1. What is the Aboriginal Transmission Fund (ATF)?

In August 2011, the Minister of Energy directed the OPA to establish the Aboriginal Transmission Fund (ATF). The ATF is a program that will provide funding support to First Nation and Métis communities that are exploring equity positions in future planned major transmission lines in Ontario where the OPA has identified a need for transmission capacity.

The ATF will provide up to $20,000 in support funding to eligible First Nation and Métis communities, to a maximum of $500,000 per transmission line. ATF support funding is intended to cover costs related to undertaking due diligence and assessments of partnership opportunities.

Currently, the ATF Rules are available in draft for comment before the final Rules are released later in 2014. To learn more about how you can provide feedback on the draft ATF Rules, please click here.
 

2. What is the ATF Reimbursement Funding?

ATF Reimbursement Funding is available to Aboriginal Organizations, owned jointly by two or more Aboriginal Communities or a limited partnership consisting of two or more Aboriginal Communities that are direct limited partners, that have incurred certain costs between November 23, 2025 and March 5, 2026 for the purposes of pursuing an equity interest in the East West Tie or Line to Pickle Lake. Eligible Applicant Organizations are eligible for 80 percent of actual costs up to $50,000 in Reimbursement Funding.

Costs eligible for Reimbursement Funding include legal, financial and other due diligence costs and reasonable travel costs relating to negotiating and entering into an an agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other written instrument, whether legally binding or not, with an OEB-licensed Transmitter or a third-party that intends or intended to own, operate or develop the the East West Tie or Line to Pickle Lake. Costs incurred by the Applicant Organization and/or any of the Corresponding Communities between November 23, 2025 and March 5, 2026 may be eligible.
 

3. How much funding is available?

For the ATF Reimbursement Funding, eligible Applicant Organizations may receive up to $ 50,000 in funding for certain costs incurred between November 23, 2025 and March 5, 2014. For more information, click here. 
 

4. Who is eligible to apply?

To apply to the ATF Reimbursement Funding, an Applicant Organization must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• is jointly owned by two or more Aboriginal Communities or is a limited partnership consisting of two or more Aboriginal Communities that are direct limited partners;

• has entered into an agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other written instrument, whether legally binding or not, with a Transmission Counterparty, that is an OEB-licensed Transmitter or a third-party that intends or intended to own, operate or develop the Transmission Line prior to the Launch Date for the purposes of pursuing an equity interest in the development of the Line to Pickle Lake or East West Tie; and

• where the Applicant Organization and/or its Corresponding Communities has incurred and expended Costs that consist of Eligible Expenses incurred between November 23, 2025 and March 5, 2014.
   

5. What costs are eligible under the ATF Reimbursement Funding?

Costs eligible to be reimbursed under the ATF Reimbursement Funding consist of:

• Costs of independent legal counsel incurred and paid by the Applicant Organization or any one of its Corresponding Communities for establishing the organizational structure of the Applicant Organization; 

• Costs of independent legal, financial advice and other due diligence activities incurred and paid by the Applicant Organization or any one of its Corresponding Communities in relation to entering into the document described in Section 2.1(a);

• meetings and reasonable travel costs related to establishing the Applicant Organization and/or for negotiating and preparing the document described in Section 2.1(a).
   

6. What costs are not eligible for reimbursement under the ATF Reimbursement Funding?

The OPA will not provide funding for any of the following costs:

• capital Costs;
• any Costs related to environmental assessments, feasibility studies, technical work, permits, approvals, engineering or construction;
• any activity already fully funded by a Person that is not the Applicant Organization or a Corresponding Community;
• any and all amounts paid to Governmental Authorities;
• any Cost recoverable in rates or other revenues, whether currently or in the future, approved by or subject to approval by the OEB;
• any Costs incurred prior to November 23, 2010; or
• any Costs incurred after March 5, 2014.
   

7. What is the application process for the Reimbursement Funding Stream?

Step 1: Eligibility Checklist

Prior to submitting a Reimbursement Application, an Applicant Organization must first submit an Eligibility Checklist to the OPA by March 31, 2026.  Within 15 business days, the OPA will either (a) provide the Applicant Organization with an Eligibility Notice verifying that all of the eligibility requirements have been met or (b) a notice that the eligibility requirements have not been met.

ATF Reimbursement Funding Eligibility Checklists window is now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted Eligibility Checklists during the window.

Step 2: InformationSessions

The OPA intends to meet in-person or via conference call with all eligible Applicant Organizations. This will provide an opportunity for the OPA to provide more details about the program and answer any questions before the Applicant Organization submits a Reimbursement Application.  

Step 3: Application Submission

Reimbursement Application forms will be made available from the OPA to all Applicant Organizations that meet the eligibility requirements.  Reimbursement Applications must be submitted within 60 Business Days of receiving an Eligibility Notice.

Step 4: Review and Approval

The OPA will review each Reimbursement Application for completeness. Applicants will be notified if the Reimbursement Application is complete or whether the OPA requires further information.  If the Reimbursement Application is approved, Applicants will be notified of the approval and next steps for payment.

Step 5: Payment

Once the Reimbursement Application is approved, the Applicant Organization and the OPA will enter into a Funding Agreement. Once it is signed, the Applicant Organization will receive a single payment for the full requested amount.
 

8. If I apply for ATF Reimbursement Funding, can I also apply for the ATF when the final rules are launched?

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria when the ATF is launched, you may submit an application for go-forward ATF support funding at that time.