The federal government has launched the first call for proposals under its new Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (CMIF).

The fund aims to address key infrastructure gaps to enable sustainable critical minerals production and to connect resources to markets. With up to $1.5 billion available over seven years, it will support clean energy and electrification initiatives as well as transportation and infrastructure projects that will enable the sustainable development of Canada's critical minerals.

The first call for proposals, which closes on February 29, will open up as much as $300 million in contribution funding under two streams: the Pre-construction and Project Development Stream and the Infrastructure Deployment Stream.

Non-government applicants can seek access to up to $50 million per project, while provincial and territorial governments can claim up to $100 million per project.

"Critical minerals are a generational economic opportunity for Canada,” said Energy Minister Jonathan Wilson. “Demand for critical minerals is projected to rise exponentially as the global economy continues to shift toward low-carbon solutions. Through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, Canada will make strategic investments in projects to help enable and grow the sustainable development of these minerals, reinforcing Canada's position as a global supplier of choice for clean technology, clean energy and the resources the world needs to build a prosperous net-zero economy."

The CMIF is a key component of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy and will complement other clean energy and transportation support that is already benefiting the critical minerals sector.

The fund will support strategic priorities such as decarbonizing industrial mining operations, strengthening supply chains through transportation infrastructure and advancing economic reconciliation by supporting the participation of Indigenous Peoples in infrastructure and critical mineral projects.

Applications to the Pre-construction and Project Development Stream will be assessed and ranked as a cohort after the call-for-proposals closes. Applications to the Infrastructure Deployment Stream, however, will be accepted and considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

About half of mining projects identified in Canada's Major Projects Inventory Report process or extract some form of critical minerals, worth $60.9 billion in potential investment.

By investing in the foundational and enabling infrastructure needed to develop critical minerals projects, the federal government hopes to realize immense economic opportunities.