First Nation Infrastructure Fund Guide
The First Nation Infrastructure Fund (FNIF) Guide, updated on December 19, 2024, is designed to help you apply for funding for eligible infrastructure projects.
On this page
About the fund
FNIF is a proposal-based infrastructure fund, supporting 9 infrastructure project categories:
- band administrative buildings
- cultural and recreational facilities
- fire protection
- structural mitigation
- connectivity
- energy systems
- roads and bridges
- sold waste management
- planning and skills development
The funding is aimed at improving the environment and quality of life in First Nations communities by supporting community infrastructure located on reserves on:
- Crown land
- land set aside for the use and benefit of a First Nation
FNIF applications can be considered for projects outside of reserves if the primary beneficiary is a participating First Nation community. Projects are also eligible when cost-shared with partners such as:
- neighbouring municipalities
- self-governing First Nations
- Inuit organizations
Who is eligible to receive funding
Indigenous beneficiaries
- Bands or settlements land, reserves, trusts
- First Nations or Inuit governments referred to in a self-government or land claims agreement
- District councils or chief councils
- Tribal councils
Organizations
- Societies
- Associations
- Institutions
- Corporations where the major shareholders are First Nations or Inuit
- Partnerships
Private class of eligible recipients
- Associations
- Corporations, construction, general contractor, partnerships with First Nations
- Colleges and other training institutions in the area of training, ISC may enter into arrangements with a private entity
- Societies
- Financial institutions, if bridge financing
Public class of eligible recipients
- Training institutions
- Provincial or territorial governments, for example, provincial winter roads, joint school agreements
- Provincial or territorial agencies, including provincial school boards
- Municipalities, various municipal-type agreements for provision of services such as water, wastewater and fire protection
- Local authorities or other authorities established by provincial government to divest responsibilities
- Boards and commissions, same as local authorities
- Universities and colleges, for example, agreements to provide training and certification for water and wastewater operators
How to identify projects for funding
First Nations can identify eligible infrastructure projects mainly through a First Nations Infrastructure Investment Plan (FNIIP) that they submit to a ISC regional office by September 30 of each year.
ISC regional offices, in collaboration with First Nations, assess project plans and identify potential infrastructure projects for FNIF funding in First Nations communities across Canada.
Exceptionally, ISC regional offices, working alongside 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 though the FNIIP process.
ISC headquarters reviews the regionally prioritized project list to ensure adherence to program guidelines. Regional engagement with First Nations or other partners is conducted as needed.
Recipients of funding from the FNIF are also eligible to receive funding from other federal sources.
For additional information on service standards and timeframe, visit Indigenous Services Canada Transfer Payment Service Standards.
Mandatory requirements
Projects must meet the following conditions:
- fall within 1 or more of the 9 eligible infrastructure categories
- cost $10 million or less per recipient per year for capital projects involving retrofitting, construction, replacement, expansion, or purchase and installation of fixed assets or infrastructure
- have support from a First Nation, band council or Tribal Council Resolution or other documentation from the governing body of a self-governing First Nation
- align with a community plan or strategy for the respective infrastructure category
- demonstrate how they improve community health and safety and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment
- comply with all applicable federal and provincial regulatory obligations and standards
- follow sound budgeting principles such as cost-effectiveness, well-documented needs and reasonable and justifiable consulting fees and salaries
- have measurable and achievable results or deliverables, such as good project planning and having reasonable timelines for project completion
For additional details, visit Transfer Payment Program Terms and Conditions: Contributions to support the construction and maintenance of community infrastructure.
Specific requirements for each eligible infrastructure category
Band administrative buildings
A band administrative building is a permanent structure or space in a permanent structure, used as office space in which band governance, administrative and managerial activities take place.
Objective: Address long-standing needs for band administrative buildings on reserves.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- band offices
- band administrative buildings
- band council buildings
Special considerations:
- band administrative buildings are to be constructed in accordance with the appropriate provincial or territorial building code or the National Building Code that will be applied to the renovation, modernization or new build of band administrative buildings
Expenses not covered by this category:
- office space for purposes other than the governance, administration, or management of the band or community
- rented office space
- public works foreman offices in other classes of buildings, for example, garages
- district offices not operated by ISC
- construction lodgment to temporarily house skilled laborers
Cultural and recreational facilities
Objective: Address longstanding needs for cultural and recreational facilities on reserves by upgrading community buildings and cultural centres to meet residents' long-term requirements.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- community centres and halls, including youth and seniors' centres
- arenas
- museums
- other infrastructure that reflects the First Nation's culture or customs, such as pow wow grounds or that encourages community members to adopt a more active, healthier lifestyle, such as playgrounds, parks, sports fields or ball-game courts
- other examples include archival buildings, boardwalks, walking trails, skate parks, community longhouses, splash pads and smudging rooms
Expenses not covered by this category:
- band administration buildings
- warehouses
- maintenance shops
- garages
- construction lodgment to temporarily house skilled laborers
Fire protection
Objective: Support fire protection in First Nations communities on reserves, aligning project funding with Level of Services Standards for fire protection, including 3 graduated levels of support:
- Tier 1: fire prevention and educational programming
- Tier 2: capacity development and training
- Tier 3: capital investments
Projects aim to elevate fire protection awareness and preparedness.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to align with the following tiered priorities, as follows:
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
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
Special considerations:
- to access funding in a higher tier, a project must also meet the requirements of the lower tiers.
- 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.
