Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5M or more

The objective of this program is to support active and meaningful Indigenous involvement in issues related to the Trans Mountain Expansion project to address potential project-related impacts and cumulative effects.

This Transfer Payment Program does not include any repayable contributions.

Expected results include:

• building capacity in Indigenous communities and providing opportunity for co-development of initiatives;
• supporting long-term relationship building and meaningful two-way dialogue between Indigenous groups and the Government of Canada;
• addressing cumulative effects in the terrestrial environment; and,
• addressing interest in terrestrial studies.

In 2022-23, a key focus is on completion of Contribution Agreements established with eligible groups.

Results will be measured by:  

• the number of contribution agreements signed by eligible groups;
• the percentage of funding disbursed versus offered; and,
• the percentage of Indigenous groups who completed the activities funded in their Contribution Agreements. 

Eligible recipients include:

• Indigenous groups on the Crown consultation list for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients include:

• Terrestrial Studies Initiative;
• Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative Capacity Funding;
• Aquatic Habitat Restoration Fund Capacity Funding;  and,
• Participant funding for Phase IV engagement activities

NRCan pays 50% of the operating costs of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board. The province pays the other 50%. This is done pursuant to section 27 of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act. The funds are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Cost recovery regulations put in place in 2016 allow the Board to cost recover up to 100% of eligible costs from industry, which are remitted to the government of Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador on a 50-50 basis.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

• Electricity Resources
• Energy Innovation and Clean Technology
• Forest Sector Competitiveness

The program will reduce reliance on diesel and fossil fuels in rural and remote communities by deploying and demonstrating renewable energy projects, encouraging energy efficiency and building skills and capacity.

Contribution payments made under this program may be repayable or non-repayable based on program stream.

Expected results for this program include:

• Deployment project funding leveraged at an average of 2:3 ($81M: $121M), total from 2018-19 to 2025-26.
• Demonstration project funding leveraged at an average of 3:2 ($55M: $37M), total from 2018-19 to 2025-26.
• 10-15 renewable energy demonstration projects supported from 2018-19 to 2025-26.
• Over 40 projects involving newly installed or retrofitted bioheating systems supported by 2025-26.
• Maintain 2 co-operative arrangements^{Footnote 1} on information products and expertise on energy efficiency with other federal departments (annually from 2018-19 to 2025-26).
• Demonstration of 10-15 renewable energy projects from 2018-19 to 2025-26.
• 40 megawatts of renewable energy capacity across all projects by 2025.

Targeted recipient groups include:

• remote communities
• Indigenous communities
• remote industrial sites, regional and community development corporations, utilities
• provinces and territories

The capacity building and bioheat streams also target rural communities.

To meet our net-zero goal, Canada’s economy will need to be powered by two equally important energy sources – clean power and clean fuels (e.g. clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels, and renewable natural gas). Clean fuels are expected to play a critical role in ‘hard-to-decarbonize’ sectors such as industry and medium- and heavy-duty freight. Clean fuels make up less than 6% of Canada’s total energy supply, but between 10%-51% or more (up to 60% according to some projections) of Canada’s national energy demand is expected to be met with clean fuels in 2050 to reach its net-zero goal. The rapid and steady deployment of clean fuels will be necessary for Canada to meet its GHG mitigation targets for 2030 and 2050. To achieve the ambitious climate targets and grow the economy, Canada has introduced key measures to incentivize the production and use of clean fuels, such as the Clean Fuels Fund.

The Clean Fuels Fund provides the private sector with cost-shared, conditionally repayable contributions to support the build out of new or retrofit or expand existing, clean fuel production facilities in Canada.

The Clean Fuels Fund has also established a dedicated funding stream for Indigenous-led clean fuel production projects.

Non-repayable contributions are also available for feasibility studies, basic engineering studies and detailed front-end engineering studies for new facilities, facility expansions or facility conversions.

To ensure clean fuel producers have access to a consistent supply of biomass feedstocks, non-repayable support is also available for the establishment of biomass supply chains to improve logistics for the collection, supply, and distribution of biomass materials (e.g., forest residues, municipal solid waste, and agriculture crop residues) as a feedstock in clean fuel production facilities.

