The Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (IOFP) seeks to advance economic reconciliation and prosperity by enabling financial participation of Indigenous partners in Ontario-based infrastructure projects.
The IOFP provides financial guarantees on credit products (e.g. loans or bonds) to enable Indigenous partners to purchase equity in eligible energy and resource development projects. Credit support through the IOFP allows Indigenous partners to access financing at a below-market interest rate while receiving distributions that exceed the loan or bond servicing costs. The IOFP is not a loan or grant program.
Infrastructure projects must meet specific eligibility and evaluation criteria. The program has an established due diligence process and all guarantees under the program require Ontario government approval. Once a financial guarantee has been issued, a funded project’s financial and operational status are tracked to align with the terms of the agreement.
Building Ontario Fund (BOF) became the administrator of the IOFP as of October 1, 2025. Previously known as the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program and managed by the Ontario Financing Authority, the program has facilitated Indigenous financial participation in energy infrastructure projects since 2009, making it the longest running program of its kind in Canada.
Applicants may use IOFP guarantees for projects in the following sectors:
Energy
Resource Development
Critical Minerals
The IOFP is part of BOF’s one-window offering for Indigenous financing.
As announced in the 2025 Ontario Budget, the IOFP is expanding beyond electricity transmission and generation projects to include energy, critical minerals, resource development, and related infrastructure. BOF is engaging with Indigenous partners and experts in economic development to support the evolution of the IOFP and enhance its benefits for Indigenous communities, including a review of financing criteria and the types of guarantees provided.
