Official Languages Support Programs

• Proof of signing authority for the person(s) authorized to submit and sign the application
• Organization’s incorporation documents (or the incorporation application, if in progress)
• Organization’s articles and by-laws (or by-laws, where required)
• Most recent financial statements (audited if available / if requested)
• Project/program documentation (project description, schedule, budget, and expected results with performance indicators)

• The applicant must represent or serve official language minority communities (English or French speaking).
• The project must aim to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities or promote linguistic duality in Canadian society.
• Eligible applicants may include non-profit organizations, community organizations, educational institutions, community media, and provincial or territorial governments.
• The project must provide services, programs, or activities conducted in one of Canada’s official languages for the benefit of minority official language communities.

Who is eligible?

• Community organizations serving official language minority communities
• Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments
• Educational institutions (elementary, secondary, post-secondary) offering programs in official language minority communities
• Community media organizations in official language minority communities
• Non-governmental sector organizations promoting official language activities and services

Who is not eligible

• Individuals (note: for the “Dedicated Fund for the English-speaking communities of Quebec,” individuals are not eligible except as final recipients under the initiative “Building Bridges through arts, culture, and heritage programs”).
• Government organizations/bodies (including government agencies) for several subcomponents.
• Universities and post-secondary applicants may be ineligible depending on the subcomponent (e.g., not eligible under “Support for Interpretation and Translation” and the “Dedicated Fund for the English-speaking communities of Quebec”).
• Schools, school boards (and elementary/secondary schools) for several subcomponents.
• Foreign institutions/organizations (foreign organizations) for several subcomponents.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for personnel involved in funded activities and projects.
• Costs associated with the development, production and dissemination of educational, artistic, cultural or linguistic materials.
• Expenses related to organizing and delivering training, workshops, internships, and cultural or community events.
• Travel and accommodation expenses necessary for participation in project-specific activities.
• Infrastructure expenses for the construction, renovation, or modernization of educational and community spaces.
• Communication and outreach costs, including translation and interpretation services for events and documents.
• Purchase of equipment and materials directly required for the delivery of approved projects and services.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Capital projects (e.g., construction, major renovations, infrastructure)
• Activities with an international scope/dimension
• Course/program development expenses
• Projects supporting regular post-secondary institution programming or program development within a single institution
• Translation or interpretation of information originally produced in a language other than French (Scientific Knowledge in French stream)

Eligible geographic areas

• Provinces and territories across Canada, including minority official language communities in all regions.
• Specific consideration for English-speaking communities in Quebec and French-speaking communities outside Quebec.
• Applicable to the three territories for certain sub-components, particularly in the context of intergovernmental cooperation.

• Alignment with the objectives of the relevant subcomponent (e.g., Cooperation with the Community Sector; Strategic Fund; Appreciation and Rapprochement; Promotion of Bilingual Services; Support for Interpretation and Translation).
• Relevance of the needs/issues and proposed activities in relation to the targeted community/sector (e.g., community vitality; linguistic duality; minority-language or second-language learning).
• Expected outcomes and demonstrated impact for the target audience, supported by relevant performance indicators/measurement approach.
• Quality and feasibility of the project plan (clear deliverables and schedule) and the applicant’s capacity to carry out the project on time.
• Budget quality: balance between budget and planned activities (proportionality/cost realism), including where applicable the presence of diversified funding sources and quality partners.

• Canadian Heritage reviews your submission and confirms receipt (service standards apply).
• Your application is assessed for eligibility and evaluated against the program’s objectives, expected results, and evaluation criteria (meeting requirements does not guarantee funding).
• Funding decisions are made based on the number and quality of applications received for the relevant intake/deadline (where applicable).
• You are informed of the decision; Canadian Heritage reserves the right to target funding, and decisions on eligibility and funding amounts are final.
• If approved, funding is provided as a grant and/or a contribution (depending on the subcomponent), with reporting obligations that may include interim and/or final reports; additional conditions may apply.

• Some components introduce new strategies or initiatives, such as Youth Strategies to Foster the Use of French and ImmersART partnerships.
• Certain sub-components have received additional funding through recent federal budgets, allowing for expanded support.
• The program encompasses both multi-year and project-specific funding streams.
• Internship durations for relevant components typically range from 4 to 12 months.