In the first two phases of the CEDI program (2013 – 2021), CEDI supported a total of 15 First Nation – municipal partnerships (24 First Nation communities and 22 municipalities and economic development organizations) to develop capacity and implement long-term joint planning for community economic development and land use, while building respectful and sustainable government-to-government partnerships.

CEDI was launched as a pilot project to support 6 First Nation-municipal partnerships, and in 2016 was renewed for Phase 2 (2016 – 2021) to support 9 new partnerships. CEDI Phase 3 (2022 – 2025) supports 8 new First Nation-municipal partnerships, and to best suit the needs of each selected partnership, Phase 3 offers two program streams: a three-year standard CEDI participation option, and a two-year accelerated CEDI participation option. Phase 3 is piloting new program approaches to regional delivery, identify alternative program funding streams and develop innovative delivery models to increase the accessibility of CEDI to many more First Nation-municipal partnerships.

Why do we refer to First Nations and not Inuit or Métis communities?

Since 2013, CEDI has been fully funded by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). To date ISC has given Cando and FCM the mandate to engage First Nations and neighbouring or adjacent municipalities.