Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund – Contribution funding

The application window will be open until June 27, 2025, for Stream 1 – Preconstruction and until March 4, 2026, for Stream 2 – Shovel ready.

Information sessions: Sign up for a 1-hour public online information session on the CMIF and the current call for proposals for contribution funding. Information sessions are available in English and French. Learn more

Advancing infrastructure to enable critical minerals development

The CMIF is providing up to $1.5 billion in federal funding until 2030 for clean energy and transportation infrastructure projects necessary to enable the sustainable development and expansion of critical minerals in Canada.

There will be calls for proposals launched over the course of the program’s lifespan. This second call for proposals will provide up to $500 million in contribution funding available under 2 streams.

The following contribution funding limits apply to projects in both streams:

• up to $50 million per project for most applicants
• up to $100 million per project for provincial and territorial government applicants

Program details

CMIF funding addresses key infrastructure gaps in the upstream (mining) segment of critical minerals value chains to:

• unlock new critical minerals resources
• support improved environmental performance at mine sites
• strengthen supply chains (i.e., by connecting resources to midstream processing and refining, downstream manufacturing, and markets)

CMIF funded projects must be located entirely in Canada.

Types of funding

The CMIF will offer non-repayable contributions, conditionally repayable contributions and grants.

In most circumstances, contributions will be non-repayable. Contributions made to a for-profit, non-Indigenous organization that are intended to allow the organization to generate profit will generally be conditionally repayable.

Grant funding will also be available to support Indigenous groups and organizations in their efforts to engage in the development and implementation of CMIF-related infrastructure projects. Learn more about the CMIF Indigenous Grants.

Timeframe

Project costs may be funded up to March 31, 2030.

Collaboration with the Canada Infrastructure Bank

Applications received under the CMIF will be shared with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) for an assessment of potential for CIB investment. In cases where financing would be offered by the CIB, the potential CMIF contribution to a project will be scaled accordingly.

Expected project outcomes

The CMIF is looking for projects that help Canada produce critical minerals through the development of enabling clean energy and transportation infrastructure, and need a financial contribution to continue or accelerate their development.

Funded projects should support the primary objectives of the CMIF:

Focus of this call for proposals

This call for proposals will focus on a subset of the critical minerals identified in the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. These will be critical minerals that support key value chains such as those required for the transition to a green and digital economy and/or national security. As per the scope of the program, the focus will be on critical minerals whose main barriers to production are at the upstream (i.e., mining) segment of value chains rather than at the mid- or downstream segments (i.e., refining and processing). A full list of critical minerals in scope for this call for proposals will be provided in the CMIF applicant guide.

Eligibility

Who can apply

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies and industry associations
• Provincial, territorial and municipal governments, and related organizations, including:
  • provincial Crown corporations
  • public utilities
  • ports established under a provincial or territorial statute or regulation
• Indigenous groups, including:
  • Indigenous communities or governments
  • tribal councils or entities that fulfill a similar function (e.g., general council)
  • national and regional Indigenous councils and tribal organizations
  • Indigenous (majority-owned and -controlled by Indigenous Peoples) for-profit and not-for-profit organizations

The term “Indigenous” is understood to include Inuit, Métis, First Nation, Status Indian and Non-Status Indian individuals, or any combination thereof.

What projects are eligible

Within each stream, there are 2 types of eligible projects:

1. Clean energy infrastructure

These are projects that drive environmental performance while supporting increased critical minerals production. These may range from mine-site infrastructure (e.g., grid connection, deployment of renewable or alternative energy generation technologies, battery storage and electric vehicle charging stations for mining equipment) to broader subjects with a regional impact on the development of critical minerals or expansion of critical minerals resource production. Regional projects must demonstrate and substantiate a concrete link to the CMIF primary objective of enabling critical minerals production. Energy generation projects must have a minimum net installed capacity of 500 kilowatts (kW) if they are Indigenous-led (51% or more) or 4 megawatts (MW) if they are not Indigenous-led (less than 51%).

2. Transportation infrastructure

These are projects that directly enable the development of critical minerals or expansion of critical minerals resources such as roads, rail or marine transportation infrastructure necessary to connect mines to value chains, including processing facilities and transportation systems that provide access to global markets. To be eligible, the transportation infrastructure must be for the movement of critical minerals. Infrastructure that would only support the movement of people and/or equipment is not eligible (e.g., airstrips). Regional projects must demonstrate and substantiate a concrete link to the CMIF primary objective of enabling critical minerals production.

