The purpose of the Community Participation Funding Program - Rail Safety Component (CPFP-RS) is to provide funding in the form of grants to support short-term engagement activities to help and encourage eligible local and Indigenous communities as well as organizations to participate in the development and improvement of Canada's rail safety transportation system. Recipients of the CPFP-RS grant will be encouraged to share their knowledge and expertise of local environments to help inform rail initiatives.
1. Program Objectives
- Encourage and support the participation of, and collaboration with, Indigenous communities and organizations in Transport Canada's (TC) consultation and engagement processes.
- Support local and Indigenous communities to strengthen their capacity to support the development of partnership and collaborative opportunities with TC.
2. Available Funding, Approvals and Payments
The funding will be provided as a grant for short-term activities. The estimated amount provided in the application, when approved, will be the amount the recipient will receive.
Funding will be provided on a first come, first serve basis until the program funding is fully allocated. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that applicants apply as early as possible.
Maximum funding of up to $5,000* per recipient per activity will be provided.
Upon demonstration that the recipient has met all eligible assessment criteria and has provided a reasonable estimate, payment of the grant may be made in a lump sum.
The approved application will form the official agreement between the recipient and TC.
*in extraordinary circumstances, the maximum funding allotment may be increased on a case-by-case basis, where funds are available. Please contact: TC.cpfp-pfpc.TC@tc.gc.ca if this is the case.
3. Eligible Activities
Grants may be provided to fund the following short-term, eligible activities as long as the proposed activity directly relates to one or more of the program objectives as indicated in Section 1:
Activities include:
- Coordinating local engagement activities and/or meetings
- Development and support of virtual or in person networks with the aim of discussing key policy issues and exchanging views
- Reviewing documents and providing written comments
- Provision and sharing of information and knowledge related to the impact of proposed policies, programs, processes, directives, regulation or legislation
- Preparing for, travelling to and participating in meetings (virtual and/or in-person)
- Hiring expertise
- Conducting studies
4. Eligible Recipients
- Indigenous governments*, tribal councils and other forms or regional government, nationally or regionally representative Indigenous organizations, and/or Indigenous development corporations
- Indigenous Communities/Bands/Settlements
- District Councils/Chiefs' Councils/Tribal Councils
- Indigenous Associations/Organizations/Societies
- Indigenous Commissions/Councils/Authorities/Boards
- Indigenous Economic Institutions/Organizations/Corporations/Co-operatives
- Local communities (for example, small municipalities, including towns, villages, and hamlets, resident associations, individuals selected to represent local entities with no legal status)
- Not-for-profit organizations
*An Indigenous government means 1) a band council within the meaning of Section 2 of the Indian Act; or 2) a government or authority established pursuant to a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation; or 3) a government or authority that has been declared valid by provincial or territorial legislation.
5. Eligibility Assessment Criteria
Eligible Recipients must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The applicant has a direct interest in and/or the applicant's Indigenous rights are affected by the development, design or implementation of proposed new or modifications to TC's programs, policies, processes, regulations, legislation and directives such as:
- Living or owning property in an area that would be affected
- Has community knowledge or Indigenous knowledge relevant to the subject
- Has expert information or knowledge relevant to the anticipated effects of the subject
- Has interests in the potential impact of the subject on treaty lands, settlement lands or traditional territories or related claims and rights
- Contributes to one or more of the program objectives (see Section 1)
- Directly benefits specific communities or regions identified by TC where the applicant has received an invitation from TC to participate in an engagement activity
6. Eligible Expenses
- Staff salaries and benefits
- Professional fees (fees for contracted services)
- Room rentals and other facility costs
- Public outreach, communications materials and associated activity costs
- Translation costs
- Honoraria
- Travel expenditures, which may include:
- Hotel accommodation
- Car rental and kilometric rates
- Other transportation (bus, train, ferry and airplane fares)
- Meals and incidentals
*Applicants must base their amounts on the rates and allowances of the Travel Directive of the National Joint Council
- Administrative expenses for up to 15% of total costs, including:
- General administration
- Rent
- Insurance
- Office equipment rental
- Membership fees
- Expenses for Provincial Sales Tax and Goods and Services Tax, or the Harmonized Sales Tax, where applicable, for which the recipient is not eligible for a rebate
7. Reporting Requirements
Along with the letter of approval, an attestation form will be sent to all recipients. Once the activity has taken place, TC asks that recipients sign-off to confirm that the funding was used for its intended purposes. The form should be sent no later than 30 days after the activity has been completed.
Note that if the signed attestation form is not submitted, TC reserves the right to request that the funding be returned.
8. Service Standards and Notifications
After receiving an application, TC will evaluate whether the application is eligible for funding and will inform the applicant.
In an effort to continually improve our services and conduct a transparent process, TC has the following service standards:
- Provide applicants with written acknowledgement of receipt of the application within 10 business days
- Issue payments within 20 business days following the notification to the recipient that the requirements outlined in the funding agreement have been fulfilled
We reserve the right to accept or reject any submitted application. We may seek clarification if the information included in the application is not clear.
9. How to Apply?
- Create or use an existing GCKey to Access the GCMS (further instructions below).
- Create a user profile in GCMS.
- Create a new organization or be associated to an existing one in GCMS.
- Use the GCMS to submit a new funding request under the Community Participation Funding Program (CPFP).
- Under Call for Proposal, select the Rail Safety Component call.
- The submitted application can only be accessed and viewed by members of the organization who submitted it.
If you do not receive an acknowledgment of receipt email, visit the “my funding requests” page to verify the status of your submission.
How to Obtain a GCKey
A GCKEY is a unique electronic credential provided by the Government of Canada that allows you to communicate securely with online enabled Government programs and services.
- Click on “Sign Up” to proceed to the registration page.
- Read and accept the GCKey Terms and Conditions of Use.
- Create a username and password.
- Applicants will be required to create three security questions.
- Do not share accounts.
For more information and FAQs about GCKey, please visit the GCKey information page.