Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program - British Columbia - Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure

The Rural and Northern Communities (RNC) Program was established to ensure the unique needs of British Columbia’s small, rural and remote communities are met – supporting their wide range of infrastructure priorities.

On June 25, 2020, the Canadian and British Columbian governments committed up to $58.7 million towards the second intake of the RNC Program to support cost-sharing of infrastructure projects in communities across the province. This intake is designed to target projects starting in 2021 or 2022.

Funding under the first intake, which represented a commitment of up to $95 million by the Canadian and British Columbian governments, is fully allocated, with approvals underway.

Please ensure directions are followed as funding is competitive and merit-based, and previous intakes were oversubscribed. The applications that receive the highest technical score will be those that show a clear connection to program criteria and objectives, demonstrate the principles of sustainability, and are supported by strong planning to ensure sustainable service delivery.

Applications

Projects most likely to receive funds provide value for money and are proportionate to the size of the community that will benefit. Equitable distribution of funding is a consideration.  Before submitting project proposals, applicants should be guided by the amount of money requested by shortlisted applications in the previous intake.  These applications requested an average combined federal-provincial grant of $2.07 million. Requests for large amounts are unlikely to be able to be met through the program.

To apply for this funding follow these steps:

1. Before submitting an application, refer to:
   • Rural and Northern Communities Program Guide (PDF, 733 KB)
   • Accessing the Online Application Instructions (PDF, 163 KB)
   • Application Questions - SAMPLE ONLY (PDF, 1.3 MB)
   • Outcome and Project Examples (PDF, 240 KB)
   • Detailed Cost Estimate Template (XLSX, 51 KB)
   • Confirmation of Funds (XLSX, 37 KB)
   • Council/Board/Band Council Resolution Sample (DOCX, 15 KB)
   • How to Create a .KML File (PDF, 1.4 MB)
2. Determine if your project meets requirements for funding.
3. Determine if your organization is eligible to submit an application.
4. Ensure you have a business BCeID (see Accessing the Online Application above for details)
5. Complete the online application
6. Upload your completed mandatory documents with your application which may include but are not limited to:
   • Project location .KML file
   • Council/Board/Band Council Resolution
   • Detailed cost estimate
   • Site plan/Map
   • Project study or plan
   • List and status of required licenses, permits and approvals (or indicate if not applicable)
   • Evidence of secured funds
   • For drinking water or wastewater projects: Water Conservation Plan and a copy of the Council/Board/Band Council endorsement for the plan

Project Eligibility

Eligible projects will support public infrastructure, defined as a tangible capital assets primarily for public use and benefit. To be eligible, projects must meet at least one of the following core or alternative outcomes.

The core outcomes specific to the RNC program are:

• Improved food security
• Improved and/or more reliable road, air and marine infrastructure
• Improved broadband connectivity
• More efficient and/or reliable energy
• Improved education and/or health facilities (specific to Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action)

Alternative outcomes eligible under RNC (from other specified ICIP programs):

• Green Infrastructure – Environmental Quality Outcomes (EQ):
  • Increased capacity to treat and/or manage wastewater and stormwater
  • Increased access to potable water
  • Increased capacity to reduce and/or remediate soil and/or air pollutants (through solid waste diversion and remediation)

• Green Infrastructure - Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation Outcomes:
  • Increased structural capacity and/or increased natural capacity to adapt to climate change impacts, natural disasters and/or extreme weather events

• Community, Culture and Recreation Outcome (CCR):
  • Improved access to and/or increased quality of cultural, recreational and/or community infrastructure for Canadians, including Indigenous peoples and vulnerable populations

• Public Transit Outcomes:
  • Improved capacity of public transit infrastructure
  • Improved quality and/or safety of existing or future transit systems
  • Improved access to a public transit system

Project Financing and Cost Sharing

Applicants must be prepared to finance project construction, cost-share the project, and cover any cost over-runs. The program is claims based. Please see the Program Guide (PDF, 733 KB) for additional details. The total federal and provincial contributions depend on the type of applicant. 

Projects from Local Government - Populations between 5,000 and 25,000

Funding is available up to 90% of eligible project costs (50% Government of Canada, 40% Province of British Columbia)

• Municipalities may submit one application.
• Regional Districts may submit one application for each community in their area.
  A community is defined as a settlement area within a regional district electoral area or an established or proposed service area.
• For Environmental Quality Outcomes - Improvement Districts or Water Utilities applications must be made by a sponsoring regional district or municipality. Ownership of the infrastructure and associated assets must be transferred to the sponsor if approved for funding. See the Program Guide for details.

Projects from Local Government - Populations Less Than 5,000

Funding is available up to 100% of eligible project costs (60% Government of Canada, 40% Province of British Columbia)

• Municipalities may submit one application.
• Regional Districts may submit one application for each community in their area.
  A community is defined as a settlement area within a regional district electoral area or an established or proposed service area.
• For Environmental Quality Outcomes - Improvement Districts or Water Utilities applications must be made by a sponsoring regional district or municipality. Ownership of the infrastructure and associated assets must be transferred to the sponsor if approved for funding. See the Program Guide for details.

Indigenous Ultimate Recipient Projects - On-Reserve

Funding is available up to 75% of the eligible project costs (75% Government of Canada)

• Indigenous Ultimate Recipients may submit one application.

Indigenous Ultimate Recipient Projects - Off-Reserve

Funding is available up to 100% of the eligible project costs (75% Government of Canada, 25% Province of British Columbia).

• Indigenous Ultimate Recipients may submit one application.

Not-For-Profit Projects

Funding is available up to 75% of the eligible project costs (50% Government of Canada, 25% Province of British Columbia).

• Not-For-Profit organizations may submit one application.

For-Profit Projects

Funding is available up to 40% of the eligible project costs (25% Government of Canada, 15% Province of British Columbia).

• For-Profit organizations may submit one application and must work in collaboration with one or more Local Government(s) or Indigenous Government(s).