Financial support for major northern projects

The Northern Action Plan 2023‑2028 opportunity budget addresses issues and needs of communities north of the 49^th parallel that emerge during the target period. The opportunity budget targets projects for which the Société du Plan Nord's contribution will amount to at least $200,000.

The opportunity budget applies to projects that will be carried out north of the 49^th parallel in Québec's northern territory, or for the benefit of communities or businesses located there.

Financial support is intended to supplement the financing of projects for which the contributions of the community and other government programs are not sufficient. Applicants must demonstrate that they have sought additional funding from at least:

• one of the local or regional government structures;
• one of the relevant departments and agencies of the Gouvernement du Québec or the Government of Canada offering a program for which the project is eligible.

Eligible clienteles

The following entities are eligible for funding:

• incorporated and non‑profit organizations;
• cooperatives;
• mutual organizations with activities similar to a non‑profit organization;
• the band council of an Indigenous community or a grouping of communities of Nations recognized by the Québec National Assembly;
• northern village corporations, northern villages or Inuit landholding corporations;
• a government department or agency;
• municipalities, regional county municipalities (RCM) and municipal bodies;
• the Administration Régionale Baie‑James, the Kativik Regional Government, the Cree Nation Government and the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government;
• companies legally incorporated in Québec or Canada, with a head office or establishment located north of the 49^th parallel.

Retail businesses and publicly traded companies are not eligible.

Nature of projects

Projects must:

Correspond to at least one of the four key directions of the NAP 2023‑2028

• Increase connectivity to the territory
• Build on northern economic strengths
• Stimulate community vitality
• Preserve a unique environment
   

Meet the five guiding principles of the Société du Plan Nord

• A response to the priorities indicated by the territory’s stakeholders
• Greater cooperation with local communities, the First Nations, and the Inuit
• Seek the best “leverage effect” by pooling the partners’ efforts
• Concrete, structuring initiatives
• Synergy between the three axes of sustainable development

Non‑eligible expenditures

The following expenditures are not eligible:

• recurring expenditures, such as rent;
• expenses relating to a project already completed;
• representation expenses, donations, rewards and sponsorships;
• expenditures incurred to meet legislative and regulatory requirements;
• expenditures incurred before the project is submitted;
• expenditures eligible for another form of reimbursement (for example, a tax refund);
• expenditures connected with a project that is inconsistent with established government policy or current laws and regulations;
• deficit of an organization or enterprise, or reimbursement of accumulated debt;
• working capital;
• expenditures planned for after December 31, 2028.

The Northern Action Plan's opportunity budget allows for grants totalling $60 million between 2023 and 2028. Each project selected will receive a minimum of $200,000 in financial assistance from the Société du Plan Nord. The Société du Plan Nord's maximum contribution cannot exceed one‑third (33%) of the value of the project.

Total government assistance cannot exceed 80% of the eligible costs of the project.

The maximum amount of financial assistance, in the form of a non‑repayable grant, will be determined by taking into account all sources of government assistance provided to the project.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• the need for a non-refundable contribution;
• that 20 % of the total project budget comes from a financial partner.

The calculation will also take into account the amount received from departments and agencies that have financial assistance agreements with the Société du Plan Nord. Financial assistance may come from:

• departments and agencies of the Gouvernement du Québec;
• departments and agencies of the Government of Canada;
• partners with intervention funds whose financing is mainly from government sources.

You may submit an application for financial assistance until February 15, 2027.

To apply, you must consult the application guide (PDF 325 Kb) first. Then, you must complete the application form (PDF 578 Kb) for financial support from the opportunity budget and provide the following documents:

• a copy of the most recent financial report of your organization;
• a copy of the resolution by the board of directors authorizing the applicant to submit projects and sign agreements;
• letters of support from other project partners (if any);
• documents related to the usual planning and execution stages for infrastructure projects, as well as documents related to project management;
• evidence of approaches to, or responses from, other sources of funding;
• all other documents considered relevant to the assessment of the project.

Projects may be submitted to the Société du Plan Nord using the following e‑mail address: opportunite@spn.gouv.qc.ca.

If your project is selected, it will be subject to a financial assistance agreement with the Société du Plan Nord. The agreement will specify the terms of payment and the conditions for granting financial assistance, as well as the terms of accountability.

For each payment, you must submit an activity and utilization report for the grant, in accordance with the deadlines set out in the funding agreement.

This report must include:

• a detailed description of the project and the activities carried out with the grant;
• the cost of the project and of each activity carried out;
• the sources of funding and the amounts obtained from each source;
• the number of jobs created, if applicable;
• an appendix containing supporting documents for eligible expenses and a financial report detailing project expenses;
• a report on the project's benefits according to sustainable development criteria.

Any questions regarding the Opportunity Budget can be sent by e‑mail to the Société du Plan Nord at the following address: opportunite@spn.gouv.qc.ca.