Details on transfer payment programs

Businesses are developing in the Territories

People and Communities participate in the economy in the Territories

Business Development

Community Development

Through this umbrella transfer payment authority, CanNor delivers a range of northern economic development contribution programs / funding initiatives to promote the economic development of the North, in order to strengthen territorial economies and increase participation by Northerners.

For 2020-21, these programs / funding initiatives include: Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North (IDEANorth), Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), Roadmap for Canada's Official Languages (Economic Development Initiative [EDI]), and Northern Isolated Communities Initiative Fund (NICI).

Expected Results (IDEANorth)

Immediate Outcomes

• Territorial economic growth and capacity is supported
• Businesses are supported to grow
• Gaps (e.g. lacking tourism infrastructure, lacking commercial space available for businesses) in territorial small-scale economic infrastructure are addressed
• Increased readiness to address territorial foundational infrastructure gaps
• Partnerships established with Northern governments and organizations

Intermediate Outcomes

• Investments to advance territorial economic growth and sector development (Stream 1) and small scale economic infrastructure (Stream 3) contribute to increasing local or regional economic development activity (e.g. new jobs (direct or indirect), increased revenue by local businesses, additional investments, increased number of visitors)
• Pre-construction readiness activities (e.g. feasibilities studies, plans, drawings) are used to advance foundational infrastructure projects

Ultimate Outcomes

• Foundational investments in key sectors of the territorial economies (e.g. mining, arts and culture, tourism, commercial fisheries) contributes to enhanced sectoral growth
• Strong, dynamic, diverse innovative and inclusive territorial economies for the benefit of Northerners and all Canadians

Expected Results (CEF)

Immediate Outcomes

• Access to investment in the tourism sector is increased
• Opportunities for skills development and employment in the tourism industry
• Economic benefits of tourism are increased in more regions and underrepresented groups in Canada

Intermediate Outcomes

• Economic benefits of tourism are increased in more regions and underrepresented groups in Canada
• Opportunities for skills development and employment in the tourism industry
• Canada is a location and destination of choice for tourism
• Canadian tourism market is expanded

Ultimate Outcomes

• Economic benefits of tourism are increased in more regions and underrepresented groups in Canada
• Canada is a location and destination of choice for tourism
• Canadian tourism market is expanded

Expected Results (EDI)

Immediate Outcomes

• Increased number of organizations and businesses within Official Languages Minority Communities (OLMCs) implementing economic development initiatives

Intermediate Outcomes

• Improved business and organizations capacities for economic development initiatives that respond to the need of OLMCs

Expected Results (NICI)

Immediate Outcomes

• Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency provides funding for a wide diversity of projects that address issue areas related to the territorial food system
• Northern Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and communities are supported to develop innovative solutions to food insecurity in the territories
• Territorial food system initiatives identified by territorial governments are supported by Stream 2 of the NICI Fund

Intermediate Outcomes

• Agriculture and agri-food SMEs have increased revenue as a result of innovation in the territorial food system
• Innovation in the territorial food systems by SMEs results in creation and maintenance of employment in the food sector
• Northern communities receive new or improved local food infrastructure that improves their physical access to locally-produced food
• Funding recipients share their lessons learned following the completion of pilot project funding
• Northern communities have better economic and physical access to nutritious food produced in the territories

Ultimate Outcomes

• Improved food security in northern and Indigenous communities
• Successful Stream 1(B) pilot projects are scaled-up and generate innovative improvements in the territorial food systems

SINED: 2017-18

EDI: 2016-17 (ISED)

IDEANorth: 2022-23

EDI: 2022-23 (ISED)

CanNor’s economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle.

People and Communities participate in the economy in the Territories

Businesses are developing in the Territories

Business Development

Community Development

Through this transfer payment authority, CanNor delivers the Northern Aboriginal Economic Opportunities Program (NAEOP), which supports increased participation by Indigenous communities and businesses in the territories in economic opportunities. The Program comprises two streams:

• Community Readiness and Opportunities Planning (CROP) stream, which 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; and
• Entrepreneurship and Business Development (EBD) stream, which 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.

This transfer payment program may be conditionally or unconditionally repayable. Considerations for repayability are outlined in the program's terms and conditions.

Immediate Outcomes

• 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 benefit from financial support to benefit from economic opportunities
• Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses benefit from a supportive business environment and have easier access to commercial financing

Intermediate Outcomes

• Indigenous Northerners are provided with the training and capacity development support needed to respond to economic development opportunities
• Northern Indigenous communities and governments (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

Ultimate Outcomes

• 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

CanNor will continue to engage program recipients and stakeholders regarding the inclusion of capacity related funding. In addition, CanNor’s economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle.

REGI – Ongoing

WEF – March 31, 2021

WES Ecosystem Fund – March 31, 2023

REGI - Grant and Contribution

WES - Contribution

The Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI) initiative builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan. The goal of REGI is to provide streamlined, nationally consistent and yet regionally tailored support for business productivity and scale-up, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women entrepreneurs and other underrepresented groups, and assist the enhancement of regional industrial and technology clusters and regional innovation ecosystems.

The program will provide assistance through two new program streams:

• Business Scale-up and Productivity Stream (BSP): Invest in and support businesses at various stages of development, including high-growth firms to accelerate their growth and assist them in scaling up, enhance their productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.
• Regional Innovation Ecosystems Stream (RIE): Create, grow and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and foster an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness.

Contributions issued under REGI may be unconditionally or conditionally repayable, or non-repayable.

In 2020-21 CanNor will increase funding flowing through REGI to $2.5M to increase its support to businesses.

The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) provides nationally coordinated, regionally tailored investments to help women entrepreneurs and support regional innovation ecosystems through two program streams:

• WES Ecosystem Fund: A five-year program to help non-profit, third-party organizations deliver support for women entrepreneurs and address gaps in the ecosystem. Contributions issued under the WES are non-repayable only.
• Pilot Contribution Program (Women Entrepreneurship Fund): A two-year program completed in 2019-20 that invests directly in women-owned or women-led businesses to help them grow and reach new markets.

• Businesses are adopting innovations and commercializing innovative products or services
• Regional Innovation Ecosystems are expanding the number of supported businesses
• Women entrepreneurs have access to programs and services to support business development and growth

Incorporated for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, industry associations, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, business accelerators, incubators, women-led businesses, angel networks; social enterprises; a group of eligible recipients such as an industry association or consortium; a municipality and all other municipal-type organizations; and a federal or provincial crown corporation/ organization or any other entity created by the provincial government or a provincial department.

CanNor’s economic development officers regularly engage with applicants and funding recipients throughout the project development cycle.