Regions and Rurality Fund (FRR)

The RRF has been in effect since April 1, 2020. It has an envelope totalling nearly $1.3 billion for the duration of the 2020-2024 Partnership: For Stronger Municipalities and Regions. Credits totalling $250 million are provided for 2020, rising to $267.5 million for each subsequent year until 2024.

The FRR has four components:

• Component 1 – Support for regional outreach
  In continuity with the Support Fund for Regional Influence (FARR) (2016-2020), this component is designed to support projects whose benefits extend beyond the territory of an RCM. It supports the Stratégie pour assurer l’occupation et la vitalité des territoires, stemming from the Act to ensure the occupation and vitality of the territories (RLRQ, chapter O-1.3). The annual envelope is $50 million, divided among the administrative regions.
• Component 2 – Support for RCMs’ local and regional development jurisdiction
  In continuity with the Territory Development Fund (FDT) (2015-2020), this component aims to support RCMs and organizations with RCM jurisdiction in their local and regional development mission. For 2020-2021, the envelope is $145 million and will increase to $150 million for the following years.
• Component 3 – RCM “Innovation Signature” projects
  This component aims to encourage the implementation of major projects at the supra-local level, based on a niche of intervention determined by the RCM. It has an envelope of $25 million per year.
• Component 4 – Support for vitalization and intermunicipal cooperation
  This component has two axes. The first aims to provide greater support to territories facing particular vitalization challenges. An envelope of $27.5 million is devoted to this component annually. The second component concerns intermunicipal cooperation. It supports local municipalities so that they can offer their citizens quality services at lower cost. For 2020-2021, $2.5 million will be devoted to this, while $15 million is planned annually starting in 2021-2022.