Non-repayable contributions are also available to address gaps and misalignment in codes, standards and regulations related to the production, distribution and end-use of clean fuels. This support ensures that, as new technologies evolve and enter the market, they can do so reliably, efficiently and effectively production, distribution, and use of clean fuels while ensuring they are compatible across jurisdictions.

By March 2026, the program aims to support:

• Liquid production: 6 - 8 projects – 2.5 – 3.0 billion litres of new annual capacity
• Hydrogen production: 10 projects - 0.5 – 0.75 million litres of new annual capacity
• Seven biomass HUBs
• 40 to 50 new or revised codes, standards, regulation and best-practices.

• For-profit organizations
• Utilities
• Not-for profit organizations
• Indigenous recipients
• International (non-government)

The Program has undertaken a comprehensive approach to engaging potential applicants.

Before the program officially launched, information sessions were held to finalize elements of program design, and to signal that calls for proposals would be forthcoming.

Information sessions were held on the day of program launch, as well as twice during the call for proposals, to address questions from the potential applicants.

A comprehensive social media campaign was also undertaken, to raise awareness at each stage of the process.

The program has a dedicated funding stream for Indigenous led projects, and also delivered several Indigenous engagement sessions to build awareness and address questions.

When projects are selected and activities begin, the program will also undertake quarterly meetings with all proponents, to review progress.

To advance the decommissioning of legacy uranium mine and mill tailings in the Province of Saskatchewan according to current regulatory standards.

To provide financial contributions to the Government of Saskatchewan for it to undertake decommissioning activities at the Gunnar uranium mine site. **

This program does not contain any repayable contributions.

That cost effective and timely action be taken to address the current environmental condition associated with the Cold War Legacy Uranium Mine and Mill Sites.

Contributions are targeted to support pilot plant projects and demonstration for critical minerals.

Grants are going to primarily targeted to prize challenge.

Technical progress will occur as a result of supported RD&D projects and will be evidenced by advancement as measured by the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale, a standard methodology developed by the US government to measure a new technology or product’s maturity or position along the innovation chain, based on nine pre-defined stages.

• For-profit organizations
• Not-for-profit organizations and charities
• Academia and public institutions
• Aboriginal recipients
• Government
• International (non-government)

The installation of sensors in key-targeted areas will provide a basic earthquake early warning infrastructure and will permit monitoring of federal-critical infrastructure.

Funding will be made through Grants & Contributions to provinces, territories and municipalities in areas of high seismic hazard in order to strengthen the robustness of the national earthquake early warning system.

Contribution payments are non-repayable.

Expected results aim to:

• Enhance disaster response capacity and coordination and foster the development of new capabilities.

Performance measures and indicators to measure these expected results:

• Alerts issued for all earthquakes above threshold magnitude within a defined time period (where magnitude & time to be established based on integrated system testing in 2021-22 and 2022-2023)

Provincial, territorial and regional departments and agencies, municipalities, Indigenous communities, not-for-profit organizations, academic institutions and for-profit organizations.

For Research and Development proposals only, eligible International Recipients could also include not-for-profit organizations, Treaty organizations, and academic institutions.

• Natural resources sectors are innovative
• Clean technologies and energy efficiencies enhance economic performance
• Canada’s natural resources are sustainable

The Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration (EVID) Program supports the demonstration of innovative solutions to technical challenges and other barriers for the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including in multi-residential buildings, for cold-weather operation, public transit, autonomous vehicles and hydrogen trucks.

Key outcomes from the program are expected to address potential technical and non-technical barriers for the deployment of charging and refuelling infrastructure for zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs). Outcomes for the EVID Program include:

• Reduced cost and improved performance (e.g. speed), operational safety, and interoperability of charging stations in Canadian climatic conditions;
• Improved performance, operational safety and reliability of H2 refuelling systems for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in Canadian climatic conditions;
• Increased knowledge of non-technical barriers and innovative approaches, leading to improved business cases.

Contribution payments made under this program are non-repayable.

This program will build on results achieved by previous NRCan programs which contributed significantly to the early demonstration of charging infrastructure in Canada to date. Expected results in 2022-23 include:

• Project funding leveraged at an average of 1:1

Longer-term results include:

• At least one replication per technology demonstrated by 2025
• 5-8 demonstration projects, completed by 2024

The program is expected to result in real world demonstration of ZEV infrastructure and/or solutions to technical challenges and other barriers for the uptake of ZEVs in numerous applications, including in the urban environment, for fleets, and for public transit.

