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Source verified August 2, 2026
Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)
Disaster cost-sharing for provinces and territories
Funding available
Up to 90% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Opened April 1, 2025
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Provincial and territorial governments are the sole eligible recipients of funding.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements provide financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments for response and recovery costs from large-scale disasters caused by natural hazards. The program helps provinces and territories cover disaster recovery costs and does not provide funding directly to Canadians impacted by disasters.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Up to 90% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Response activities that focus on life safety, essential needs, incident stabilization, and limiting damage.
- Restoration of essential public assets and services to a functional state.
- Relief and recovery supports for people experiencing significant disaster impacts.
- Disaster mitigation activities in affected areas, including structural, non-structural, and natural infrastructure projects.
- High-impact disaster risk reduction activities under the DRR Incentive.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Provincial and territorial governments are the sole eligible recipients of funding.
Who is not eligible
- People and communities cannot apply directly to the DFAA.
Eligible expenses
- Response and recovery costs from large-scale disasters caused by natural hazards.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs of restoring or replacing items that were insured or insurable.
- Loss of income, wages, profits, revenue, production, productivity, opportunity, or market value.
- Expenditures reimbursable under another federal program.
- New construction, non-structural mitigation projects such as engineering studies or flood plain mapping, and public awareness initiatives.
How to apply
- Provinces and territories request financial assistance within six months of the end date of the eligible disaster.
- The request takes the form of a letter from the Premier of the province or territory to the Prime Minister or from the provincial or territorial Minister responsible for emergency preparedness to the federal Minister.
- For the DRR Incentive, the province or territory completes a self-assessment using the self-assessment tool.
- The province or territory submits the self-assessment to Public Safety Canada.
Processing and Agreement
- Public Safety Canada reviews the provincial or territorial claim and determines eligibility during the final audit.
- Advance and progress payments are subject to a federal risk assessment.
- Final payments are made to close out the final claim.
- Public Safety Canada may complete an assurance activity on the final payment request before issuing the final payment.
- Overpayments may be recovered by reimbursement or by reducing future Government of Canada payments.
Additional information
- The program is meant to work alongside other risk management strategies like insurance, risk informed land use and development, and hazard mitigation measures that reduce the impact of disasters before they happen.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) Program
What is the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)?
The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements provide financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments for response and recovery costs from large-scale disasters caused by natural hazards. The program helps provinces and territories cover disaster recovery costs and does not provide funding directly to Canadians impacted by disasters.
How much funding can be received?
Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) Funds up to 90% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program?
To be eligible for the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program, you must:
The program applies to large-scale disasters caused by natural hazards.
What expenses are eligible under Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)?
Response activities that focus on life safety, essential needs, incident stabilization, and limiting damage.
Restoration of essential public assets and services to a functional state.
Relief and recovery supports for people experiencing significant disaster impacts.
Disaster mitigation activities in affected areas, including structural, non-structural, and natural infrastructure projects.
High-impact disaster risk reduction activities under the DRR Incentive.
Who can I contact for more information about the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)?
You can contact Public Safety Canada (PSC).
Where is the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) available?
The Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program is available across Canada.
Is the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) is a Grant and Funding