Supporting the Canadian Red Cross' Urgent Relief Efforts Related to COVID-19, Floods and Wildfires

Who is eligible?

• The sole eligible recipient for this program is the Canadian Red Cross Society.

Who is not eligible

• All companies, organizations, and industries other than the Canadian Red Cross are not eligible for this grant.
• Projects that have already been funded by another level of government, or that have received funding approval from another department or agency of the Government of Canada at any time, are not eligible.

Eligible expenses

• Salaries, benefits, and overtime for administrative and operational staff engaged in eligible relief activities.
• Purchase of emergency equipment and supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE), medical supplies, cots, tents, and similar items.
• Procurement of medical equipment.
• Costs related to movement, shipping, and transportation of equipment and materials.
• Transportation services to support relief efforts.
• Expenses for supporting deployed personnel and volunteers.
• Operational supplies for essential needs including emergency lodging, food, and clothing for affected individuals and families.
• Contracted services directly linked to eligible activities.
• Minor capital acquisitions and program supplies (up to $10,000 per acquisition).
• Travel and living expenses necessary for project delivery.
• Equipment and facility rentals for emergency response operations.
• Expenses for computer services, research activities, and statistical analysis.
• Costs for translation, interpretation, printing, and distribution directly related to relief efforts.
• Payments of financial assistance to Canadians, small businesses, and non-government organizations under designated support streams.
• Expenses involved in restoring infrastructure or decontaminating properties to a higher resilience standard after disasters (subject to limitations).
• Repairs to non-primary dwellings and related building materials (subject to limitations).
• Hospitality expenses in Indigenous contexts for gatherings, feasts, ceremonies, and circles (excluding alcohol).
• A 12% administrative flat fee for indirect costs, including overhead.

Eligible geographic areas

• No specific geographical areas are mentioned; eligibility is based on the Canadian Red Cross Society's activities across Canada.

• Demonstrated need for the proposed project.
• Alignment with federal government funding priorities.
• Avoidance of duplication with existing programs or funding sources.
• Timeliness and feasibility of the proposed activities.
• Effectiveness and efficiency of the project in achieving expected results, including demographic and geographic reach, especially for vulnerable populations.

• Step 1: Prepare Project Proposal
  • Identify the service stream(s) and categories targeted by the proposal.
  • Describe the project, detailing its objectives, intended outcomes, and how it addresses urgent relief needs related to COVID-19, floods, or wildfires.
  • Demonstrate the direct link between the relief need and the eligible events (COVID-19, flooding, wildfire).
  • Identify stakeholders and describe their engagement level, if applicable.
  • Describe the beneficiary population, including vulnerable groups.
  • Provide an itemized budget outlining categories of work, expenditures, and any other sources of revenue if applicable.
  • Include a plan of key activities for which funding is requested.
  • Identify potential project implementation risks and their mitigation measures.
  • Describe internal measures for monitoring implementation and performance management.
  • Include required conflict of interest declarations and ensure compliance with all related legislation, including the Lobbying Act.
  • Address the consideration of official language minority communities, if relevant.
  • Provide the CRC project authority’s contact information.
• Step 2: Submit Proposal to Public Safety Canada (PS)
  • Send the complete project proposal to Public Safety Canada for initial review and analysis against program Terms and Conditions.
• Step 3: Initial Review and Consultation
  • Public Safety Canada examines the proposal for completeness and relevance.
  • If applicable, PS may consult other federal departments concerned with the request.
  • The proposal is further evaluated by the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Crisis Cell committee.
• Step 4: Committee Recommendation and Ministerial Approval
  • If endorsed by the ADM Crisis Cell, the proposal is submitted to the Deputy Ministers' Emergency Management Committee (DM-EMC) for recommendation.
  • The CRC may be required to present the proposal and respond to queries during this stage.
  • The final decision for funding approval rests with the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
• Step 5: Finalize Contribution Agreement
  • If approved, enter into a new contribution agreement or amend an existing one as required.
• Step 6: Reporting and Compliance
  • Once funding is received, comply with all financial and performance reporting requirements as outlined in the funding agreement.
  • Prepare to provide regular updates and accommodate audits or reviews by Public Safety Canada as stipulated.

• The program is set to expire on March 31, 2027.
• Intellectual property developed through funded projects generally remains with the Canadian Red Cross or its subcontractors, but the Minister retains certain usage rights.
• All communications and services must be delivered in both official languages (English and French).
• All personal information must be managed in accordance with applicable privacy laws and the Canadian Red Cross’s privacy policy.