Examples include: load management at multi-unit residential buildings and workplaces; curbside charging; charging infrastructure for autonomous vehicles; bi-directional charging with energy storage; fast-charging in a Northern community; standard development for electric bus overhead charging; and repurposing e-bus batteries for fast-charging.

Recipients include legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including electricity and gas utilities, companies, industry associations, research associations, standards organizations, Indigenous and community groups, Canadian academic institutions, and provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.

This Program will help expand the portfolio of renewable energy technologies available to reduce emissions in Canada’s electricity sector and provide job opportunities along the entire length of their supply chains.

The Emerging Renewable Power Program funding is conditionally repayable should the project yield a return on investment above and beyond the total project costs less the federal contribution.

• Five contribution agreements are signed and two regional assessments are completed and released publicly;
• Projects using at least three different technologies are supported by the program; and,
• Two provincially-led support mechanisms (e.g. regulatory frameworks for Geothermal Energy in Alberta, power purchase agreements for Tidal Energy in Nova Scotia).
• Increase in the deployment of Emerging Renewable Power Projects in Canada by 2026-2028;
• Reduce barriers to deployment of emerging renewable power projects in Canada;
• Increase in renewable technology supply chains in Canada;
• Increase in awareness and understanding of regional energy resources and impacts from emerging renewable power projects; and,
• Improved environmental performance through GHG reductions of Canadian electricity sector.

Performance Indicators:

• Number of projects installed and commissioned;
• Number of different emerging renewable technologies supported;
• Private Investment in emerging renewable power projects and downstream activities
• Provincial/ territorial support for emerging renewable projects
• 1 megatonne of GHG emissions reductions attributable to emerging renewable energy sources

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for profit and not-for-profit organizations, system operators and transmission owners and operators, local distribution companies, industry associations, research associations, regional, and community development corporations.
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments, and their departments and agencies, where applicable. Indigenous communities, councils or governments and Indigenous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

• Lower Carbon Transportation
• Energy Innovation and Clean Technology

The $750 million Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) supports capital investments and research to reduce GHG emissions, with a focus on methane, from onshore and offshore oil and gas operations in Canada.

The ERF provides funding primarily in the form of repayable contributions.

• Onshore deployment program ($675 million): uses a mix of repayable and non-repayable contributions.
• Offshore deployment program ($42 million): repayable contributions.
• Offshore RD&D program ($33 million): non-repayable contributions.

Onshore Investments and Deployment

Conventional onshore oil and gas companies:

• Show interest / uptake;
• Complete projects that reduce GHG emissions; and,
• Remain financially viable and fulfill repayment obligations.

Immediate (0-2 years)

• Percentage of eligible companies that apply to the program in the first three months.

Intermediate (3-5 years)

• Percentage of completed ERF-funded projects
• GHG emissions reduced from ERF-funded projects in megatonnes (Mt CO2e).

Offshore research, development and demonstration (RD&D)

• Increased collaboration between academia, industry and the public sector for the research, development and demonstration of energy technologies, as measured by the average number of partners signed per sub-project by ultimate recipients.
• Offshore oil and gas RD&D projects will result in the development of research for energy innovation, increased efficiency, and/or improved environmental performance (by 2025).

Onshore program
All Canadian upstream conventional, tight and shale oil and/or gas companies as well as midstream gathering and processing infrastructure companies with projects to lower or eliminate routine intentional venting of methane rich natural gas can apply.

Offshore Deployment Program
Companies or organizations that operate in, or directly support, upstream oil and gas companies in the offshore area adjacent to Newfoundland and Labrador. This includes third-party entities that provide support and services including, but not limited to engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and assessment.

Offshore RD&D program
Eligible ultimate recipients include:

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including: For-profit and not-for-profit organizations, companies, industry associations, research associations, and standards organizations; Indigenous organizations and groups; community groups; and Canadian academic institutions; and,
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies where applicable.

NRCan conducted outreach activities with stakeholders (provincial, oil and gas companies, energy-related associations and environmental NGOs) following the Government of Canada’s announcement regarding the ERF. These activities took the form of broad discussions through teleconference calls and email exchanges with stakeholders about the opportunities offered by the ERF, and to help confirm program design features, including technical requirements.