Minimum development thresholds

For the proposal to be eligible for consideration under the CMIF, applicants must demonstrate that the critical minerals project(s) enabled by the proposed infrastructure meet the development thresholds listed below.

Indigenous-led applications will be considered with different minimum development thresholds if the case can be made that there is a strong potential for secondary use for the infrastructure.

Expand AllCollapse All

Mine-site infrastructure projects

Infrastructure to enable a single critical minerals mining site or project

Stream 1 – Preconstruction

Infrastructure projects that would support earlier stage mining projects will be considered.

Mining projects with a pre-feasibility study (PFS)

A preliminary economic analysis (PEA) is acceptable as long as a PFS (or more advanced report) is in progress and will be submitted within 1 year of application.

Stream 2 – Shovel ready

Only infrastructure projects that would support advanced stage mining projects will be considered.

Mining projects with a feasibility study (FS)

A PFS is acceptable as long as:

• the PFS includes full resource estimates
• an FS is in progress and will be submitted within o1 year of application

Regional infrastructure projects

Infrastructure to enable multiple critical minerals mining sites or projects

Eligibility for the Preconstruction and Shovel ready streams will be context specific, while taking into account the following considerations:

• number of projects potentially supported
• number of projects expressing an intent to use the proposed infrastructure
• mineral potential of the region (e.g., as elaborated in provincial, territorial, or federal critical minerals strategies)
• infrastructure needs assessment of the region (e.g., an electrical grid needs assessment)

While CMIF funding will be considered for regional infrastructure projects that would initially only enable earlier stage mining projects, as a general rule, some of these projects should have at least completed a mineral resource estimate (MRE).

What activities are eligible

Contributions will be provided to fund eligible activities that are needed to carry out an eligible clean energy or transportation infrastructure project, in line with program objectives, including:

Stream 1 – Preconstruction

• Infrastructure-specific engagement activities, such as knowledge sharing, capacity building, job training, and engagement and/or consultation with local and Indigenous communities and organizations
• Infrastructure-specific prefeasibility and feasibility studies; engineering; planning and design work; energy and resource modelling; climate change and/or environmental reviews and assessments; and inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) plans that support participation in the critical minerals sector

Stream 2 – Shovel ready

Site preparation, construction, rehabilitation and improvement (upgrade or enhancement) of energy or transportation infrastructure assets, including:

• creation or enhancement of fixed transportation infrastructure (e.g., road, bridge, rail and marine infrastructure) that enables the development or expansion of critical minerals resource production and connects resources to critical minerals value chains

Note: Non-permanent structures such as ice or winter roads are not eligible. Elements of winter road networks that are permanent (such as bridges and culverts) may be eligible where applicants can substantiate that they are economically and sustainably viable options to enable the transportation of critical minerals.

• clean energy generation, distribution, transmission and/or storage infrastructure projects that have demonstrated commercial viability in Canada to supply renewable/non-emitting energy (e.g., hydro, solar energy and wind)

Note: Biomass projects are eligible if biomass is sourced following plans that comply with the principles of sustainable forest management.

• construction, retrofit or upgrades of energy infrastructure (e.g., transmission and distribution lines, and associated infrastructure) that provides a connection to an electrical grid
• retrofits of existing renewable energy generation projects, including hardware and software, that enable the connection and integration to an electrical grid
• infrastructure-specific engagement and related activities (e.g., consultation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, job training and IDEA plans) with local and Indigenous communities and organizations

What expenses are eligible

Eligible expenditures are limited to expenses that are directly attributable to and required to achieve an eligible project’s objectives. Examples of eligible expenses may include materials and equipment; most professional services, including research and engineering; salaries and benefits; some administrative costs and others. Some expenditures such as land acquisition, litigation fees, and general operating and maintenance expenses are not eligible for reimbursement.

The CMIF funds up to 50% of total eligible expenses, except in the case of Arctic, Northern and Indigenous-led projects (up to 75%).

More information about eligible and ineligible expenditures will be made available in the CMIF applicant guide.

How to apply

Expression of interest

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the secure NRCan funding portal. The CMIF will aim to provide feedback on a submitted EOI according to a 10-business day service standard and will provide an opportunity to discuss any potential issues with CMIF staff.

EOIs can be submitted until April 30, 2025 at 8 p.m. PST, for Stream 1 – Preconstruction applications, and until January 5, 2026 at 8 p.m. PST, for Stream 2 – Shovel ready applications.

The EOI will be used to establish the applicant’s profile and advise potential applicants on whether their proposed project fits within the scope of the CMIF call for proposals. The program will also use EOIs to determine whether a proposed project may fit within the parameters of the CMIF directed call.

