Background

The objective of the First Nations Infrastructure Fund (FNIF) is to improve the quality of life and the environment for First Nation communities by assisting First Nations in the provinces to improve and increase public infrastructure on reserves, Crown Land, land set-aside for the use and benefit of a First Nation, or off-reserve in the case of cost-shared projects with non-First Nation partners such as neighbouring municipalities.

Five categories of projects are eligible for funding under the program, each with several subcategories. All projects must fall within one or more of the eligible subcategories:

• Planning and Skills Development
  • Comprehensive Community Planning
  • Capital / Infrastructure Planning
  • Community Infrastructure Awareness and Maintenance Capacity
  • Training Related to Supporting Community Infrastructure
  
  
• Solid Waste Management
  • Waste Disposal Site Construction
  • Waste Diversion Projects
  • Transfer Stations
  • Recycling
  
  
• Roads and Bridges
  • Local Roads
  • Access Roads
  • Cost Sharing With Provincial / Municipal Roads Projects
  • Bridges
  
  
• Energy Systems
  • Grid Hook-Up Projects
  • Sustainable Energy Systems For Facilities - Solar Walls, Ground-Source Heat Pumps, Wind Power, Etc.
  
  
• Connectivity
  • High-speed backbone (transport) networks
  • Broadband points of presence (PoPs)
  • Local access networks
  • Satellite capacity

 

How will the program be managed?

Effective August 2009, First Nations will be invited to participate in the First Nation Infrastructure Fund Third Call for proposals. First Nations are to submit their application forms, including project proposals, to their respective Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) regional office. The proposals will be forwarded to the Regional Committee, comprised of regional representatives from the First Nations and INAC as well as municipal, provincial, federal, and/or private sector representatives, when appropriate. This committee will be responsible to analyse and assess the project applications against established screening and selection criteria, and make funding recommendations to the Regional Director General (RDG).

Who can apply?

Eligible FNIF recipients are First Nation communities, which includes:

• a First Nation government including a band or tribal council or its agent (including its wholly owned corporation) on the condition that the First Nation has indicated support for the project and for the legally designated representative to act as an Applicant through a formal Band or Tribal Council resolution, or other documentation from Self-governing First Nations; and
• Innu communities where the applicant is on reserve or on Crown Land in the provinces;

The following are not eligible FNIF recipients:

• Departments, ministries and agencies of Canada or of a Province or Territory and federal, provincial or territorial departmental corporations or Crown corporations.
• Any other entity, such as private sector entities, that delivers core municipal services agreed to in a jurisdiction by Canada and that jurisdiction.

Project Funding

Applicants demonstrating the ability to cost share projects with the Federal Government will have their applications evaluated and ranked such that this capacity is recognized and rewarded. The same can be said of applications where the applicant has secured a partnership with contiguous municipalities, provincial authorities or private interests.

In an effort to recognize the range of infrastructure needs in First Nation communities across the country, regional committees will strive to ensure that all parts of the region benefit from projects, and in an effort to respect this, the contribution from FNIF will not exceed $10 million per project. While FNIF will allow a First Nation to apply every year to access FNIF funding, the maximum allowed payable per recipient will also be capped at $10 million over the five year program. This will also support the objective of FNIF to ensure that as many First Nations as possible have the opportunity to access these funds.

Additional Information

For additional information on the First Nations Infrastructure Fund, please contact your respective INAC regional office.

Applicants applying for funding under the FNIF will be evaluated as to how their Application (Business Case) meets the objectives set out for the applicable Project Category. Proposed projects must satisfy all mandatory screening criteria in order to be eligible for funding. Projects meeting the mandatory screening criteria will then be measured against the selection criteria for the project category selected, in consideration of local needs and priorities.

Review the section below to ensure that your proposed project meets the mandatory criteria and ensure that your application (Business Case) clearly states how and to what extent your proposed project meets the selection criteria identified for each Project Category.

In this Guide, "partnerships" means an arrangement between the applicant and other First Nation communities, provincial, municipal or private interests, for the purposes of providing public infrastructure and related services, that is characterized by the sharing of risks and rewards between the partners.