Expenses not covered by this category:
- 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
Structural mitigation
Structural mitigation is a physical measure that reduces or prevents the impact of natural hazards and climate change on infrastructure like residential buildings, community buildings, water and wastewater systems and roads.
Objective: Implement permanent infrastructure projects to mitigate environmental and climate change hazards by removing, reducing or segregating them from communities and infrastructure assets, while enhancing resilience through adapted design construction to bolster community health, safety and climate resilience.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to mitigate at least 1 of the following:
- flood
- landslide
- wildfire
- earthquake
- other examples include projects to mitigate the impacts of erosion, hurricanes, tsunamis, ice storms and environmental contamination or degradation
Expenses not covered by this category:
- small generators
- tsunami warning systems
- utility trailer or container for emergency management equipment storage
- high visibility protective equipment, such as vests, hats, pants
- technology devices for emergency management team, such as laptops, tablets
- community notification systems
- office stationery and equipment
- portable pumps and hoses
- activities that qualify for the Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP)
Connectivity
Objective: Support under-connected First Nations in accessing regional broadband network expansions or other rural telecommunication projects to enhance social, cultural, and economic development opportunities and improve public service delivery, including government, education, and e-health.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to 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 including low earth orbit technology
Expenses not covered by this category:
- direct broadband connectivity connections to homes
- operations of a telecommunications company or direct service provider
- consumer premise equipment for low earth orbit satellite technology for individual homes or businesses
- equipment for institutions, homes, or businesses, such as computers, software, routers, internal cabling
Energy systems
Objective: Construct, restore and enhance local band-owned infrastructure, emphasizing energy optimization. This includes implementing energy-efficient retrofits for community buildings and establishing connections to provincial energy grids to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and air contaminants resulting from diesel fuel reliance.
Specific requirements: 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, such as solar and wind assist in diesel reduction, cogeneration combined heat and power
- transitional energy systems that support a community as they move off diesel, for example, natural gas, propane
- upgrades to and replacement of fuel tank systems to meet regulatory compliance
Expenses not covered by this category:
- economic development projects
Roads and bridges
Objective: Construct, restore and enhance public roads and bridges to bolster safety and promote tourism, commerce and local social and economic development.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- local roads, arterial roads and bridges within local boundaries
- roads and bridges projects such as all-season and winter roads, extending beyond local boundaries to facilitate access for local communities. For this subcategory, the project must include a partnership with the provincial or municipal jurisdiction where the road or bridge is located
Expenses not covered by this category:
- private entrances and private access roads including an entrance, driveway, laneway or access road to a private dwelling for the use and benefit of the occupants
- construction lodgment to temporarily house skilled laborers
Levels of service standard
All roads on reserve will be required to meet or exceed standards based on the current Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads (TAC Guide). Bridges must meet or exceed the standards in the latest edition of the CAN/CSA S6-88 Design of Highway Bridges. All roads and bridges must be certified by a Professional Engineer.
The TAC Guide will be used to determine the level of service, taking the following factors into consideration:
- the class of the road
- the design speed
- traffic characteristics
- surface type
Roads and bridges which receive funding but are built or rebuilt off reserve must meet the same levels of service standards as if the work happens on reserve. They may also have to follow higher standards set by the provincial, territorial, regional or municipal transportation authority.
For more details on the levels of service, refer to the Appendices of the Roads and Bridges directive.
Solid waste management
Objective: Construct, restore and enhance infrastructure that supports solid waste management, aiming to increase recycling and organic material diversion, reduce landfill waste per capita, minimize environmental impacts and support energy recovery.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to align with at least 1 of the following sub-categories:
- waste disposal landfills
- waste diversion, such as materials recovery facilities
- transfer stations and eco depots
- organics management
- collection depots
- thermal treatment
- landfill gas recuperation
- site closure and decommissioning
Expenses not covered by this category:
- remediation of contaminated sites including costs incurred through environmental site assessments
- demolition of derelict infrastructure
- capital costs associated with non-Indigenous use of regional facilities
For additional funding available for solid waste management projects on reserve, visit First Nations Waste Management Initiative.
Planning and skills development
Objective: Support investments in community planning and skills development for sustainable First Nations community development, focusing on enhancing public infrastructure within the targeted community or area.
Specific requirements: To be included in this category, a project is expected to 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
Expenses not covered by this category:
- training for volunteers
- program research
- printing and distribution of public information materials
- data analysis and reporting
- program audit and evaluation
How eligible projects are prioritized
Projects that meet the eligibility, mandatory and specific criteria will be prioritized based on their:
- focus on high-priority projects in communities with the most at-risk infrastructure
- beneficial regional impacts, for example, offer benefits to multiple First Nations communities or across regional boundaries
- potential for partnering with nearby First Nations communities
- ability to cost-shared with another federal government department, a nearby municipality or the private sector or if they are supplemented with funding from a First Nation's own-source revenue
- alignment with regional, municipal, provincial or federal priorities, such as resilient and green infrastructure
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 |
Other related government of Canada programs
- Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF)
- Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF)
- Capital Facilities and Maintenance Program (CFMP)
- Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program (CERRC)
- Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF)
- Emergency Management Assistance Program (EMAP)
- First Nations Adapt (FNA) Program
- First Nations Waste Management Initiative
- Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program
- Indigenous Off-diesel Initiative
- Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF)
- Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF)
- Universal Broadband Fund (UBF)
- Wah-Ila-Toos: Clean Energy Initiatives in Indigenous, rural and remote communities