Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR)

Who is eligible?

• Provincial legal entities managing one of Canada's six Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) Task Forces
• Municipal legal entities responsible for the management of a HUSAR Task Force in Vancouver, Calgary, Brandon, Toronto, Montreal, or Halifax

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are not provincial or municipal legal entities responsible for managing one of the six urban search and rescue operational forces using heavy equipment (USAR).
• Private organizations, non-profit organizations or commercial enterprises that have no official mandate to manage such an operational force.

Eligible expenses

• Equipment purchase, along with associated operating and maintenance costs (including required supplies and items for HUSAR teams).
• Costs for instructors, facility rentals, equipment rentals, supplies, travel, food, and accommodation related to training or project activities.
• Direct operating and maintenance expenses to sustain projects, such as pallets, veterinarian costs, or warehouse leases for specialized vehicles.
• Expenses for the development, coordination, and execution of domestic interoperability or response exercises involving HUSAR Task Forces.
• Costs associated with participation in meetings, training, or exercises with U.S. emergency services, in accordance with relevant policies.
• Salaries, benefits, and overtime for administrative and operational employees engaged in eligible activities.
• Administrative project expenses, up to 10% of the funding agreement.
• Professional fees, including consulting, printing, audit, evaluation, and accounting fees.
• Certification or designation fees for groups, individuals, or canines.
• Honoraria or other reasonable expenses necessary for completing Task Force project activities.
• Costs for constructing or renovating HUSAR equipment storage or training facilities.
• Expenses to meet official language requirements.
• Other costs deemed necessary by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Eligible geographic areas

• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Calgary, Alberta
• Brandon, Manitoba
• Toronto, Ontario
• Montreal, Quebec
• Halifax, Nova Scotia

• Funding agreements may be structured as multiyear agreements depending on the scope and duration of the project.
• Administrative expenditures related to the project are capped at 10% of the funding agreement.
• Applicants must comply with official language requirements as specified by the Official Languages Act.
• Applicants must disclose potential conflicts of interest and comply with federal ethics and lobbying regulations.