines. Consultation with First Nations or other stakeholders are conducted at the regional level, if applicable.
Eligible infrastructure categories
After projects have been identified through the FNIIPs, project proposals are screened for eligibility.
To be considered eligible for the FNIF, a project must fall within 1 or more of the 8 community infrastructure categories:
- planning and skills development
- solid waste management
- roads and bridges
- energy systems, including fuel tanks
- connectivity
- structural mitigation (previously disaster mitigation)
- fire protection
- cultural and recreational facilities
- band administrative buildings
Consideration is given to local needs and priorities.
Other mandatory requirements
Projects that fall into 1 of the eligible project categories must also:
- be equal or below the maximum amount payable, $10 million per recipient per year for capital projects involving the retrofitting, construction, replacement, expansion, or purchase and installation of fixed assets or infrastructure
- be supported by a Band Council Resolution, Tribal Council Resolution or other documentation indicating support from the governing body of a self-governing First Nation
- be consistent with a community plan or strategy applicable for the respective infrastructure category
- demonstrate how they contribute to the improvement of community health and safety and to a cleaner and healthier environment
- be consistent with all applicable federal and provincial regulatory obligations and standards
- demonstrate principles of sound budgeting such as cost-effectiveness, being based on well-documented needs, having reasonable and justifiable consulting fees and salaries
- have measurable and achievable results or deliverables, such as demonstrating sound project planning practices and having reasonable timelines to facilitate project completion
How eligible projects are assessed
Priority may be given to projects that, having met the mandatory and eligibility criteria, also:
- target high-needs communities
- have a regional impact by providing a benefit for more than 1 First Nations community or across regional boundaries
- are cost-shared with, for example, a nearby municipality or the private sector, and are supplemented with a funding contribution from a First Nation's own-source revenue
- align with regional priorities, such as municipal, provincial, or federal priorities
- demonstrate the potential to partner with nearby communities
Asset specific criteria
Project proposals are also assessed against criteria specific to the appropriate project category:
Planning and skills development
Objective: to support investment in community planning and skills development projects that will enable long-term, sustainable First Nations community development. It is expected that projects funded under this category will facilitate improved and increased public infrastructure in the community or area for which the planning activity is being undertaken.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- comprehensive community planning
- capital or infrastructure planning
- training and awareness related to supporting community infrastructure
Solid waste management
Objective: to construct, restore and improve infrastructure that supports solid waste management. It is expected that projects funded under this category will increase the recovery and use of recycled and organic materials, reduces per capita tonnage of solid waste sent to landfills, reduces environmental impacts and enhances energy recovery.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- waste disposal landfills
- waste diversion, materials recovery facilities such as transfer stations
- organics management
- collection depots
- thermal treatment
- landfill gas recuperation
Roads and bridges
Objective: to construct, restore or improve public roads and bridges to improve safety and support tourism, commerce, and the social and economic development of local areas.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- local roads, arterial roads and bridges within local boundaries
- roads and bridges projects that fall outside local boundaries, but provide access to local communities. For this subcategory, the project must include a partnership with the provincial or municipal jurisdiction where the road or bridge is located
The following costs are outside of the FNIF mandate for funding:
- Private entrances and private access roads which include; an entrance, driveway, laneway or access road to a private dwelling for the use and benefit of the occupants.
Energy systems
Objective: to construct, restore or improve local band-owned infrastructure that optimizes the use of energy sources. For example, the installation of energy efficient retrofits to community buildings and projects that connect communities to provincial energy grids to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air contaminants that arise from a reliance on diesel fuel.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- connecting First Nations communities to provincial or other power grids
- retrofits, for example, energy efficiency improvements to local band-owned buildings or other installations, such as street lighting
- energy systems, including generation and local distribution, for example, renewable energy, cogeneration combined heat and power
- upgrades to and replacement of fuel tank systems to meet regulatory compliance
Connectivity
Objective: to provide under-connected First Nations with better access to nearby broadband networks or other telecommunications rural expansion projects.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- high-speed backbone transport networks
- broadband points of presence
- local access networks
- community satellite equipment
The following costs are outside of the FNIF mandate for funding:
- direct broadband connectivity connections to homes
- operations of a telecommunications company or direct service provider
Structural mitigation
Structural mitigation refers to the construction of infrastructure, as understood under CFMP, and does not include other activities that may be undertaken under the Emergency Management Assistance Program.
Objective: to undertake permanent infrastructure projects that modify hazards, including removing, reducing or eliminating them, segregating hazards by keeping them away from people and infrastructure assets and altering the design and construction of infrastructure assets to make them more resilient to potential hazards.
Structural mitigation projects are intended to support community health and safety, protect infrastructure assets, and support community resilience through strategic investment planning.
