Federal priorities are the policy areas and project types the federal government emphasizes in its programs and funding allocations. These priorities significantly affect municipalities because federal infrastructure funding, grants, and programs are structured around federal objectives rather than purely local needs. Recent federal priorities have included climate action and green infrastructure, public transit, affordable housing, broadband connectivity, and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. When federal priorities align with local needs, funding flows more easily. When they diverge, municipalities may struggle to find funding for legitimate local priorities that don't fit federal categories. Municipalities track federal priorities through budget announcements, mandate letters to ministers, and program guidelines. Effective advocacy involves framing local projects in terms that resonate with federal priorities—demonstrating how a local road improves trade corridors, or how community facilities support immigration settlement.