Baie-James Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2027 – Structuring the regional tourism offering

• Completed and signed application form submitted in Excel format
• Project plan detailing deliverables and three-year impacts
• Financial statements for the last two years of the organization (where required)
• Forecast revenue and expense statement for the project duration
• Board resolution mandating the signatory, plus any required attestations (e.g. OQLF, Indigenous status, accreditation documents)

• The applicant must be legally constituted under Quebec or Canadian law and conduct business in Quebec.
• The promoter and project must be established within the Baie-James tourism region, including Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Matagami and Eeyou Istchee Baie-James.
• The organization must have met prior commitments to partners for any previous subsidies received under this agreement.
• Tourism accommodation operators must comply with applicable laws and hold a valid establishment number.
• Nature and adventure tourism companies must comply with, or commit to comply with, Aventure Écotourisme Québec’s Qualité-Sécurité standards.

Who is eligible?

• For-profit tourism businesses.
• Non-profit tourism organizations.
• Tourism cooperatives.
• Municipal entities in the Baie-James region.
• Recognized Indigenous communities, nations and Indigenous tourism enterprises, as well as regional tourism associations and groupings of these clienteles.

Who is not eligible

• Provincial or federal Crown corporations, ministries and government agencies.
• Applicants listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Businesses not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française, when applicable.

Eligible expenses

• Fees for specialized firms or consultants directly linked to the project.
• Project-related travel costs within public sector rates, and eligible salaries, benefits and overhead dedicated to project delivery.
• Purchase and installation of equipment required to structure the tourism offer.
• Net taxes (non-refundable portions) associated with eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Purchase of motorized transport equipment not dedicated to the visitor experience.
• Working capital, debt service, operating losses, capital losses and share buybacks.
• Costs related to bringing assets up to standard, maintaining assets or regulatory compliance.
• Portions of sales taxes that are refundable to the business or a third party.
• Donations, in-kind or in-service contributions, asset transfers, general operating or administrative expenses, usual maintenance, financing costs, lobbyist fees, pre-commitment costs (except project design fees), promotion/marketing expenses, cost overruns and legal fees.

Eligible geographic areas

• Tourism region of Baie-James, including Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Matagami.
• Territory of the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Regional Government.

• Alignment with the objectives of the EPRTNT 2025-2027 agreement.
• Structuring impact of the project, including attraction power, reach, spillovers, partnerships and job creation.
• Innovative character and quality of the concept, products and services.
• Soundness of financial structure, market relevance and marketing strategy.
• Feasibility, including schedule, business plan or study specifications, promoter expertise, sustainable development approach and regional tourism priorities.

• Step 1: Preliminary Contact
  • Contact the project officer at Tourisme Baie-James to discuss project eligibility and obtain the self-assessment and financial assistance request forms.
  • Schedule and attend the mandatory meeting with the Tourisme Baie-James team before submitting the project.
• Step 2: Prepare Application
  • Complete the official application form in Excel format.
  • Compile all required supporting documents (project plan, financial information, resolutions, attestations and confirmations from partners).
• Step 3: Submit Application
  • Send the completed forms and all required documents by email to the address provided (tcompaore@tourismebaiejames.com).
  • Ensure the file is complete, as incomplete applications will not be analyzed.

• Projects are received on a continuous basis and analyzed in defined review periods by the regional tourism association.
• Only complete applications, including all required documents, are accepted for analysis.
• Funding decisions are based on the program’s published selection criteria and available budget.

• Projects can be submitted on an ongoing basis until October 31, 2026 or until funds are exhausted.
• A meeting with Tourisme Baie-James is mandatory before submitting a project.
• Incomplete applications will not be analyzed by the selection committee.
• The current funding cannot replace an already existing funding program and cannot come from ARBJ subsidies.