Additional outreach leading up to the launch of application intake periods for the Onshore Program in October 2020, April 2021, and August 2021 included email communications to potential applicants, posts on social media and targeted meetings with provincial and industry stakeholders. Technical information sessions were also held for potential applicants to clarify program requirements.

• Clean technologies and energy efficiencies enhance economic performance
• Natural resources sectors are innovative
• Canada’s natural resources are sustainable

• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Innovation and Clean Technology 

The objectives of the program are to:

• increase the energy efficiency of consumer and commercial products
• enhance commercial, institutional and residential building sector performance
• encourage the implementation of cleaner and more energy efficient technologies and practices in the industrial sector
• support low carbon options for the on-road transportation sector.

Contribution payments made under this program are non-repayable.

The ultimate outcome of the program is improved energy efficiency in target sectors (industry, equipment, building, housing and transportation).

This will be measured through the total annual energy savings in petajoules (PJ) resulting from the adoption of energy efficiency codes, standards and practices.

Expected results in 2022: 600 PJ in total annual energy savings by 2030.

The general audience is individuals and legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for profit and not-for-profit organizations such as:

• Electricity and gas utilities, companies, industry associations, research associations, standards organizations, Indigenous and community groups, Canadian academic institutions; and,
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies, where applicable.

International legal entities validly incorporated or registered abroad, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, such as:

• Industry associations;
• Research associations;
• Standards organizations; and,
• Academic institutions.

Energy Efficiency Program

Working closely with provinces and territories, industry, associations, and research groups, NRCan advances long-term energy efficiency efforts that drive Canada’s transformation to a low-carbon economy.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients include:

• hosting workshops and webinars;
• undertaking targeted outreach and engagement, including engagement sessions and award recognition nominations; and,
• knowledge and capacity-building activities such as case studies.

The Office of Energy Efficiency is also supporting policy, program and service experimentation to drive energy efficiency across all sectors and to encourage energy efficient behaviours to Canadians. Programming includes activities and partnerships to:

• improve energy efficiency standards for equipment and appliances;
• develop and drive adoption of more stringent national energy codes for new and existing homes and buildings, in collaboration with provinces, territories, and industry;
• implement energy management systems in large buildings and industrial facilities to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs; and,
• support energy labelling and disclosure initiatives using EnergGuide Rating System.

Energy Efficient Buildings Research Development and Demonstration Program:

The program has conducted extensive engagement with industry, associations, provinces and territories, and research and policy groups to help inform the scope of calls for proposals. This included commissioning four consultation contracts to conduct extensive interviews with a broad range of stakeholders to identify the latest barriers to the implementation of high-efficiency and net-zero energy building technologies, in order to help best direct future calls for proposals.

• Natural resources sectors are innovative
• Clean technologies and energy efficiency enhance economic performance
• Canada’s natural resources are sustainable

The Energy Innovation Program (EIP) advances clean energy technologies that will help Canada meet its climate change targets while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. It funds research, development and demonstration projects and other related scientific activities. Through the EIP, clean energy innovation is supported across four missions:

1. Improving efficiency and processes to reduce emissions from energy end use;
2. Accelerating electrification and maximizing benefits of low emitting heat and power;
3. Developing cleaner hydrocarbon and renewable fuels pathways; and,
4. Maintaining safe and resilient energy systems to protect Canadians in the changing energy landscape.

The EIP runs targeted calls and other strategic collaboration and investment programs. Recent years have included funding calls under Breakthrough Energy Solutions Canada (BESC) and the Canadian Emissions Reduction Innovation Network (CERIN), as well as other grants and contributions addressing a variety of energy technology innovation topics. Budget 2021 announced new funding under the EIP to focus on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS); a first call for proposals related to CCUS was launched in 2021-22.

Contributions under this program are non-repayable, since the activities and benefits from the contributions are pre-commercial.

Activities are expected to contribute to new R&D; demonstration projects and associated codes and standards; and new knowledge products, including studies and analyses.

Expected results in 2022-23 include:

• Average of at least one partner other than NRCan or the proponent per project
• Project funding leveraged at least 1:1

Expected longer-term results include:

• Average technology readiness level advanced by one level by project completion
• At least 5% of projects will produce an Intellectual Property (IP) product and/or will have an impact on revised codes, standards and regulations
• 20-50 projects funded under the new CCUS EIP stream by 2026
• 4.25 Mt direct GHG reductions per year by 2030

Eligible Canadian recipients could include:

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including: for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as electricity and gas utilities, companies, industry associations, research associations, and standards organizations; Indigenous organizations and groups; community groups; and Canadian academic institutions; and,
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies, where applicable.

