Photo by Whitehorse Star
Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai.
First Nation entities now eligible for program funding
First Nation development corporations are now eligible to apply for Community Development Fund (CDF) money to support their community-level initiatives.
First Nation development corporations are now eligible to apply for Community Development Fund (CDF) money to support their community-level initiatives.
The Yukon government made the announcement this morning.
The CDF guidelines have been updated to make the program more responsive to the needs of Yukoners and improve the overall delivery of the fund, the government said in a statement.
The deadline for Tier 2 applications will now be April 15 (previously May 15) and Sept. 15 to allow seasonally-dependent projects to be approved earlier and start sooner.
Expanding the eligibility criteria will enable a more diverse range of projects to achieve the CDF program objectives of supporting community well-being, the government said.
It does so by creating jobs, generating spending on Yukon goods and services, and generating social, cultural and economic benefits for Yukon residents and communities, the statement said.
“The Community Development Fund supports community-based projects that create sustainable social and economic benefits for Yukoners,” said Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai.
“These changes will increase access to the program while ensuring it continues to meet the needs of local organizations working to build healthy, vibrant communities across the territory.”
Eligible organizations include registered non-profit societies, not-for-profit corporations (incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and based in Yukon), charitable organizations, municipal and First Nation governments, and First Nation development corporations (undertaking for-profit social enterprises at a community-level).
Eligible to apply for funding are construction projects; renovations, restorations and other physical improvements to buildings or lands; knowledge or skill development; research and planning; and programs and events that create economic opportunities and strengthen social and community networks.
The CDF provides up to 90 per cent of the total project costs. Funding is divided into three tiers with the following application deadlines:
• Tier 1: Applications of $20,000 or less (Jan. 15, May 15, July 15 and Oct. 15);
• Tier 2: Applications between $20,000 and $75,000 (April 15 and Sept. 15); and
• Tier 3: Applications over $75,000 (Jan. 15).
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Comments (19)
Up 6 Down 1
Juniper Jackson on Dec 11, 2018 at 10:10 pm
Yukon Watchdog- Stella - Groucho.. Just offering support.. I totally agree.
Up 11 Down 1
Yukon community planner on Dec 11, 2018 at 3:12 pm
CDF already supports all people in the communities including First Nations.
If this funding is used for members of the community then the CDF is done for because that is showing bad political policy for the major population of the Yukon.
Up 7 Down 17
JT on Dec 11, 2018 at 10:04 am
Don't know what y'all are getting so worked up over. I don't see how this changes anything except help provide more direct support for social impact projects. No doubt FN dev corps have already been accessing CDF, but with projects structured through existing NGOs. Frankly, as long as a project meets criteria set out I don't care if it's a for profit or non-profit that's making the investment of time and resources on the other end.
Up 22 Down 0
Yukon Watchdog on Dec 10, 2018 at 6:31 pm
FN governments have always been eligible under this program - same as municipalities. It's only the Dev Corps that is new.
Up 26 Down 4
Henry on Dec 10, 2018 at 3:46 pm
@Moose; just so you realize, municipalities are non-profit. First Nation Development Corporations are for-profit. Quite the difference.
Up 21 Down 1
dmz on Dec 10, 2018 at 3:19 pm
They should have scrapped CDF and started fresh, if these were the changes they wanted. I can see, with municipalities being eligible, FN governments was logical, but development corporations -- not so much. Municipal governments shouldn't have been permitted in the first place, either. This just gives them all a chance to tap into some funds, while avoiding a certain level of scrutiny.
It's not cool at all.
Up 12 Down 20
Moose on Dec 9, 2018 at 9:53 pm
I'm ok with this since municipalities I believe are allowed to apply. If they bar FNs from the pot of money then they should also bar municipalities. It just needs to be consistent one way or the other.
Up 40 Down 8
Consultation? on Dec 9, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Did anyone think to consult with the non-FN people/businesses before this preferential and racist policy was put into place?
Up 42 Down 6
Yukon Watchdog on Dec 9, 2018 at 1:42 pm
This is the implementation of an unfair, race-based, inequality that will further divide Yukoners, yes, for the sake of votes.
