Archived

ClimaSol-Plus Program

Financial support for contaminated land rehabilitation projects

Offered by

Record updated June 5, 2026

Funding available: $ 5,000,000; Up to 75% of project cost
Deadline: Unspecified
Location: Quebec, Canada
Who can apply: Municipalities (municipal applicants owning the land to be rehabilitated); See full eligibility

Overview

Funding supported the rehabilitation (decontamination) of contaminated land with economic development potential, including professional services and site work. Maximum financial assistance could reach a cumulative $5,000,000 per municipality (plus a specific $500,000 cap for certain work on former disposal sites).

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding: $5,000,000
Maximum share of project costs: 75%

Financing goals

Reduce environmental footprint
Renovate or expand facilities

Eligible candidates

Location: Quebec
Eligible Industries: All industries
Annual revenue: All revenue ranges
Organisation size: All organization sizes
Audience: All groups
Legal structures: For-profit business, Sole proprietorship, Non-profit, Public or Parapublic institution

Non-profit candidates

Sector of operation: Environment, Economic, Social and Community Development, Housing
Target groups: Business owners / entrepreneurs
Scope: Municipal, Provincial

Archived

Availability timeline

2026

Periods: 1

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Municipalities (municipal applicants owning the land to be rehabilitated)
Private landowners (individuals or private-law legal entities owning the land to be rehabilitated)

Who is not eligible

Public bodies
Federal public bodies
School organizations (e.g., school boards, CEGEPs, universities, subsidized private educational institutions)
Health or social services institutions
Projects located on the territory of the City of Montréal

Eligible expenses

Professional services to prepare and oversee rehabilitation work (e.g., plans/specifications, environmental supervision, reporting, site characterization)
Eligible rehabilitation site works (e.g., excavation/loading, segregation, transport, treatment, valorization, elimination of contaminated soils; groundwater pumping/transport/treatment)
Soil traceability system fees (Traces Québec) for contaminated soils (maximum 1$/metric ton)
Post-rehabilitation monitoring work accepted by the Minister (up to one year after end of rehabilitation works)
Municipal administration/coordination fees (where applicable)

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Building demolition work unrelated to soils
Work linked to an investment project (non-rehabilitation)
Land acquisition costs and related interest
Legal fees
Municipal employee salaries and benefits

Eligible geographic areas

Québec (all municipalities)
Excludes: City of Montréal
Excludes: Pointe-aux-Lièvres and D’Estimauville eco-districts (City of Québec)

Activities funded

Rehabilitation (decontamination) of contaminated land with economic development potential
Projects enabling urban densification within the urbanization perimeter
Projects prioritizing in situ soil treatment (or providing justification if not used)
Projects promoting treatment of excavated soils for valorization (or providing justification if not planned)

How to apply

Step 1: Prepare application package
- Complete and sign the Component 2 financial assistance application form.
- Obtain the municipality’s council resolution approving the project and authorizing submission.
- Gather required supporting documents (e.g., site location plan, proof of ownership, characterization studies; additional justification if outside the urbanization perimeter).
Step 2: Submit through the municipality
- Send the application to the municipality for approval.
- The municipality submits the application to the Ministry by email (climatsol-plus@environnement.gouv.qc.ca) by the program deadline (historically: no later than September 30, 2024 for Component 2).
Step 3: Sign the funding agreement
- Municipality prepares the funding agreement using the Ministry’s template and submits it for review.
- Provide required pre-signature items where applicable (e.g., cultural heritage correspondence; authorizations/declaration of conformity if required; financial guarantee for private applicants).
Step 4: Manage procurement and start work
- Transmit tender documents (including specifications) to the Ministry before launching calls for tenders, and provide addenda as needed.
- Notify the Ministry of the start date at least two weeks in advance and submit the environmental monitoring plan for approval.
Step 5: Reporting and final payment request
- Submit the 85% expense report to trigger the second payment (where applicable).
- After work completion, provide professional conformity documentation and an external auditor’s report via the municipality for the final payment.

Documents Needed

Signed financial assistance application form (Component 2)
Municipal council resolution approving the project
Site location plan
Proof of land ownership
Site characterization study compliant with the Ministry’s guide

Selection criteria

Site contamination block: prioritizes the most heavily contaminated sites and the most mobile/toxic contaminants
Economic development block: prioritizes sites with economic development potential

Processing and Agreement

The Ministry analyzes the application against program standards and may request additional information.
Projects are assessed using two blocks: site contamination and economic development potential.
If accepted, the Ministry confirms financial assistance via a letter of intent sent to the municipality.
A funding agreement (bilateral or tripartite) must be prepared using the Ministry’s template and signed within nine months of confirmation.
Final payment is issued after the Ministry verifies conformity of the rehabilitation work and receives required final documentation (including an external auditor’s report).

Additional information

Program status: Component 2 ended March 31, 2025; no new applications are accepted.
The Quebec Ministry of the Environment provides a normative framework and action checklists for municipal and private applicants.
Municipalities must submit an annual progress report for all projects on their territory (until projects are completed).
Municipalities must keep supporting documentation for seven years after full payment of financial assistance.

Contacts

climatsol-plus@environnement.gouv.qc.ca

4185213830

Official sources

Program guide

Climat Sol Plus program

Supporting document

Action required in the context of a municipal project submitted to the Action required in the context of a private project submitted to the

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Frequently Asked Questions about the ClimaSol-Plus Program Program

What is the ClimaSol-Plus Program?

How much funding can be received?

ClimaSol-Plus Program Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $5,000,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the ClimaSol-Plus Program program?

To be eligible for the ClimaSol-Plus Program program, you must: Municipality-approved rehabilitation project Contaminated site with economic development potential Use Traces Québec for off-site soil movements

What expenses are eligible under ClimaSol-Plus Program?

Professional services to prepare and oversee rehabilitation work (e.g., plans/specifications, environmental supervision, reporting, site characterization) Eligible rehabilitation site works (e.g., excavation/loading, segregation, transport, treatment, valorization, elimination of contaminated soils; groundwater pumping/transport/treatment) Soil traceability system fees (Traces Québec) for contaminated soils (maximum 1$/metric ton) Post-rehabilitation monitoring work accepted by the Minister (up to one year after end of rehabilitation works) Municipal administration/coordination fees (where applicable)