Under the EIP, NRCan has carried out extensive engagement with industry, associations, provinces and territories, and research and policy groups to help inform the scope of calls for proposals. Requests for project proposals are solicited from a broad range of eligible recipients including industry, academia and consortia via open, advertised proposal calls; non-advertised direct requests for proposals; and unsolicited proposals. To increase awareness about proposal solicitations, program officers:

• Present at conferences, workshops and sector meetings;
• Use NRCan’s Clean Growth Collaboration Community, an online integrative platform, to share information and encourage potential applicants to connect with other partners;
• Leverage social media platforms, amplified by partners;
• Host stakeholder engagement webinars and calls with involvement from provinces and territories;
• Provide input and updates in the regularly circulated Clean Growth Hub Newsletter; and,
• Host Accelerator Events and Expert Discussion Sessions (through the BESC program).

The purpose of the Expanding Market Opportunities (EMO) program is to support the competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector by maintaining and growing international wood product markets, expanding wood use domestically in non-traditional construction, and promoting the strong environmental credentials of Canadian forest products.

This transfer payment program provides non-repayable contributions.

EMO will issue its annual call for proposals (CFP) for fiscal year 22/23 by email, through its website, and through its online funding management system.

EMO staff consult with applicants and recipients based on a risk management approach according to the size of their initiative. Direct consultations and outreach Program Officers occurs at a minimum on a quarterly basis, and at a maximum of biweekly.

The purpose of the FIP is to enable transformation in the Canadian forest industry. More specifically, the FIP will help drive forest sector transformation, sparking enterprises in their move beyond a dependence on commodity products toward value-added, high-value and specialty products – sustainably extracting the maximum value from the fibre resource. To achieve this, the FIP will facilitate and promote a value-chain approach that addresses innovation from the seed to the end markets and products in which the right fibre is matched to the right product.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

Under the TTP, the primary recipient of contributions is FPInnovations, a not-for-profit national forest research institute. For the CWFC component, a public “Open Call” for proposal was launched in June 2020 and posted on the NRCan website. The “Call” was open for 30 business days. After thorough review by subject matter experts, 10 proposals were recommended and approved for support. Under the CWFC’s Technology Development Transfer activities, an additional 3 proposals from not-for-profit forestry organizations (FPInniovations, the Canadian Woodlands Forum and the Canadian Institute of Forestry) were also supported. In accordance with TBS direction regarding FIP renewal, diversity information and plans were requested from all proponents.

NRCan’s Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program is aimed at supporting the use of wood in non-traditional construction projects, such as tall buildings, low-rise non-residential buildings and bridges. The GCWood Program launch follows the Government’s Budget 2017 announcement of $39.8M over four years, starting in April 2018, to undertake this initiative.

The GCWood Program supports Canada’s transition to a more wood-inclusive construction industry by funding projects that encourage:

• Greater adoption and commercialization of wood-based products in the construction of innovative tall wood buildings, timber bridges, and low-rise non-residential wood buildings;
• Replication of demonstrated innovative non-traditional wood-based buildings and timber bridges;
• Research that addresses the gap in technical information needed to facilitate revisions to the 2020 and 2025 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) to allow tall wood buildings beyond the current 6 storey limit; and,
• Development and provision of training/education programs, life-cycle assessment and other tools for students, and design and construction professionals interested in building with wood and wood products.

The Program provides non-repayable contributions of up to 100% of a project’s eligible incremental costs for the demonstration of innovative engineered wood products and systems. The funding is intended to offset the cost of being the “first mover” of wood-intensive projects, and to fund the development of knowledge and tools to support the success of future projects.

The GCWood Program will directly contribute to the following results:

• Regulatory agencies and specifiers (engineers, designers and architects) have the information they need to determine product, performance and environmental credentials;
• Architects, engineers, and builders have the information and tools necessary to pursue wood-based building projects; and,
• Regulatory acceptance/recognition of Canadian wood products and building systems in building codes, standards, and policies.

