OTTAWA – The federal government has launched a calls for proposals for both the $5 billion Trade Diversification Corridors Fund and the $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund.
Trade Diversification Corridors Fund is a national program that will strengthen trade‑enabling transportation infrastructure and help double non-U.S. exports, a release explains. The program will strengthen supply chain capacity, relieve congestion and address infrastructure gaps.
The Government of Canada will make strategic investments from submitted proposals that align with the following objectives:
- Increase corridors’ systems-based trade and transportation infrastructure capacity to support the diversification of Canada’s international trade, including as it assists in diversifying trade to global markets, beyond the United States;
- address congestion that is hindering Canada’s economic growth; and
- address trade-enabling transportation infrastructure gaps.
The fund has three funding streams that are open, which are as follows:
Stream 1: Strengthening Canada’s core trade corridors through a systems-based approach (invitation‑based)
Targets high-impact projects that diversify trade through Canada’s core trade corridors. It will use a systems-based approach, which entails targeting opportunities where bundles of projects could be advanced as an integrated package to maximize trade diversification benefits.
Stream 2: Unlocking opportunities and connectivity through collaborative trade corridor solutions (targeted call)
Targets collaborative, multi-stakeholder solutions to resolve specific issues that are inhibiting Canada’s ability to grow and diversify trade through key trade corridors.
The issues are enhancing intermodal capacity to increase trade with non-United States markets , including potentially through inland ports; optimizing existing transportation assets to enable trade diversification; and increasing transportation capacity for bulk commodity exports.
Stream 3: Supporting regional growth (open call)
Targets projects that address trade-enabling transportation infrastructure gaps that are impeding regional growth.
The launch of the Arctic Infrastructure Fund call means eligible partners, including Arctic and northern communities, territorial and Indigenous governments and organizations, and industry, are invited to submit proposals for infrastructure initiatives that will:
- strengthen defence readiness and Canada’s ability to operate in the Arctic;
- improve transportation links that enable economic development and access to domestic and global markets;
- enhance community connectivity, and access to essential goods, services, and emergency response; and
- advance Indigenous reconciliation, including recognizing that First Nations, Inuit and Métis are best placed to identify their community needs.
The fund features two funding streams.
Stream 1: Dual‑use transportation infrastructure that supports defence and community/civilian requirements in the Arctic (invitation‑based)
Supports large-scale, defence‑ and civilian‑serving projects that support two or more of the Arctic Infrastructure Fund objectives and that advance key transportation corridors to close longstanding northern transportation gaps, which will improve regional connectivity, promote economic development, and bolster defence operational readiness in the Arctic and Canada’s North.
Stream 2: Investing in industry and community‑led transportation infrastructure with dual-use benefits (open call)
These are projects that advance the Indigenous reconciliation objective, align with two or more of the other program objectives and that seek to improve regional connectivity, strengthen supply chains, enhance safety, and support defence needs.
Eligible projects must be located in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik or Nunatsiavut, the release adds.
Both programs will use a mix of non‑repayable, conditionally repayable and unconditionally repayable contributions and can include collaboration with the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Full program criteria, application guidance and timelines are available on Transport Canada’s website.
