Participant Funding Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Suzanne Osborne
Participant Funding Program
Tel.: 613-957-0254
suzanne.osborne@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

1. What is the Participant Funding Program?
2. Why is there a funding program?
3. How is the amount of funding determined for each assessment?
4. What does funding cover?
5. Does funding cover traveling and the time taken to review technical documents?
6. Does funding cover legal costs?
7. Who is eligible to apply?
8. What is the closing date for applications?
9. How are funds awarded?
10. How do I access participant funding?
11. What kind of information must I supply?
12. Are local governments eligible for funds?
13. Does the Participant Funding Program include screenings?
14. Does the funding program extend to screenings when another jurisdiction requires hearings?
15. Should the funding program be established by a regulation?

Q1. What is the Participant Funding Program?

The Participant Funding Program is administered by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. It is a limited fund to support public participation of concerned citizens and groups in key stages of the federal environmental assessment review process by means of comprehensive study, review panel or by mediation.

Q2. Why is there a funding program?

The Program is designed to encourage and support effective public participation in the environmental assessment process by comprehensive study, mediation or by a review panel.

Q3. How is the amount of funding determined for each assessment?

The Agency determines the total amount of participant funding available on a project-by-project basis. Determining factors include:

• the potential environmental effects of the project;
• the size and location of the project;
• the diversity of issues likely to be involved in the assessment;
• participant funding levels that may have been established for similar projects in the past; and
• available resources.

Q4. What does funding cover?

• Expenses must be related to the person's or group's participation in the environmental assessment process.
• These expenses can include: fees for expert advice, travel expenses, purchase of relevant information materials, information collection and dissemination costs, among others.
• Certain activities are not funded. These include duplicate services, studies or written materials which are being funded by other public or private sources, including information provided for or by the panel or proponent. General operations and maintenance expenses are also not covered.
• The Program is a limited financial contribution for the person or group to participate, it is not meant to cover all expenses.
• A more complete list of eligible expenses can be found in the Participant Funding Program Guide [PDF - 1,362 kb].

Q5. Does funding cover traveling and the time taken to review technical documents?

Travel costs are eligible and can be refunded based on rates established by the Treasury Board Secretariat. Fees for review of technical documents are also eligible costs.

Q6. Does funding cover legal costs?

Yes in certain situations. However, the parties are expected to represent themselves at the panel hearings or scoping sessions.

Q7. Who is eligible to apply?

Individuals, Aboriginal organizations and incorporated not-for-profit organizations may apply for participant funding under the program, providing they can demonstrate that they meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have a direct, local interest in the project, such as living or owning property in the project area;
• have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the environmental assessment; or
• plan to provide expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the project.

Q8. What is the closing date for applications?

A closing date is provided in the news release inviting applicants to submit a request for funding. Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Q9. How are funds awarded?

• The Agency establishes a Funding Review Committee. This committee is independent of both the project proponent and the environmental assessment review process.
• The committee is usually comprised of three people, including one Agency representative and at least one non-government member.
• The committee reviews all the funding applications and recommends funding awards, taking into account the amount of funds available.
• The President of the Agency makes the final decision on funding awards.
• The Agency issues a news release announcing the allocation of funds and releases the Funding Review Committee Report explaining the reasons for the funding decisions. The report is sent to applicants and posted on the Agency's Web site.

Q10. How do I access participant funding?

Once the level of funding has been determined, the Agency issues a news release or a public notice announcing the availability of funding and inviting the public to apply.

Applicants must complete an application form. It is available on our Web site or by contacting the Agency.

Q11. What kind of information must I supply?

You must meet the basic eligibility criteria and you must:

• provide information on your organization
• submit a detailed work plan and budget
• explain the need for the funding assistance, and
• identify other sources of funding you may receive

For more information, please consult the Participant Funding Guide [PDF - 1,362 kb].

Q12. Are local governments eligible for funds?

Local governments, other than an Aboriginal government, are ineligible for participant funding under the program.

Q13. Does the Participant Funding Program include screenings?

The Participant Funding Program does not provide support for public participation in screenings. Funding is extended to those projects where public participation will best benefit the review process. These projects are usually large and may have possible significant adverse environmental effects, and are the subject of a high degree of public concern. Public consultation is mandatory for comprehensive studies, review panels and mediation.

Q14. Does the funding program extend to screenings when another jurisdiction requires hearings?

No. The funding program applies only to participation in comprehensive studies, review panels or mediations whether they are federal only or joint with another jurisdiction. The federal funding program does not extend to screenings.

Q15. Should the funding program be established by a regulation?

The Participant Funding Program had already been established under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. (ss.58 (1.1)