Eligible recipients of the GCWood Program, and the primary targets for demonstration activities include:

• For-profit and not-for-profit companies registered in Canada;
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.

Eligible recipients and the target audience for education and code-related initiatives are:

• Forest product associations (engaged in forest product promotion)
• Provinces, provincial Crown corporations; and,
• Not-for-profit organizations engaged in forest product research.

Program applicants are supported through the establishment of a dedicated program website, which includes access to program guides, eligibility requirements, and project announcements, as well as program administration contact details (nrcan.gcwood-cvbois.rncan@canada.ca).

GCWood issues a public Call for Expressions of Interest for each aspect of the demonstration component (tall wood, low-rise non-residential, and bridges) which is promoted through the NRCan website and social media, as well as through partner organizations across the country.

Selected program recipients are further engaged through regular contact with program administrators to monitor project progress and report against the set objectives.

Recipients also have access to regional communications working groups established by GCWood to support project promotion and dissemination of information.

Helping Canadians make their homes more energy efficient reduces energy demand and supports Canadian environmental objectives while making homes more comfortable and more affordable to maintain, as well as creating good, middle-class jobs in their communities.

The program will provide up to 700,000 grants of up to $5,000 to help homeowners undertake energy-efficient improvements to their homes supported by EnerGuide evaluations, which qualify for reimbursement of up to an additional $600.

• Not-for-profit organizations and charities
• Academia and public institutions
• Indigenous recipients
• Individual or sole proprietorships

The Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) Program offers non-repayable contributions towards capital projects, feasibility studies, and outreach activities undertaken by Canadian forest industry firms to implement first-in-kind technologies, products, and processes. IFIT contributions help to de-risk innovation and enable the forest sector to adopt a more diverse product mix including bioenergy, biomaterials, biochemicals, and next generation building products.

The Program funds innovative projects at the pilot and commercial scales that direct wood fibre and by-products from wood processing into higher value usages which:

• Increase the total revenues available from wood fibre;
• Diversify product lines for the forest industry, improving economic performance and job growth; and,
• Produce renewable energy and other bioproducts that are beneficial to the environment and the emerging bioeconomy.

By providing funding to Canadian forest firms to advance these technologies towards full, commercial-scale implementation, IFIT will broaden and build upon previous investments in forest sector transformation.

Expected IFIT program outcomes include:

• The development of new wood-based products (including biomaterials, biochemicals, biofuels, building materials, and pulp and paper products) helps to diversify Canada’s forest sector, leading to enhanced market access;
• Innovative technologies and products make the forest sector more commercially sustainable, competitive, and resilient, and contribute to the emerging bioeconomy; and,
• Forest sector companies collaborate on bioproduct-related projects and processes with other sectors (i.e. energy, chemical, etc.).

Companies that:

• Produce forest products; and,
• Have or will have existing forest product manufacturing facilities (for example, pulp, paper or panel mills) located in Canada.

The Contribution Program is designed to support the Government of Alberta in the management of mountain pine beetle (MPB) in order to protect forest resources and communities from the negative socio-economic and environmental impacts of the current MPB infestation in Alberta.

The contribution agreement will be directed towards two activity streams: A) MPB management operations, and B) MPB research that support the efforts of the Government of Alberta to mitigate risks and impacts of the MPB infestation.

The objectives of the Program are to:

• Limit the spread of MPB and mitigate negative consequences of the beetle in Alberta; and,
• Generate knowledge and innovative management techniques through research on MPB.

This program provides non-repayable contributions.

Expected results during the 2022-23 period include:

Effective control of MPB populations in Alberta’s forests

Performance indicator: An increased percentage of surveyed sites with decreasing or static MPB populations

Protection of Alberta’s pine forests at risk from MPB infestation

Performance indicator: Percentage change in the number of infested trees detected in Alberta.

Forest sector has access to enhanced scientific knowledge pertaining to MPB infestations and related risks

Performance indicator: Number of publications on MPB and related risks

Initial and direct recipient:

• Government of Alberta

Ultimate recipients:

• Not-for-profit research organizations
• Canadian academic institutions (e.g., universities)
• Other provincial and territorial governments and their agencies
• Indigenous governments, communities or organizations

The Minister of Natural Resources is responsible under section 214 of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act to make payments to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador equivalent to the revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to offshore oil and gas activities in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador offshore. The federal Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Resource Revenue Fund Regulations prescribe the time and manner for making the transfer payments. The funds are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

NRCan expects that 100% of the payments to Newfoundland and Labrador will be processed on time and in accordance with the applicable regulations.

