Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund (WHVPF)

• The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization, a federally regulated private-sector organization, an Indigenous organization (including band councils, tribal councils and self-governing entities), or a union.
• The project must support safer workplaces by developing sector-specific tools and/or resources related to harassment and violence prevention and/or by providing guidance to workers regarding harassment and violence regulations.
• The project must focus on at least one federally regulated sector (for example: banks; marine shipping/ports; air transportation; interprovincial/international road or rail transportation; telecommunications; broadcasting; grain elevators/feed and seed mills; uranium mining and processing; fisheries protection businesses; First Nation managed organizations; or private businesses necessary to the operation of a federal act).
• The project must include at least one eligible activity (for example: developing/delivering training resources, train-the-trainer activities, capacity-building to respond to questions on the Canada Labour Code provisions and related regulations, or expanding/evaluating best practices).
• The concept must include clear, concrete and measurable expected results aligned with at least one of the program’s short-term or intermediate outcomes.

Who is eligible?

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Federally regulated private-sector organizations
• Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-governing entities)
• Unions
• Federally regulated sectors such as: banks; marine shipping, ferry and port services; air transportation (airports, aerodromes and airlines); railway and road transportation crossing provincial or international borders; canals, pipelines, tunnels and bridges crossing provincial borders

Who is not eligible

• Public-sector organizations (for example, municipal, provincial/territorial or federal government bodies and agencies), as these organization types are not listed as eligible applicants for this call.
• Organizations whose proposed project does not focus on at least one federally regulated sector (for example, if your activities are exclusively in provincially regulated sectors).
• Organizations seeking funding for projects outside the program’s scope—i.e., projects not aimed at developing sector-specific tools/resources or guidance related to workplace harassment and violence prevention in federally regulated workplaces.

Eligible expenses

• Conference-related costs (venue, speakers, promotional materials, hospitality).
• Travel costs for individuals or groups facing barriers to accessing required training (for example, people living and working in remote and isolated First Nations communities).
• Fees for subject matter experts to support discussions between unions and management when developing a harassment and violence prevention policy.
• Costs to develop and deliver training resources (for example in-class training, educational videos, online learning platforms, and website development).
• Costs to support workplace stakeholders’ capacity to respond to questions about harassment and violence prevention provisions in the Canada Labour Code and associated regulations.
• Costs to develop and deliver “train-the-trainer” forums and activities.
• Costs to expand and evaluate best practices addressing workplace harassment and violence.

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (projects must focus on at least one federally regulated sector).
• Quebec (organizations located and operating in Quebec must obtain Quebec government approval before accepting ESDC funding, if selected).

• Submit a complete Concept Application Form (EMP5688) by the deadline (late, incomplete, or error-containing applications may be refused; if ESDC requests missing mandatory information, it must be provided within 5 business days).
• Demonstrate that the concept clearly contributes to the fund’s objectives and expected results, and is specific, concrete, and measurable (qualitative or quantitative).
• Present information in the Concept Application Form (EMP5688) with sufficient clarity and adequacy for ESDC to evaluate the concept.
• Partnership-based concepts with industry participation may receive additional consideration.

• Step 1: Review guidance (applicant guide)
  • Read the Applicant Guide to understand how to complete the Concept Application Form (EMP5688).
  • Note that ESDC may refuse incomplete applications or those containing errors; if ESDC requests missing mandatory information, you must respond within 5 business days.
• Step 2: Complete the concept application (EMP5688)
  • Complete the Concept Application Form (EMP5688), including required organization information and concept details.
  • Ensure the concept includes: how it meets program objectives, the area of focus, your organization’s eligibility, and the feasibility of the concept.
• Step 3: Gather required supporting document (CRA proof)
  • Obtain a copy of an official Canada Revenue Agency document that includes your business or registration number.
• Step 4: Submit the concept application (email or mail)
  • Email the completed application to: EDSC.DGOP.FPHVMT-WHVPF.POB.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca before May 24, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.
  • If you cannot send all required sections/documents by email, mail them with a date stamp no later than May 24, 2022 to: Labour Funding Program – WHVPF Submissions, Coordination Unit, Mailstop: 402, National Grants & Contributions Delivery Center (ESDC), 140 Promenade du Portage, Phase IV. 4th Floor, Gatineau, QC K1A 0J9.
  • If sending additional documents by mail, indicate in your email that further documentation will follow by mail.
  • For anything mailed, clearly indicate the organization name and project title.
  • Do not submit via other means (including cloud storage services such as Dropbox or Google Drive), as applications sent that way will be rejected.
• Step 5: Receive confirmation (receipt notice)
  • If submitted by email, expect an automatic confirmation of receipt by email within 24 hours.
  • If submitted by mail, expect a confirmation of receipt by email within 14 calendar days (sent to the email address provided in the application).
• Step 6: Await assessment outcome (notification)
  • ESDC will notify all applicants in writing of the status/outcome within 112 days of the Call for Concepts closing date.
  • Note that decisions are final and there is no appeal process.
• Step 7: Invitation-only full proposal (Step 2, if selected)
  • If your Step 1 concept is successful, ESDC will invite your organization to submit a detailed project proposal.
  • If invited, you will have 3 weeks to submit the full project proposal (instructions are provided only to selected organizations).
  • Agree to have your organization name posted online to advance to Step 2 (ESDC will post a list of organizations invited to Step 2).
  • Understand that an invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee funding.

• Developed materials must be available to all Canadians free of charge for the project duration.
• ESDC may refuse applications that are incomplete or contain errors and may request missing mandatory information before determining eligibility.
• If ESDC requests missing mandatory information, applicants must respond within five (5) business days or the application will be assessed as submitted.
• ESDC may share an application with other departments and jurisdictions as part of the concept assessment.