The EOI form will include the following sections, with details to be provided in the CMIF applicant guide:

• Applicant profile (e.g., organization name, address and incorporation details)
• Type of organization (e.g., for-profit, government or Indigenous-led)
• Infrastructure project name
• Infrastructure project type (i.e., energy, transportation or both)
• Application stream (i.e., Preconstruction or Shovel ready)
• Province/Territory
• Infrastructure project description (max. 2,000 characters), including target outcomes and key activities for the infrastructure project
• Infrastructure project status (e.g., regulatory/permit approvals and activities underway)
• Any planned or ongoing impact assessment
• Infrastructure project timeline
• Infrastructure project cost (i.e., total cost, CMIF-eligible costs and requested funding)
• Key information on the supported critical minerals project (e.g., expected production volume; status of the mines, as supported by the key technical reports available [i.e., PEA, PFS and FS] and timelines; plans for processing; value chains to be supported; and indication that there is confirmed intent for mining projects to utilize proposed infrastructure)
• Any funding from other government organizations (e.g., provinces, territories and foreign governments) for the infrastructure project, the mining project, and any integrated mid-/downstream processing

Full application

Stream 1 – Preconstruction. Full applications, including all relevant documentation, will be accepted through the secure NRCan funding portal until June 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. PST. Applications will be assessed and ranked as a cohort after the application window closes.

Stream 2 – Shovel ready. Full applications, including all relevant documentation, will be accepted through the secure NRCan funding portal until March 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. PST. Applications will be accepted through a continuous intake process, meaning that applications will be assessed on a first-come, first-assessed basis.

Information sessions

Sign up for a 1-hour public online information session on the CMIF and the current call for proposals for contribution funding. Information sessions are available in English and French. While all sessions will include information about the program’s parameters on advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, applicants can also join a session that will focus on key questions and considerations for Indigenous-led applications. Pre-registration is required at the links below:

English sessions

• Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 2 p.m. EDT: Pre-registration link
• Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 2 p.m. EDT: Pre-registration link
• Indigenous-led applications: Thursday March 27, 2025 at 2 p.m. EDT: Pre-registration link

French sessions

• Monday, March 31, 2025 at 3 p.m. EDT: Pre-registration link
• Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. EDT: Pre-registration link
• Indigenous-led applications: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 11 a.m. EDT: Pre-registration link

Selection process and timelines

After submitting a full application, applicants will receive a notification of whether their application meets basic completeness and eligibility criteria. In the context of this current call for proposals, for Stream 1 – Preconstruction, this notification will come after the application window closes on June 27, 2025. For Stream 2 – Shovel ready, which will have a continuous intake approach, it will come shortly after the application is submitted, with precise timing depending on the volume and complexity of applications received. Applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be retained for a full assessment.

CMIF project assessments will involve an interdepartmental process engaging expertise from relevant federal departments as well as provincial and territorial partners to inform recommendations on applications.

Application assessments will include:

• an assessment of an eligible project’s expected support for critical minerals production in Canada
• a due diligence assessment evaluating the application quality, project feasibility and project risks
• an assessment of the project’s expected economic, environmental and Indigenous reconciliation benefits and impacts

Once a full assessment is completed, successful projects will receive a conditional funding offer which, if positive, will begin the process to negotiate a contribution agreement.

Directed application intake

The CMIF program reserves the right to consider applications through a directed intake where projects meet the following criteria:

Significantly support production of critical minerals that enable key value chains such as those required for the transition to a green and digital economy and/or national security, including those that are not currently produced at scale in Canada; and

Carry strategic significance in 1 or more of the following areas of focus:

NRCan may consider EOIs received through the open call under the directed intake if they meet the above-mentioned strategic criteria. NRCan will identify projects for the directed intake in collaboration with provincial, territorial and international partners, and may invite applicants of said projects to submit full project proposals. NRCan will not accept unsolicited applications for the directed intake. Identification and invitation of projects for directed intake will be under the sole discretion of NRCan.

In exceptional circumstances involving interjurisdictional or international relations, NRCan also reserves the right to identify and invite projects through the directed intake even if the full application was submitted through the open call.

NRCan will expedite assessment of projects in the directed intake. Projects under consideration for the directed intake will undergo a full assessment, as is the case for applications received through the open call, which includes prioritization and due diligence criteria.

Funding available for the open call could be impacted depending on the level of funding committed through the directed call.

Contact us

For further guidance, please send an email to cmif-fimc@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.