The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) addresses the critical link between infrastructure capacity and housing supply. Increasing housing and accommodating community growth requires adequate water and solid waste infrastructure to continue delivering essential services. Announced in Budget 2024, CHIF provides $6 billion in federal funding over 10 years to accelerate construction and upgrading of housing-enabling infrastructure.

CHIF is delivered through two funding streams:

Direct Delivery Stream (CLOSED): Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada delivered up to $1 billion over 8 years directly to eligible recipients such as municipalities and Indigenous communities to address pressing infrastructure needs and enable more housing. This stream required high project readiness, with substantial completion by September 2031. The Direct Delivery stream intake is now closed for all applicants. Results will be communicated in writing in the coming months.

Provincial and Territorial (PT) Agreement Stream: Provides $5 billion over 10 years to provinces and territories to administer and deliver funding to their communities, supporting provincial/territorial priorities while advancing federal housing objectives. Provinces and territories must enter into bilateral agreements with the federal government.

Nova Scotia PT Stream: The CHIF PT agreement will invest over $170 million in Nova Scotia over 10 years, starting in 2024-2025. Funding enables increased housing supply through improved capacity of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste infrastructure.

Housing Conditions: As a housing-enabling program, CHIF requires provincial, territorial and municipal applicants to meet certain conditions that improve the supply, densification and affordability of housing in Canadian communities. Conditions vary depending on applicant type, community size and location.

Project requirements for the Provincial and Territorial Agreement Stream (Nova Scotia):

• Eligibility determined by Province of Nova Scotia under bilateral agreement
• Minimum 20% of provincial CHIF funding envelope dedicated to rural, northern and Indigenous communities
• Indigenous projects given due consideration as part of this envelope
• Project selection administered by Province of Nova Scotia in alignment with CHIF requirements
• Contact Province for specific eligibility criteria and application requirements

Eligible Projects (Both Streams):

Planning or capital projects that would plan, build or upgrade:

• Drinking water infrastructure
• Wastewater infrastructure
• Stormwater infrastructure
• Solid waste infrastructure