Mandatory Screening Criteria For All Categories:

The following are the mandatory screening criteria for ALL categories:

• The Project is supported by a Band Council Resolution (BCR) or a Tribal Council Resolution (TCR) or other documentation from Self-governing First Nations;
• The Project must be consistent with a sound strategy and/or community plan for its respective category;
• The Project must be consistent with Canada's objectives in respect of sustainable growth, competitiveness, and climate change;
• The Project must be consistent with all applicable Federal and provincial regulatory obligations and standards, as applicable;
• The Project demonstrates principles of sound budgeting (based on well-documented needs, is cost-effective, demonstrates full costs and cost-sharing, consulting fees and salaries are reasonable and justifiable, etc.); and
• The Project's results (deliverables) are measurable and achievable.

Category 1: Planning and Skills Development

Objective

The objective of this category is to support investment in community planning and/or skills development projects that will support long-term sustainable community development of First Nation communities.

Subcategories

To fall within this category, a Project must be directly related to one of the following subcategories:

1. Comprehensive Community Planning
2. Capital/Infrastructure Planning
3. Training and awareness related to supporting community infrastructure

Selection Criteria

A Project will be ranked on how and to what extent it:

• Defines and specifies capacity gaps, and identifies how they are logically connected together;
• Clearly describes linkages to other initiatives related to community planning or capital/infrastructure planning and capacity building, and identifies potential or existing partnerships;
• Explains how First Nation community awareness, engagement, participation, consultation, and communication will be promoted;
• Proposes well planned and defined activities, logically sequenced, with realistic timelines;
• Considers and mitigates the short and long-term risks and impacts of the construction and use of infrastructure with respect to the environment;
• Uses best possible technologies, practices and approaches, including the use of innovative technology or processes;
• Levers other band, public and/or private sector funding;
• Demonstrates partnerships in the Project with applicable contiguous municipalities and provincial authorities;
• Responds to an urgent health or safety requirement; and
• Reduces or eliminates potential impacts or risks associated with disasters.

Additional Criteria for Comprehensive Community Planning Proposals

• Provides for a long-term commitment to planning and/or capacity building and specifies how capacity achieved through the project will be retained once it is developed;
• Takes a comprehensive approach to planning, including social, economic, environmental/land, cultural and governance aspects of a community; and
• Gives details as to how the planning process and community engagement will be administratively supported and maintained, and identifies the roles and responsibilities for individuals and/or teams/committees.

Category 2: Solid Waste Management

Objective

The objective of this category is to construct, restore and improve infrastructure that improves solid waste management and increases the recovery and use of recycled and organic materials, reduces per capita tonnage of solid waste sent to landfill, reduces environmental impacts and enhances energy recovery.

Subcategories

To fall within this category, a Project must be directly related to one of the following subcategories:

1. Waste Disposal Landfills;
2. Waste Diversion - Materials Recovery Facilities (Transfer Stations);
3. Organics Management;
4. Collection Depots;
5. Thermal Treatment; and,
6. Landfill gas recuperation

Selection Criteria

A Project will be ranked on how and to what extent it:

• Addresses the environmental impacts of current solid waste management practices and reduces environmental impacts and footprints, including reduction of per capita waste to disposal and/or increased percentage of per capita waste recycled or composted;
• Features closed-loop resource management (energy generated from solid waste, waste re-use, recycling and passive energy sources);
• Proposes well planned and defined activities, logically sequenced, with realistic timelines.
• Considers and mitigates the short and long-term risks and impacts of the construction and use of infrastructure with respect to the environment;
• Uses best possible technologies, practices and approaches, including the use of innovative technology or processes;
• Levers other band, public and/or private sector funding;
• Demonstrates partnerships in the Project with applicable contiguous municipalities and provincial authorities;
• In the case of a Project where the resulting infrastructure will serve a commercial operation, the Business Plan must provide for full cost recovery. If full cost recovery is not possible, the Business Plan must provide alternative strategies for recovery;
• Responds to an urgent health or safety requirement; and
• Reduces or eliminates potential impacts or risks associated with disasters.

Category 3: Roads and Bridges

Objective

The objective of this category is to construct, restore or improve public roads and bridges that will result in improved safety, support tourism and commerce, support social and economic development of local areas.

Subcategories

To fall within this category, a Project must be directly related to one of the following subcategories:

1. Local roads, arterial roads and bridges within local boundaries; and,
2. Roads and bridges projects which fall outside local boundaries but provide access to local communities. For this subcategory, the Applicant must demonstrate a partnership with the provincial or municipal jurisdiction where the road or bridge is located.