To be included in this category, a project must mitigate at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- flood
- landslide
- wild fire
- earthquake
- other, for example, erosion, hurricanes, tsunamis, ice storms, and environmental contamination or degradation
Fire protection
Objective: to support fire protection in First Nations communities on reserves, where project funding is aligned to the revised Level of Services Standards for fire protection, including the 3 graduated levels of support.
- Tier 1: fire prevention and educational programming
- Tier 2: capacity development and training
- Tier 3: capital investments
To be included in this category, a project must align with the following tiered priorities. To access funding in a higher tier, a project must also meet the requirements of the lower tiers.
Tier 1: Fire prevention and educational programming
- fire prevention and fire education programming
- individual home safety and household fire prevention
- examples include a community smoke alarm or fire extinguisher program, or the development of educational awareness materials
Tier 2: Capacity development and training
- capacity development, firefighter training, and the effective operation and maintenance of fire protection equipment
- community fire prevention, including individual home fire safety and enhanced public fire safety governance
- examples include firefighter training programs or support for regional firefighting organizations to conduct fire service assessments
Requirements for Tier 1 must be met to be considered for Tier 2 funding.
Tier 3: Capital investments
- planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, and replacement of fire infrastructure, equipment and assets
- fire services, including individual home fire safety, public and community fire safety governance and an operational fire department
- examples include fire halls, firefighting vehicles, and equipment
Requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 must be met to be considered for Tier 3 funding.
The following specialized services are outside of the CFMP mandate for funding and are therefore not included under the Level of Service Standards for Fire Protection:
- motor vehicle accident response requiring specialized equipment and training, as well as registration with provincial bodies
- forest and grass fire response requiring specialized training and advance registration with provincial bodies
- emergency management response to natural disasters requiring specialized training
- medical emergency response requiring first responder training and registration with provincial bodies
- search and rescue activities and training, such as high alpine or water search and rescue
Fire service to third parties should be covered by a fee-for-service contract or reverse municipal-type service agreement. This applies to, for example, on-reserve lessees, non-First Nations interests, for profit enterprises and any service conducted off-reserve.
Cultural and recreational facilities
Objective: to address long-standing needs related to cultural and recreational facilities on reserves.
To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- community centres and halls, including youth and senior centres
- arenas
- museums
- other infrastructure that reflects the First Nation's heritage, such as pow wow grounds, or that encourages community members to adopt a more active, healthier lifestyle, such as playgrounds, parks, sports fields or baseball diamonds
Band administrative buildings
Objective: to address long-standing needs related to band administrative buildings on reserves.
A band administrative building is defined as a building, or space in a building, used as office space in which departmental program or band administrative and managerial activities take place. To be included in this category, a project must align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- band offices
- administrative buildings
- band council buildings
The following costs are outside of the FNIF mandate for funding:
- supervisor offices
- rented office space
- foreman offices in other classes of buildings, for example, garages
- district offices not owned by ISC
Which costs are covered under the fund
| Type of cost | Eligible, yes or no |
|---|---|
Capital costs of acquiring, constructing or renovating a tangible capital asset
|
Yes |
| Fees paid to qualified professionals, technical personnel, consultants and contractors specifically engaged to undertake the surveying, design, engineering, manufacturing or construction of a project infrastructure asset and related facilities and structures | Yes |
| Costs of environmental assessments, monitoring, and follow-up programs, as required by the Impact Assessment Act for an eligible project | Yes |
Incremental costs related to strengthening the ability of First Nations communities to develop their:
|
Yes |
| Existing community planning processes, other than in relation to the First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plans | No |
| Eligible project costs incurred after conditional project approval | Yes |
| Project costs incurred before conditional approval of a project | No |
| Other costs that are considered to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of a project, and that have been approved in advance by ISC | Yes |
| Services or work that, in ISC's opinion, are normally provided by First Nations, another federal department or a related party | No |
| Salaries and other employment benefits of any employees of the First Nation | No |
Incremental costs of the First Nation employees or equipment if all to the following conditions are met:
|
Yes |
Salary costs to support planning and skills development projects are also permitted if all of the following conditions are met:
|
Yes |
| Costs for the continued operations and maintenance of assets, and any salaries associated with these activities | No |
| Recipient's overhead costs, its direct or indirect operating or administrative costs and more specifically its costs related to planning, engineering, architecture, supervision, management and other activities normally carried out by its staff | No |
| Costs of feasibility studies for individual projects | No |
| Taxes for which the recipient is eligible for a tax rebate and all other costs eligible for rebates | No |
| Costs of land, including its acquisition, or any interest therein, and related costs | No |
| Recipient's costs for the leasing of equipment | No |
| Legal fees | No |
| Routine repair and maintenance costs | No |
| Audit and evaluation costs | No |
Asset-specific costs outside of the scope of the FNIF's authorities:
|
No |
How to submit a proposal
Contact your community's band office or other administrative unit responsible for infrastructure in your community.
For more information on the FNIF program, please contact your ISC regional office.