This used to be our government providing grants to allow certain projects to proceed by non-profits (both FN and non-FN) that serve the whole community.
Now, the race card has been inserted and not to give preferential consideration to non-profit FN enterprises..... No, this is to allow FN businesses entry to the trough where NO businesses belong and where no non-FN businesses are provided entry. This is nothing short of racism, imo, sanctioned and implemented by our very own government. What next???
What the hell are you thinking, Ranj? The world seems to have gone mad and this, right here, is solid proof that the Yukon Government has also gone mad. Takes us back 30 years in time re all gains made towards eradicating racism. smfh
I cannot WAIT to vote this government out. Please, will someone with common sense run for office? Someone not so jelly as to intentionally implement unfair, race-based policies in seeking FN votes??? As Jim says, these dev corps that own planes, construction companies, etc.? Shouldn't those FN dev corp businesses be DONATING to worthy causes themselves instead of lining up at the non-business grant trough? (Not including Air North in this as they do incredible things not just for FN people, but for all Yukoners. Thank you, Air North, for treating all Yukoners equally!)
This is so incredibly wrong. Unbelievable in this day and age.
Up 34 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Dec 9, 2018 at 1:39 pm
We are painfully aware of YG and Federal budgets because the politicians that spend them love to flap their gums on how much they are going to spend on X,Y, Z projects. I'd like to hear some news on the FN budgets born from their post land claim settlement cash investments and profits from their various enterprises operated by their development corporations. Time to start acting like legitimate governments and pay your own way in both solo and partnership projects.
Up 47 Down 4
jason on Dec 8, 2018 at 12:01 pm
I think this is a bad move as CDF already has way more requests than it has money. Also, there are other funds at ec dev geared towards businesses and dev corps. It will just go to subsidizing the dec corps business activities, which in my opinion, isn't a great thing. If you can't make a business idea go without a a huge grant from the government, you probably shouldn't be doing it .
Up 43 Down 7
Stunned Bunny on Dec 8, 2018 at 8:58 am
Each and every person who self-identifies as Caucasian will now be required to pay a tithe in addition to any tax monies to support the FN Oligarchy.
Up 46 Down 4
ProScience Greenie on Dec 7, 2018 at 11:08 am
Too many charities, NGOs, non-profits etc., etc., in this territory with too much duplication and overlap of missions and goals. Time to weed out some of this to prevent bloat and inefficiency (and feeding of egos) so the money given is better spent rather than wasted.
Up 70 Down 6
Max Mack on Dec 6, 2018 at 11:50 pm
I agree with Yukoner79. This move will simply strip vital funding from non-profits. Municipal and First Nations governments should be exempt from CDF funding, as well as any for-profit entity. This is simply a move by the Liberals to secure the First Nations vote.
Up 58 Down 6
Rod on Dec 6, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Surprise surprise. More handouts.
Up 62 Down 4
Jim on Dec 6, 2018 at 5:21 pm
Kinda have to agree with Yukoner79. The only “for profit” group eligible for CDF funds will be First Nations Development Corps. Are they not already funded through First Nation Governments already? Most own businesses thus should make them ineligible like any other business. CDF funds have always been for groups with ideas that they have no way of funding. Most non profits can’t go to the bank and borrow. Most First Nation Development corps own things like airlines, construction companies, manufacturing companies, fuel companies and more. Hardly pauper poor.
Up 43 Down 5
Juniper Jackson on Dec 6, 2018 at 5:12 pm
"Expanding the eligibility criteria will enable a more diverse range of projects to achieve the CDF program objectives of supporting community well-being, the government said". Hardly.. but we'll never know will we?
Up 75 Down 7
Stella on Dec 6, 2018 at 5:11 pm
FN Development Corporations are business not non-profits. This is such an unfair advantage over private businesses. People should be furious about this!
Up 95 Down 18
Yukoner79 on Dec 6, 2018 at 3:53 pm
Soooo...are they increasing the pot or are they taking funding away from other community organizations? How is this good news for all the non-profits and other organizations that rely on CDF funding? Another example of Liberal pandering at its finest...sad.