Objective:
To strengthen the consumer's role in the marketplace through the promotion of timely and sound research and analysis and the financial self-sufficiency of consumer and voluntary organizations.
Eligibility:
Canadian non-profit consumer and voluntary organizations working in the consumer interest.
Exclusions:
- Individuals;
- profit-oriented organizations;
- industry and trade associations and other representatives of business interest;
- organizations whose membership includes business organizations which participate in order to represent their own commercial interest;
- municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government departments, agencies or organizations affiliated with, created by or reporting to a government;
- universities, colleges or similar academic institutions, and their associated research agencies; and
- political parties and organizations involved in partisan political activity.
Budget:
$1,690,000
Deadline:
Friday, December 15, 2006
Types of funding available:
In accordance with Industry Canada's strategic objective of building a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace, the program aims to provide consumer and voluntary organizations with the means to produce high quality, independent and timely research on consumer issues affecting the marketplace, and to develop policy advice on these issues that is both credible and useful to decision-makers. On a smaller scale, the program also helps organizations to reach greater financial self-sufficiency and reduce their dependency on government funding, and to support collaboration among consumer organizations.
Two types of funding are available under the program: Research Project Contributions, and Development Project Contributions, for a total program budget of $1,690,000. Most of these funds are devoted to Research Project Contributions, but up to $300,000 can be awarded in Development Project Contributions. This amount may vary according to the development proposals submitted and the funding awarded.
The purpose of Research Project Contributions is to improve the capacity of consumer organizations to represent the interests of consumers in the marketplace decision-making process, through sound research and analysis of consumer protection issues which are national or provincial in scope.
Development Project Contributions include Organizational and Consumer Movement projects. Organizational Development Contributions are awarded to encourage organizations to reach financial self-sufficiency, and Consumer Movement Development Contributions to strengthen organizations' capacity to work collaboratively in the interest of Canadians consumers.
