Closed
Source verified August 11, 2026
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream
Supports critical minerals infrastructure in Canada
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Latest source updateLast Update: May 14, 2026Latest change: The Shovel ready and Preconstruction intake windows are now closed, and the application instructions no longer show the earlier EOI and portal submission details.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 14, 2026
Latest change: The Shovel ready and Preconstruction intake windows are now closed, and the application instructions no longer show the earlier EOI and portal submission details.
CMIF intake closed
The CMIF page now states that both the Preconstruction and Shovel ready application windows are closed, replacing the earlier open-call messaging and date-specific intake language. The application instructions also no longer show the EOI and secure portal submission details that were previously listed, so the current submission process and contact/portal guidance may no longer apply for this call.
Funding available
$ 100,000,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as businesses, industry associations, universities and research institutions
See full eligibility
Overview
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund provides up to $1.5 billion in federal funding until 2030 for eligible recipients in Canada to support clean energy and transportation infrastructure that enables the development and expansion of critical minerals production. It funds preconstruction, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation, studies, planning, design, and engagement activities.
Receipt of requests is now closed
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Business Associations
- Diversity and Inclusion
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
- Construction, rehabilitation, or enhancement of infrastructure to support critical minerals production, including clean energy and transportation projects.
- Deployment of clean energy infrastructure such as grid connections, renewable energy generation technologies, and battery storage at or near mine sites.
- Development or improvement of transportation infrastructure, such as roads, rail, or marine systems, necessary for moving critical minerals and connecting mines to value chains.
- Capacity-building and engagement activities that support Indigenous and local community participation in infrastructure projects related to critical minerals.
- Retrofits or upgrades of existing energy infrastructure to enable integration with electrical grids and support critical minerals operations.
Documents Needed
- Quotes or estimates from companies that will provide goods or services for the initiative
- Information to confirm other sources of funding contributing to the initiative, as applicable
- Incorporation documentation, as applicable, and recent financial statements
- A letter of support from the leadership of an Indigenous partner organization, if you are applying as a non-Indigenous organization
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as businesses, industry associations, universities and research institutions
- Provincial, territorial and municipal governments and their departments and agencies, including provincial Crown corporations, public utilities, and ports established under a provincial or territorial statute or regulation
- Indigenous communities or governments, tribal councils or entities that fulfill a similar function, national and regional Indigenous councils, and tribal organizations
- Indigenous not-for-profit and for-profit corporations, businesses, joint ventures, partnerships, associations, co-operatives and institutions that are 51% or greater controlled by Indigenous Peoples or an Indigenous community or communities
Who is not eligible
- Companies whose projects do not directly enable the development or expansion of critical minerals resources in Canada.
- Organizations seeking funding for infrastructure limited to the movement of people or equipment, rather than critical minerals (e.g., airstrips).
- Applicants with infrastructure projects located partially or entirely outside of Canada.
- Applicants seeking funding solely for non-permanent transportation structures such as ice or winter roads (excluding permanent elements like bridges or culverts).
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
- Non-permanent structures such as ice or winter roads
- Infrastructure that would only support the movement of people and/or equipment
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Expected support for critical minerals production in Canada
- Application quality, project feasibility, and project risks
- Expected economic, environmental, and Indigenous reconciliation benefits and impacts
- For directed intake, projects must significantly support production of critical minerals and carry strategic significance
How to apply
- Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Access the secure NRCan funding portal.
- Complete the EOI form, including sections on applicant profile, organization type, infrastructure project name and type, stream selection (Preconstruction or Shovel ready), location, project description, timeline, costs, critical minerals information, and any additional government funding.
- Submit the EOI as early as possible, and no later than April 30, 2025 (Stream 1) or January 5, 2026 (Stream 2).
- Await feedback from the CMIF program (response typically within 10 business days).
- Step 2: Prepare Full Application
- Gather all required documentation and details relevant to the application, such as regulatory approvals, technical reports, impact assessments, and project feasibility studies.
- Consult the CMIF applicant guide for specific requirements and documentation checklists.
- Step 3: Submit Full Application
- For Stream 1 (Preconstruction), submit your complete application package through the NRCan funding portal by June 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. PST. Applications are assessed and ranked after the application window closes.
- For Stream 2 (Shovel ready), submit your completed application by March 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. PST; applications are accepted on a continuous intake basis and assessed in order of receipt.
- Step 4: Application Review and Assessment
- Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility.
- Eligible applications undergo interdepartmental assessment for project feasibility, risks, and anticipated benefits.
- Step 5: Receive Notification and Negotiate Agreement
- Receive notification regarding the outcome of your application.
- If successful, engage in negotiations for a contribution agreement based on the conditional funding offer.
Processing and Agreement
- After submission, applications are screened for basic completeness and eligibility.
- Applications that do not pass this screening are returned to the applicant with an indication of the area or areas of insufficiency.
- Applications that meet the eligibility criteria are retained for a full assessment.
- CMIF project assessments involve an interdepartmental process with relevant federal departments and provincial and territorial partners.
- Successful projects receive a conditional funding offer, which begins the process to negotiate a contribution agreement.
Additional information
- Applications received under the CMIF will be shared with the CIB for an assessment of potential for CIB investment.
Contacts
Availability timeline
2026
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Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Preconstruction StreamInfrastructure support for critical minerals development
Frequently Asked Questions about the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream Program
What is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream?
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund provides up to $1.5 billion in federal funding until 2030 for eligible recipients in Canada to support clean energy and transportation infrastructure that enables the development and expansion of critical minerals production. It funds preconstruction, site preparation, construction, rehabilitation, studies, planning, design, and engagement activities.
How much funding can be received?
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $100,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream program?
To be eligible for the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream program, you must:
The project must be located entirely in Canada.
The project must be clean energy or transportation infrastructure that enables critical minerals production.
The enabled critical minerals project must meet the program’s development thresholds.
What expenses are eligible under Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream?
Construction, rehabilitation, or enhancement of infrastructure to support critical minerals production, including clean energy and transportation projects.
Deployment of clean energy infrastructure such as grid connections, renewable energy generation technologies, and battery storage at or near mine sites.
Development or improvement of transportation infrastructure, such as roads, rail, or marine systems, necessary for moving critical minerals and connecting mines to value chains.
Capacity-building and engagement activities that support Indigenous and local community participation in infrastructure projects related to critical minerals.
Retrofits or upgrades of existing energy infrastructure to enable integration with electrical grids and support critical minerals operations.
Who can I contact for more information about the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at cmif-fimc@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.
Where is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream available?
The Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream program is available across Canada.
Is the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Shovel ready Stream is a Grant and Funding