Aboriginal Participation Fund (APF) — Education and relationship-building

Who is eligible?

• Aboriginal communities in Ontario, particularly those in areas of high mineral exploration and/or development activity
• Joint applicants consisting of two or more Aboriginal communities in Ontario in areas of high mineral exploration and/or development activity
• Aboriginal organizations in Ontario, such as Tribal Councils or economic development organizations, representing communities in areas of high mineral exploration and/or development activity

Who is not eligible

• Applicants whose proposals are not related to mineral exploration and development.
• Entities submitting proposals that fall outside the objectives of the Education and Relationship-Building Stream.
• Applicants seeking funding for initiatives already fully funded from other sources, including project-specific proponent costs and in-kind contributions.
• Applicants proposing activities not meeting program stream objectives or unrelated to mineral exploration and development.
• Entities seeking funding for costs related to the negotiation of economic arrangements at any stage of mineral exploration and development.
• Entities requesting salary or honoraria for individuals already salaried by the applicant in another capacity.
• Applicants seeking funding for capital asset costs or business development costs.
• Applicants proposing costs related to the Government of Canada's or other provinces' consultation or engagement initiatives.
• Applicants requesting costs for research intended for land claims or litigation purposes.

Eligible expenses

• Salary wages and mandatory employer-related costs (MERCs), within reasonable salary ranges as specified.
• Conference, seminar, or workshop fees related to mineral exploration and development, including related travel expenses.
• Professional fees, consultants, and technicians for technical expertise required for the project.
• Travel costs directly related to project activities that comply with Ontario's Travel, Meal and Hospitality Directive.
• Honoraria and payments to Elders for attendance at meetings or for their specialized knowledge, cultural ceremonies, or offerings as required.
• Costs associated with meetings, presentations, and workshops related to proposed projects, such as printing materials, venue rental, and other associated reasonable expenses.
• Equipment purchase or rental costs specifically linked to project implementation, including office equipment (e.g., desks, chairs, printers, computers, software, tape recorders).
• Administration-related costs (such as space and equipment rental, utilities, telephone/fax charges, network charges, postage/courier charges, photocopying charges, financial institution service fees, and office supplies); only a small portion of costs may be allocated here.
• Other costs not specifically listed but deemed to support the proposed work plan activities, considered on a case-by-case basis at the ministry’s discretion.

Eligible geographic areas

• Aboriginal communities or organizations located in Ontario.

• All applicants must register and submit their applications through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON), creating a "ONe-key" account at the individual level prior to submission.
• Upon submission, the primary applicant will receive an email confirmation from TPON; applicants are responsible for ensuring their submission has been received.
• Successful applicants are required to sign a Transfer Payment Contribution Agreement with the ministry before funds are disbursed.
• Recipients must maintain at least $2 million in commercial general liability insurance coverage, and designate the Government of Ontario as a co-insured party prior to executing the funding agreement.
• Reporting back to the ministry within the timeframes outlined in the agreement is mandatory, using the ministry’s reporting forms.
• The ministry reserves the right to audit or verify any information submitted and may recover funds if project outcomes are not achieved or services are not delivered as intended.
• Any proposed changes to an approved project require ministry approval after funding has been granted.
• The ministry operates under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; submitted information may be subject to disclosure under this legislation.
• Meeting eligibility or evaluation criteria does not guarantee funding; funding decisions and amounts are at the ministry’s sole discretion and subject to availability of funds and negotiation of the agreement.
• Budget guidelines outline reasonable ranges for categories such as salary, training, travel, meeting expenses, facility/equipment, and professional services as detailed in Appendix A of the guide.