Funding for the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

• The applicant must be a Canadian-based organization (including for-profit organizations with fewer than 100 employees).
• The project must be implemented by domestic partners within the Canadian portion of the Fraser River Basin (British Columbia).
• The project must aim to improve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in the Fraser River Basin.
• The project must address nutrients, contaminants and/or sediments through at least one priority area: Advancing Science and Knowledge, Collaboration and Engagement, and/or Taking Action to reduce nutrients, contaminants and/or sediments.
• The applicant must secure at least 60% of total project support from sources other than the Canada Water Agency (cash and/or in-kind).

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations (charities, volunteer organizations, professional associations, NGOs)
• Indigenous governments, organizations, boards, communities, and associations
• Coalitions and networks of organizations
• Research, academic, and educational institutions
• For-profit organizations (small businesses with fewer than 100 employees)

Who is not eligible

• Federal government organizations.
• Provincial or territorial government organizations.
• For-profit companies with 100 or more employees.

Eligible expenses

• Project staff salaries and benefits.
• Professional and management services (e.g., accounting, monitoring, communications, official language translation, audit, legal fees).
• Travel, hospitality, and venue/conference costs directly required to deliver the project (per Treasury Board directives), including Indigenous ceremonial offerings used during meetings or ceremonies (e.g., traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea, sacred plants).
• Costs for Indigenous participation or ceremonies.
• Honoraria for Indigenous Elders and/or Knowledge Keepers related to participation activities (including translation/interpretation, leading opening/closing ceremonies or prayers, sharing Traditional Knowledge and protocols, demonstrating traditional art and practices).
• Materials and supplies.
• Printing, production, and distribution.
• Equipment and capital assets (purchase or rental).
• Vehicle rental and operating costs.
• Contractor fees for work required to carry out project activities.
• Overhead/administrative costs directly tied to project delivery (up to 20%).
• Non-reimbursable GST/HST and non-reimbursable PST.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canadian portion of the Fraser River Basin (British Columbia).

• Clear alignment with the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative priorities, demonstrating how the project will improve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health through at least one program priority.
• Strength and clarity of partnerships and collaboration (roles, contributions, and benefits such as increased capacity, expertise, or resources).
• Leveraging financial and in-kind resources, including meeting the minimum 60% matching requirement from sources other than the Canada Water Agency (and demonstrating diverse sources where possible).
• Scientific and/or technical soundness (where applicable), including a credible methodology and techniques, and/or use of diverse knowledge systems.
• Project and financial management capacity, including risk identification/mitigation and how progress and results will be monitored and adapted during implementation.

• Step 1: Confirm intake status (submission period)
  • Verify that the application submission period is open (the page indicates it is currently closed).
  • If you need more information about the initiative or a future call, email Fraser@cwa-aec.gc.ca.
• Step 2: Access the online application system (GCEMS)
  • Go to the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS): https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/
  • Start your login from: https://ec.ss.ec.gc.ca/en/cs
  • Sign in using one of the available secure sign-in methods (GCKey or Sign-In Partner), as offered on the sign-in page.
• Step 3: Create your Single Window profile and link to an organization
  • Create your personal profile in the Single Window Information Manager.
  • Connect your profile to an organization by searching for it in the system.
  • If your organization does not appear, create the organization in the system.
• Step 4: Connect to GCEMS and locate the funding opportunity
  • From the Single Window Information Manager, connect to GCEMS (the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System).
  • In GCEMS, navigate to “View Funding Opportunities”.
  • Select the Fraser River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative funding opportunity to start an application.
• Step 5: Prepare and complete the application in GCEMS (proposal + budget)
  • Complete the project proposal within GCEMS (the Applicant Guide is available in GCEMS).
  • Complete the budget in GCEMS at least 24 hours before the deadline to allow time to resolve system errors.
  • Identify any permits/authorizations required for the project (and, if not yet obtained, include the timeline to obtain them in the work plan).
  • Determine whether any project activities will occur on federal lands and address any related requirements referenced in the Applicant Guide.
• Step 6: Submit the application through GCEMS (send to the funder)
  • Review the application for completeness and eligibility requirements before submitting.
  • Submit the application electronically in GCEMS before the call deadline; late applications will not be considered.
• Step 7: Get support (program and technical contacts)
  • For technical assistance with GCEMS, email sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca.
  • For initiative-specific questions, email Fraser@cwa-aec.gc.ca.
  • Use the GCEMS Applicant User Guide for step-by-step portal instructions: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-funding/programs/application-instructions.html

• The current application submission period is closed; future calls may be offered.
• Projects that are not funded may be re-submitted in a future call for applications.
• Unsuccessful applications are not retained for future use.
• Approved projects require ongoing reporting during delivery and a final report at project completion; a minimum 10% holdback is released after the final report is submitted and approved.