Q.         How often will these reports be produced?

A,         Reporting will be done on a quarterly basis, corresponding to the government’s fiscal year quarters. Grants and contribution information will be posted on-line within sixty (60) days of the end of each reporting period, as indicated below:

Reporting Period	(Web site) Posting Date
January 01 - March 31, 2006	May 31, 2006
April 01 - June 30, 2006	August 31, 2006
July 01 - September 30, 2006	November 30, 2006
October 01, 2006 - December 31, 2007	February 28, 2007

Q.         Why is this information being disclosed?

A.         On October 21, 2005, the Government announced its commitment to proactively disclose the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000 as part of its Management Improvement Agenda. These new requirements represent a continuation of the phased introduction of proactive disclosure requirements that started with those relating to travel and hospitality expenses, contracts for goods and services and position reclassification information.

Q.         What information is to be reported?

A.         Grants are defined to include named and conditional grants while contributions include repayable contributions as defined in the Policy on Transfer Payments.

The amount of the grant or contribution awarded is reported. More specifically, it is the amount of the grant or contribution ultimately authorized by the responsible Minister, Deputy Head or similar authority that needs to be reported and not the series of payments made to give effect to the grant or contribution.

At this point in time and subject to provisions set out in the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, all grants and contributions, are to be reported.

However, it excludes Transfer payments to Provinces and Territories,
Statutory transfer payments (e.g.: benefits under the Employment Insurance Act) and Payments made in lieu of taxes.

Q.         What information is included?

A.         The following information is required for each reporting period:

§         Recipient Name:  the name of the individual, company or organization to which the award is paid.

§         Location:  The municipality, Province or Territory and Country of residence / place of business / headquarters of the Recipient. Typically as indicated on the face of the cheque(s) issued as payment(s) of the award.

§         Date:  The date represents the “Public Access Date”, which is 60 days after the date at which the awarding of a grant or contribution has been officially authorized and, by extension, results in a commitment in favor of a recipient.

§         Value:  The dollar value of the award.  In those instances where a grant or contribution as awarded applies to more than one fiscal year, the total amount of the award is posted.   When spanning over more than one fiscal year, a notification to this effect will be included in the “Comment” field.

§         Type:  Indication that the award is either a grant or contribution.

§         Purpose:  Description as to the purpose of the grant or contribution being awarded.

§         Comments (optional):  It is expected that entries in this information field will be provided on an exceptional basis only, such as:

§         (Notation that) recipient reallocates or otherwise redistributes grant or contribution award to third-party beneficiaries; 

§         (Advisory where) two or more departments or agencies are involved in the funding of and/or the awarding of a particular grant or contribution award;

§         Restatement, due to a material error, of a previously-reported grant or contribution award together with appropriate cross-referencing;

§         Belated reporting of a grant or contribution award; and

§         Award provided and spanning more than one fiscal year.