The Big Picture
Budget 2026, titled Masters of Our Destiny, answers tariffs, conflict abroad and rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) by building at home: more investment in infrastructure, energy, housing and defence, national strategies for key sectors, and targeted relief for households. More than $140 billion is committed across a slate of national strategies, and electricity and housing account for about two thirds of it.
Funding Programs to Capitalize On
These programs are open to municipalities, Indigenous communities, nonprofits, institutions and businesses. Most new funding begins in 2027/28 and several programs are still being designed, so the coming months are the window to prepare.
Communities and Infrastructure
Municipalities, institutions and community organizations have the broadest set of options, anchored by a ten year federal infrastructure fund.
- Build Communities Strong Fund: recreation, water, transit and more
- Canada Infrastructure Bank: financing that unlocks new housing
- Canada 160 Fund: events and spaces for the 160th anniversary
Housing and Homelessness
The housing plan puts federal capital, land and financing on the table, with provinces and territories expected to fund ongoing operations and services.
- Build Canada Homes: new capital to build affordable homes
- Integrated Supports Fund: housing paired with health services
- Reaching Home: ten more years of homelessness funding
Energy and the Clean Economy
Electricity sits at the centre of the plan, with funding aimed at doubling Canada’s power supply by 2050.
- Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program: grid, storage and renewable projects
- Northern and remote energy: moving communities off diesel
- Clean energy tax credits: extended to the end of 2040
Food and Agriculture
Producers, processors and community food organizations can tap new and renewed funding as Ottawa works to grow more of Canada’s food at home.
- Food processing funds: new financing through Farm Credit Canada
- Local Food Infrastructure Fund: support for food banks
Resources, Industry and Trade
Sectors hit by tariffs and those tied to the resource agenda can draw on a growing set of financing and investment tools.
- Forestry: funds to modernize mills and build new facilities
- Critical minerals: a renewed strategy and a new accelerator
- Tariff response: regional support and a diversification fund
Innovation, Investment and AI
New federal capital targets research, commercialization and the growth of Canadian companies, with dedicated support for AI.
- Canada Strong Fund: Canada’s first sovereign wealth fund
- Strategic Response Fund: large research and innovation projects
- AI for All: computing access, work placements and training
Defence and Security
Rising defence budgets come with a clear preference for Canadian suppliers and programs designed to bring new firms into defence supply chains.
- Regional Defence Investment Initiative: help joining supply chains
- Defence Drone Initiative: a marketplace for Canadian drones
- Defence financing: a new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank
Workers and Skills
Employers, unions and training providers gain new and expanded support to develop the skilled workforce that the push to build at home will require.
- Team Canada Strong: apprentice hiring incentives and bonuses
- Worker retention: keeping staff through trade disruptions
- Youth employment: Canada Summer Jobs and student placements
Indigenous Communities
The budget commits long term funding to First Nations housing and infrastructure and backs Indigenous ownership in the projects shaping Canada’s future.
- First Nations infrastructure: a new ten year program on reserve
- First Nations housing: stable funding and faster construction
- Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program: equity in major projects
Integrated Strategic Partners (ISP) is tracking how these programs are designed and rolled out across all three orders of government and can help organizations identify the funding streams, timelines and decision makers most relevant to their priorities.