Open
CanNor — IDEANorth
Supports northern economic development and infrastructure readiness
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 6,000,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Canada
Overview
Provides up to $6 million to support economic development and diversification in Canada’s North. Eligible activities include sector and capacity development, business scale-up and productivity projects, small-scale economic infrastructure, and large-scale infrastructure studies.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop team skills
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 6,000,000 $
- Up to 80% of project cost
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Location
- Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Sole proprietorship
- Public or Parapublic institution
- Social economy enterprise
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- Women & girls
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Research, planning, and sector development projects that build organizational capacity and support economic participation in the North.
- Business scale-up, commercialization, market expansion, and development or adoption of innovative products, services, and clean technologies.
- Construction or expansion of small-scale multi-user economic infrastructure.
- Planning, pre-feasibility, feasibility, and engineering studies for large-scale economic infrastructure.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Registered businesses
- Social enterprises
- Indigenous economic development organizations
- Public or private non-federal organizations
- Other levels of government
Who is not eligible
- Federal entities
- Unregistered organizations
Eligible expenses
- Professional fees for technical, environmental, legal, project management, and business services.
- Incremental salaries and benefits directly tied to the project.
- Equipment and space rental or purchase, and capital acquisitions such as machinery, IT, renovations, buildings, and engineering works.
- Feasibility studies, research costs, surveys, and data acquisition.
- Travel, meals, accommodations, shipping, and translation services.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Economic development costs that would be incurred without IDEANorth support.
- Services normally provided free of charge.
- Direct skills training or education courses for individuals normally offered by learning institutions or apprenticeship programs.
- Wage subsidies for people receiving training through coursework or on the job.
- Core expenses and recoverable taxes such as GST.
Eligible geographic areas
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
- Nunavut
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed against eligibility requirements and ranked using weighted assessment criteria.
- CanNor also considers other sources of funding and overall government assistance for the same project costs.
- If approved, funding is provided through a contribution agreement that sets payment conditions and obligations.
- Payments may be based on documented claims, milestones, or advance payments set out in the agreement.
- Approved recipients must provide at least annual progress and financial reports, plus a final report.
Additional information
- Applications may be submitted year-round or through targeted calls for expressions of interest.
- Multi-year applications and funding arrangements are encouraged where possible.
- Priority is given to applicants with proven capacity to deliver projects in the North.
- The program emphasizes equitable access for underrepresented groups such as Indigenous people, women and youth.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the CanNor — IDEANorth Program
What is the CanNor — IDEANorth?
Provides up to $6 million to support economic development and diversification in Canada’s North. Eligible activities include sector and capacity development, business scale-up and productivity projects, small-scale economic infrastructure, and large-scale infrastructure studies.
How much funding can be received?
CanNor — IDEANorth Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $6,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the CanNor — IDEANorth program?
To be eligible for the CanNor — IDEANorth program, you must:
Registered organization
Interest in Northern economic development
Eligible Northern-focused project
What expenses are eligible under CanNor — IDEANorth?
Research, planning, and sector development projects that build organizational capacity and support economic participation in the North.
Business scale-up, commercialization, market expansion, and development or adoption of innovative products, services, and clean technologies.
Construction or expansion of small-scale multi-user economic infrastructure.
Planning, pre-feasibility, feasibility, and engineering studies for large-scale economic infrastructure.
Who can I contact for more information about the CanNor — IDEANorth?
You can contact Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) by email at cannor.operations.cannor@canada.ca or by phone at 867-667-3346.
Where is the CanNor — IDEANorth available?
The CanNor — IDEANorth program is available the province of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon.
Is the CanNor — IDEANorth a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CanNor — IDEANorth is a Grant and Funding