The amount of money transferred to Newfoundland and Labrador is largely based on royalties from offshore oil production and is subject to change. Royalty amounts vary year-to-year as a result of fluctuations in the crude oil prices, exchange rates, changes in production levels, the timing of sales and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) collected.

• Natural resource sectors are innovative
• Clean technologies and energy efficiencies enhance economic performance
• Canada’s natural resources  are sustainable

• Energy Innovation and Clean Technology
• Electricity Resources

The Smart Grid program is investing $100M over five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) to promote the modernization of grid infrastructure by funding the demonstration of promising, near-commercial smart grid technologies and the deployment of smart grid integrated systems across Canada in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster innovation and clean jobs.

The program will accelerate the transition to a clean growth economy by:

• Better utilizing the existing capacity of electricity assets;
• Increasing the penetration of renewable generation; and,
• Increasing the reliability, resiliency, and flexibility of the power system while maintaining security of the systems.

This transfer payment program is repayable as follows:

• Demonstration stream: Contributions under this Program are non-repayable, since the activities and benefits from the contributions are pre-commercial. 
• Deployment stream: Repayable, if the deployment leads to a profit within five years following the project commissioning. The requirements for reporting profits are detailed in the contribution agreement, along with the process for repayment.

Expected results in 2022-23 include:

• For deployment stream: Ratio of project investments made by stakeholders to deployment project funding from the program leveraged at a minimum of 1:3.
• For demonstration stream: Ratio of project investments made by stakeholders to demonstration project funding from the program leveraged at a minimum of 1:1.

Longer-term expected result by 2030:

GHG emission reductions of 0.9 megatonnes (Mt) through a clean, smart electricity grid.

Legal entities validly incorporated in Canada including:

• For-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as electricity and gas utilities, system operators and transmission owners and operators (including provincial crown corporations, agencies, co-ops and municipally-owned) and, local distribution companies;
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments, and their departments and agencies; and,
• Indigenous (majority owned and controlled by Indigenous people), for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

In order to increase awareness of the Program, help gauge project eligibility and provide feedback to potential proponents at the time of the Program’s launch, NRCan conducted extensive stakeholder engagement with utilities/local distribution companies, associations, and provinces and territories.

The Program holds annual symposiums that bring together hundreds of stakeholders, including Program funding recipients and their partners. The symposiums aim to share knowledge about the Program; present project progress, results and impacts; and address topics such as Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the smart grid sector. Discussions at the symposiums inform future Smart Grid policy and program design.

The Smart Renewables and Electrification Program (SREPs) provides direct financial support to projects that support the transition towards electrification through the deployment of renewable energy projects capable of providing grid services and transformation of the Canadian electricity grid. The program will also decrease barriers to participation for those underrepresented in the energy sector through its equity, diversity and inclusion requirements. Furthermore, SREPs offers a Capacity Building Stream to support the equitable transition to a cleaner electrical grid, helping communities and organizations acquire the knowledge and tools needed to develop renewable energy and grid modernization projects.

SREPs funding is conditionally repayable for recipients who are for-profit and should the project generate profits within the first five years of operation.

SREPs has no targets or expected results before FY 2024-25. As of November 25, 2021, results include eleven projects approved for a total of 630 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy. Altogether, the total cost of these projects is $1.2 B, $209 M of which has been requested in SREPs funding. Over 90% of applicants have included an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan.

Performance Indicators:

• Total number of projects supported by SREPs;
• Megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy directly supported by SREPs;
• Percentage of applicants including Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plans or making a public Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion commitment;
• Number of job-years of employment generated by projects; and,
• Total public and private investment in projects supported through the Program.

GHG emissions reductions directly attributable to SREPs and its supported projects.

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, utilities, system operators and transmission owners, industry and research associations;
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies; and,
• Indigenous communities, governments, tribal councils, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

During program design, Departmental officials invited industry organizations, governments, academia, Indigenous organizations, and other potential proponents including private developers, electricity system operators, and utilities to information sessions on the program. Following program launch, the Department contacted these groups to notify them, and contacted provincial government representatives, both at the working and management level to solicit general feedback.

