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
Here are answers to the most common questions about the CanNor — IDEANorth. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
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