Although primarily for the use of governments, unclassified materials are also made available to the public. The CICS assumes the costs of most of the services it provides. This is made possible under an intergovernmental cost-sharing agreement whereby CICS operations are jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments. Expenses for conference social activities or for other services not provided by CICS are normally the responsibility of the host government. Any federal, provincial or territorial government department or ministry proposing to convene a multilateral intergovernmental meeting at the First Ministers', Ministers' or Deputy Ministers' level can apply for CICS services.
Governments can request access to documents and other conference records contained in the archives.
Unclassified material is also made available to the general public.