Northern and regional development
Regional development agencies and northern programs that are not specific to Indigenous peoples, such as Nutrition North Canada and territorial governance.
Headline figures
Fiscal year 2024–25
$2.7B
0.6% of the $474.4B of federal program spending reported by theme, across 61 programs.
Cost per tax filer uses 29,965,100 tax filers (2023, the latest count published); per person uses a population of 41,162,593 (2024). It is an allocation of cost, not a tax bill.
Spending programs
Actual spending by program in 2024–25: operating costs, capital and payments to others, as reported by each department and reconciled to the Public Accounts. Select a program for its history and cost per taxpayer.
Northern Contaminated Sites
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$568M
21.1% of list$18.94per tax filer$13.79per personNutrition North
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$198M
7.4% of list$6.62per tax filer$4.82per personRegional Innovation
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$184M
6.8% of list$6.14per tax filer$4.47per personBusiness Growth
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$150M
5.6% of list$5.00per tax filer$3.64per personNorthern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$133M
4.9% of list$4.43per tax filer$3.23per personInnovation
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$129M
4.8% of list$4.31per tax filer$3.14per personCommunity Initiatives
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$128M
4.7% of list$4.27per tax filer$3.11per personBusiness Scale Up and Productivity
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$114M
4.2% of list$3.79per tax filer$2.76per personVitality of communities
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$102M
3.8% of list$3.41per tax filer$2.48per personDiversified Communities
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$102M
3.8% of list$3.40per tax filer$2.48per personRegional Innovation Ecosystem
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$68.1M
2.5% of list$2.27per tax filer$1.65per personClimate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$65.7M
2.4% of list$2.19per tax filer$1.60per personBusiness Growth
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$65.6M
2.4% of list$2.19per tax filer$1.59per personCommunity Economic Development and Diversification
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$60.1M
2.2% of list$2.01per tax filer$1.46per personBusiness Growth
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$59.4M
2.2% of list$1.98per tax filer$1.44per personInnovation Ecosystem
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$45.2M
1.7% of list$1.51per tax filer$1.10per personBusiness Development
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$42.5M
1.6% of list$1.42per tax filer$1.03per personBusiness Services
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$32.3M
1.2% of list$1.08per tax filer$0.78per personInternal Services
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$31.6M
1.2% of list$1.06per tax filer$0.77per personInclusive Communities
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$31.4M
1.2% of list$1.05per tax filer$0.76per person
Show the other 25 programs
Business Development
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$27.7M
1.0% of list$0.92per tax filer$0.67per personTargeted or temporary support
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$26.8M
1.0% of list$0.89per tax filer$0.65per personInternal Services
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$24.7M
0.9% of list$0.83per tax filer$0.60per personScience and Technology
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$24.6M
0.9% of list$0.82per tax filer$0.60per personNorthern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$23.8M
0.9% of list$0.80per tax filer$0.58per personCommunity Economic Development and Diversification
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$23.2M
0.9% of list$0.77per tax filer$0.56per personCommunity Development
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$23.0M
0.9% of list$0.77per tax filer$0.56per personInnovation
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$22.4M
0.8% of list$0.75per tax filer$0.54per personBusiness Services
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$21.2M
0.8% of list$0.71per tax filer$0.52per personPolicy Research and Engagement
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$17.1M
0.6% of list$0.57per tax filer$0.41per personCommunity Initiatives
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$16.8M
0.6% of list$0.56per tax filer$0.41per personInternal Services
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$16.7M
0.6% of list$0.56per tax filer$0.41per personNorthern Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$15.8M
0.6% of list$0.53per tax filer$0.38per personInternal Services
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$13.9M
0.5% of list$0.46per tax filer$0.34per personTrade and Investment
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$13.5M
0.5% of list$0.45per tax filer$0.33per personNorthern Strategic and Science Policy
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$11.0M
0.4% of list$0.37per tax filer$0.27per personInternal Services
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$10.6M
0.4% of list$0.35per tax filer$0.26per personResearch and Development and Commercialization
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$9.9M
0.4% of list$0.33per tax filer$0.24per personInternal Services
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$9.8M
0.4% of list$0.33per tax filer$0.24per personInternal Services
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$8.7M
0.3% of list$0.29per tax filer$0.21per personInternal Services
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$7.2M
0.3% of list$0.24per tax filer$0.18per personRegional Innovation Ecosystem
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$5.9M
0.2% of list$0.20per tax filer$0.14per personPolicy and Advocacy
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$3.6M
0.1% of list$0.12per tax filer$0.09per personNorthern Projects Management
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$3.1M
0.1% of list$0.10per tax filer$0.08per personKnowledge Management and Engagement
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$2.0M
0.1% of list$0.07per tax filer$0.05per person
Grants and contributions
Payments to provinces, organizations and individuals in 2024–25, by transfer payment program, from the Public Accounts. These are a different cut of the same money as the programs above, so the two lists are not added together. Select one to see its largest recipients.
Contributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$206M
12.8% of list$6.86per tax filer$4.99per personContributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$179M
11.1% of list$5.96per tax filer$4.34per personContributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$178M
11.1% of list$5.94per tax filer$4.32per personContributions to support access to healthy foods in isolated northern communities
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$175M
10.9% of list$5.84per tax filer$4.25per personContributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$164M
10.2% of list$5.46per tax filer$3.97per personContributions for the Western Diversification Program
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$113M
7.1% of list$3.79per tax filer$2.76per personContributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$75.9M
4.7% of list$2.53per tax filer$1.85per personContributions under the Quebec Economic Development Program
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$67.8M
4.2% of list$2.26per tax filer$1.65per personContributions to promote social and political development in the North and for Northerners
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$60.7M
3.8% of list$2.03per tax filer$1.47per personContributions for the Innovative Communities Fund
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$58.0M
3.6% of list$1.94per tax filer$1.41per personContributions for Southern Ontario Prosperity Program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$39.2M
2.4% of list$1.31per tax filer$0.95per personContributions under the Business Development Program
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$35.2M
2.2% of list$1.18per tax filer$0.86per personContributions under the Community Futures Program
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$34.9M
2.2% of list$1.16per tax filer$0.85per personGrants for the Political Evolution of the Territories, particularly as it pertains to Devolution
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$33.0M
2.1% of list$1.10per tax filer$0.80per personContributions for promoting regional development in Canada's three territories
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$31.9M
2.0% of list$1.06per tax filer$0.77per personContributions under the Northern Ontario Development Program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$27.2M
1.7% of list$0.91per tax filer$0.66per personContributions for the Community Futures Program
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$17.7M
1.1% of list$0.59per tax filer$0.43per personContributions under the Community Futures Program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
$13.3M
0.8% of list$0.44per tax filer$0.32per personContributions for the Western Diversification Program
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$13.2M
0.8% of list$0.44per tax filer$0.32per personContributions under the Community Futures Program
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$12.8M
0.8% of list$0.43per tax filer$0.31per person
Show the other 24 grant and contribution programs
Contributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$11.6M
0.7% of list$0.39per tax filer$0.28per personContributions for the Community Futures Program
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$9.8M
0.6% of list$0.33per tax filer$0.24per personGrants to Promote Social and Political Development in the North and for northerners
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$8.9M
0.6% of list$0.30per tax filer$0.22per personContributions under the Community Futures Program
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$8.3M
0.5% of list$0.28per tax filer$0.20per personTransfer Payments to the Government of Yukon for the care and maintenance, remediation and management of the closure of contaminated sites in Yukon
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$7.1M
0.4% of list$0.24per tax filer$0.17per personContributions to support the advancement of Northern Science and Technology.
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$6.3M
0.4% of list$0.21per tax filer$0.15per personContributions under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$5.4M
0.3% of list$0.18per tax filer$0.13per personContributions for the Women's Enterprise Initiative
Department of Western Economic Diversification
$2.9M
0.2% of list$0.10per tax filer$0.07per personGrants for promoting the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources, and promoting scientific development
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$2.5M
0.2% of list$0.08per tax filer$0.06per personContributions for the Atlantic Innovation Fund
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$1.6M
0.1% of list$0.05per tax filer$0.04per personGrant to support the advancement of Northern Science and Technology.
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$1.4M
0.1% of list$0.05per tax filer$0.03per personGrant to support the Giant Mine Oversight Board and research for arsenic trioxide
Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
$1.1M
0.1% of list$0.04per tax filer$0.03per personGrants under the Quebec Economic Development Program
Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
$1.1M
0.1% of list$0.04per tax filer$0.03per personContributions for the Women's Enterprise Initiative
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$894K
0.1% of list$0.03per tax filer$0.02per personContributions under the Economic Development Initiative
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
$800K
0.0% of list$0.03per tax filer$0.02per personContributions under the Atlantic Policy Research Initiatives
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$502K
0.0% of list$0.02per tax filer$0.01per personGrants to organizations to promote economic cooperation and development
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$438K
0.0% of list$0.01per tax filer$0.01per personGrants to individuals, organizations and institutions to support research and activities relating to the polar regions.
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
$400K
0.0% of list$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personGrants for the Inclusive Diversification and Economic Advancement in the North initiative
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$310K
0.0% of list$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personGrants under the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
$298K
0.0% of list<$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personGrants for the Lytton Homeowner Resilient Rebuild Program
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$213K
0.0% of list<$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personContributions for the Lytton Business Restart Program
Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
$204K
0.0% of list<$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personGrants for Investments made under the Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$171K
0.0% of list<$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per personGrants under the Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
$12K
0.0% of list<$0.01per tax filer<$0.01per person
Sources and basis
- GC InfoBase - Open Datasets, retrieved 2026-11-03. Open Government Licence - Canada. Program spending is reconciled to Public Accounts expenditures by vote for every organization and year. It excludes Employment Insurance benefits, the Canada Child Benefit and other items that are not appropriated, so it differs from the budget tables.
- Detailed information on Transfer Payments, as per the Public Accounts of Canada, retrieved 2026-11-03. Open Government Licence - Canada.
- Themes group programs by purpose, not by department. Each program is assigned to one theme by a published, reviewable rule set.