Program advisors regularly meet with provincial/territorial representatives in targeted provinces to ensure linkages between federal and provincial support for SREPs projects.

Indigenous representatives and non-government subject matter experts are involved in the evaluation process for capacity building stream proposals.

The Strategic Interties Predevelopment Program (SIPP) will help provincial electric utilities conduct necessary predevelopment work to clarify project costs, offer insight on system reliability and benefits, develop the knowledge base to support respective provincial regulatory processes, and identify relevant environmental and community engagement issues on potential intertie projects such as the Atlantic Loop and other interprovincial transmission projects. This will allow utilities to inform their respective processes needed to seek final investment decision approval from their respective regulators.

Contributions made under SIPP are non-repayable.

Beyond the completion of select studies and related knowledge creation for utilities, SIPP has no targets or expected results before FY 2024-25, given the long-term nature of its program objectives (i.e., physical construction of strategic interties).

Since 1997, NRCan has contributed to the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) through the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP), which supports youth between the ages of 15 and 30 develop the skills and gain the practical experience they need to join the natural resources sector workforce, including in Energy, Forestry, Mining and Earth Sciences sectors.

Using a third party delivery model, the program provides funding for youth placements through non-repayable contribution agreements. The third-party delivery organizations take responsibility for delivering the funding to employers.

The program has evolved over time to support the various government priorities as it relates to skills & employment, equity, diversity & inclusion, investing in the green economy and the economic recovery post COVID-19. This program also supports the Minister’s commitment to assist in the development and promotion of Canadian scientific and technological capabilities, and to address labour shortages in STEM fields.

In support of Canada’s commitment for greater electrification of transportation, this program addresses key barriers (e.g. access to chargers and range anxiety) by supporting the deployment of the necessary infrastructure. These investments were made to support Canada’s zero emission vehicle sales targets.

Federal investments in the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment initiative are supporting the establishment of a coast-to-coast network of fast-chargers (Level 3) along the national highway systems, natural gas refuelling stations along key freight corridors and hydrogen refuelling stations in major metropolitan areas. Building upon this, the ZEV Infrastructure program’s focus is to target market segments not previously addressed through federal investments giving Canadians access to EV charging infrastructure where they live, work and play.

The ZEV Infrastructure Program supports the deployment of new zero-emission vehicle recharging and hydrogen refuelling stations in public places, on-street, multi-unit residential buildings, workplace, as well as strategic infrastructure projects for mass transit, urban delivery, and fleet applications.

The initiative uses repayable contributions (with the Government of Canada providing up to 50% of total project costs) to decrease the risk of investing in EV and alternative fuel infrastructure. These projects will be monitored for ability to repay over 10 years, following project completion.

The program deploys new zero-emission vehicle infrastructure in public places, on-street, at apartment buildings, retail outlets, and the workplace, as well as strategic projects for mass transit, urban delivery, and fleet applications.

The program has notional targets of 33,500 chargers, and 10 hydrogen refuelling completed by March 31, 2026. However, the actual number, type and location of charger supported depends on the proposals received and the strength of business cases.

Key performance measures include:

• The number of recharging and refueling stations planned, under development and completed, by fuel type); and,
• The amount of electricity, natural gas and hydrogen dispensed through the supported recharging/refueling infrastructure stations.

• Individuals and legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada including: electricity or gas utilities, companies, industry associations, Indigenous and community groups, Canadian academic institutions, and provincial, territorial, regional or municipal governments or their departments or agencies, where applicable.
• International legal entities validly incorporated or registered abroad including: companies, industry associations, and academic institutions.

The project selection criteria for this initiative is informed by ongoing consultations with provinces and territories, as well as experience gained through the delivery of other EV and alternative fuel infrastructure programming.

The program engages potential applicants through a comprehensive communications plan, including social media, and email – levering an existing network of over 1000 stakeholders who have participated in past RFPs, as well as those involved in clean technology and transportation, and industry associations who have expressed interest.

There will be dedicated information sessions focused on growing interest and capacity in Indigenous businesses and communities.

All provincial/territorial (P/T) governments are engaged bilaterally to better understand their own programming plans. PT governments are also consulted on each project selected for funding in their jurisdiction.

The Program also works closely with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to engage municipal governments.