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Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream - Canada
Closed
Source verified July 30, 2026

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream

Infrastructure support for critical minerals development
Offered by
Government of Canada
Official source: canada.ca
Latest source update
Last Update: April 27, 2026
Latest change: The CMIF applicant guide was updated with clarified eligibility, timing, and application instructions for the 2025–26 call for proposals.
View change
CMIF applicant guide updated
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund applicant guide now includes clearer rules for the 2025–26 call for proposals, including updated notes on stream-specific thresholds, acceptable evidence for Stream 2, and the status of preconstruction and shovel-ready applications. The timeline and application process are also more detailed, with explicit EOI and full-application deadlines, stream-specific intake rules, and additional guidance on portal registration, assessment, approvals, reporting, and required application materials.
Funding available
$ 50,000,000
Deadline
June 27, 2025
Location
Canada
Who can apply

Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies, industry associations, universities, and research institutions.

See full eligibility

Overview

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Contribution funding provides up to $1.5 billion in federal support until 2030 for eligible recipients in Canada. It supports clean energy and transportation infrastructure through studies, planning, engagement, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation, and grid-related works.
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At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 50,000,000 $
  • Up to 75% of project cost
Funds Providers

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Canada
Legal structures
  • For-profit business
  • Non-profit
  • Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • 20 employees minimum
Audience
  • Indigenous Peoples
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • Environment
  • Economic, Social and Community Development
  • Business Associations
  • Professional Associations
  • Not Elsewhere Classified
Target groups
  • Indigenous peoples
  • 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

  • Infrastructure-specific engagement, consultation, energy modelling, feasibility studies, engineering, planning and design work, and climate change or environmental reviews and assessments.
  • Site preparation, construction, deployment of technologies, and improvement of energy and transportation infrastructure.
  • Creation or enhancement of fixed transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, rail, and marine infrastructure, that enables critical minerals resource production and connects resources to critical minerals value chains.
  • Clean energy generation, distribution, transmission, and storage infrastructure projects, including grid connection and retrofits of existing renewable energy generation projects.

Official resources

Program guide

Applicant guide: Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund - 2025–26 call for proposals

Application form

Cmif Greenhouse Emissions Template

Cmif Project Budget Template

CMIF Risk Management Plan Template

Cmif Work Plan Template

Sample Public Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Commitment

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies, industry associations, universities, and research institutions.
  • Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments, and their departments and agencies.
  • Indigenous recipients, including Indigenous communities or governments, tribal councils or similar entities, national and regional Indigenous councils and tribal organizations, and Indigenous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Eligible expenses

  • Materials and equipment.
  • Most professional services, including research and engineering.
  • Salaries and benefits.
  • Some administrative costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Land acquisition.
  • Litigation fees.
  • General operating and maintenance expenses.
  • Infrastructure that would only support the movement of people and/or equipment, such as airstrips.
  • Non-permanent structures such as ice or winter roads.

Eligible geographic areas

  • Canada

Selection criteria

  • Stream 1 applications are assessed and ranked as a cohort, and the highest-ranked applications are prioritized for offers of funding.
  • Stream 2 applications are assessed on a rolling basis, and funding is awarded based on individual merits and overall strength of the application as determined by project assessments.
  • Time-to-impact is considered as part of the overall project assessment.
  • For regional infrastructure projects, assessment considers the number of projects potentially supported, the number expressing intent to use the infrastructure, the stage of development of supported mining projects, the mineral potential of the region, and the region’s infrastructure needs assessment.

How to apply

  • Submit an Expression of Interest through the secure NRCan funding portal; applicants are strongly encouraged to submit it as early as possible, and Stream 2 EOIs are accepted until January 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. PST.
  • The program will advise potential applicants whether their proposed project fits within the scope of the CMIF call for proposals.
  • Submit the full application through the secure NRCan funding portal; Stream 2 full applications are accepted until March 4, 2026 through a continuous intake process on a first-come, first-assessed basis.

Processing and Agreement

  • After submitting a full application, applicants will receive a notification of whether their application meets basic completeness and eligibility criteria.
  • Applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be retained for a full assessment.
  • Once a full assessment is completed, successful projects will receive a conditional funding offer, which will begin the process to negotiate a contribution agreement.
  • Every application submitted to the CMIF will be shared with the CIB for an assessment of investment opportunities.

Additional information

  • Projects with an unsuccessful application under the first CMIF call for proposals may reapply to the current call.

Contacts

cmif-fimc@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Other components of this program

Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream Program

What is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream?

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Contribution funding provides up to $1.5 billion in federal support until 2030 for eligible recipients in Canada. It supports clean energy and transportation infrastructure through studies, planning, engagement, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation, and grid-related works.

How much funding can be received?

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000,000 per project.

Who is eligible for the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream program?

To be eligible for the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream program, you must: The recipient must be in good standing with NRCan The recipient must have effective control of all project elements The project must be located entirely in Canada

What expenses are eligible under Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream?

Infrastructure-specific engagement, consultation, energy modelling, feasibility studies, engineering, planning and design work, and climate change or environmental reviews and assessments. Site preparation, construction, deployment of technologies, and improvement of energy and transportation infrastructure. Creation or enhancement of fixed transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, rail, and marine infrastructure, that enables critical minerals resource production and connects resources to critical minerals value chains. Clean energy generation, distribution, transmission, and storage infrastructure projects, including grid connection and retrofits of existing renewable energy generation projects.

Who can I contact for more information about the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream?

You can contact Government of Canada by email at cmif-fimc@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

Where is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream available?

The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream program is available across Canada.

Is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction Stream is a Grant and Funding