Selection Criteria

A Project will be ranked on how and to what extent it:

• Considers, improves and provides mitigation strategies for the impact the road investment will have on the local and surrounding roads infrastructure, transportation, and public safety and security;
• Improves access to business, employment and educational opportunities for local citizens;
• Proposes well planned and defined activities, logically sequenced, with realistic timelines.
• Considers and mitigates the short and long-term risks and impacts of the construction and use of infrastructure with respect to the environment;
• Uses best possible technologies, practices and approaches, including the use of innovative technology or processes;
• Levers other band, public and/or private sector funding;
• Demonstrates partnerships in the Project with applicable contiguous municipalities and provincial authorities;
• Responds to an urgent health or safety requirement; and
• Reduces or eliminates potential impacts or risks associated with disasters.

Category 4: Energy Systems

Objective

The objective of this category is to construct, restore or improve Local Band-owned Infrastructure that optimizes the use of energy sources (eg. in buildings and other installations), accesses provincially owned energy grids and reduces the GHG emissions and air contaminants arising from local sources.

Subcategories

To fall within this category, a Project must be directly related to one of the following subcategories:

1. Connecting First Nations communities to provincial or other power grids;
2. Retrofits of Local Band-owned buildings;
3. Energy Systems such as renewable energy, combined heat and power, cogeneration and direct energy; and,
4. Street Lighting.

Selection Criteria

A Project will be ranked in how and to what extent it:

• Reduces air pollution and/or GHG, with greater consideration for Projects with larger reductions, and taking into account the cost-effectiveness of the reductions per federal dollar provided and per capita;
• In the case of cogeneration and direct energy systems:
  • displaces high-GHG energy sources;
  • features the cost-competitive use of energy;
• In the case of buildings:
  • addresses the use of heating and cooling systems using renewable sources, such as ground-source heat pumps, high-efficiency / low-emission biomass combustion systems, solar walls, and solar hot water systems;
  • Increases comfort of occupants in buildings;
• Reduces community operation and maintenance burden associated with the infrastructure;
• Is supported by a local climate change plan;
• Increases energy efficiency, diversity and security, and considers the use of alternative sources of electricity, heating and cooling;
• Proposes well planned and defined activities, logically sequenced, with realistic timelines;
• Uses best possible technologies, practices and approaches, including the use of innovative technology or processes;
• Levers other band, public and/or private sector funding;
• Demonstrates partnerships in the Project with applicable contiguous municipalities and provincial authorities;
• Responds to an urgent health or safety requirement; and
• Reduces or eliminates potential impacts or risks associated with disasters.

Category 5: Connectivity Infrastructure Partnerships

Objective:

The objective of this category is to support under-connected First Nations to gain access to nearby regional broadband networks and/or nearby regional telecommunications rural broadband expansion projects in order to enhance community access to information and broadband technologies.

Subcategories:

To fall within this category, a project must be directly related to one of the following infrastructure subcategories:

1. High-speed backbone (transport) networks;
2. Broadband points of presence (PoPs);
3. Local access networks;
4. Community satellite equipment.

Selection Criteria:

A project will be ranked based on how and to that extent it:

• Captures a large regional cluster of highly under-served communities (in terms of connectivity); and partners and levers other regional federal, provincial government, nearby communities, private sector firms and band funding or connectivity investments;
• Demonstrates long term financial and operational sustainability;
• Demonstrates community commitment and support;
• Supports community public and private revenue creation;
• Supports remote electronic infrastructure monitoring and control;
• Engages local federal and provincial education, health, infrastructure and economic development stakeholders in long term e-service and program delivery;
• Anticipates and demonstrates local community technology support;
• Uses best, most appropriate and cost effective technology available;
• Responds to urgent health and safety requirements;
• Supports community emergency planning; and,
• Demonstrates consistency with existing government/industry strategies and initiatives in the province; and,
• Creates direct and indirect FN economic development opportunities.

NB: To assist in preparation and partnership development, each province (with sufficient evidence of regional FN leadership support) may apply for a comprehensive regional connectivity and partnership planning study.

The following provides a brief explanation of the information required in each section of the application form. If you require additional assistance in completing the attached application form, please contact your local INAC regional office.

Section I - Applicant/Sponsor Information

Section II - Project Information

Section III - Project Categories

Section IV - Project Benefits

Section V - Other Requirements

Section VI - Project Costs

Section VII - Environmental Assessment

(To be completed by partnering organization)

Program Objective: Enhance the Quality of the Environment