Funding WHVPF: The Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund – Call for Concepts - Step 1 – Closed

Application period

This call ran between April 26, 2022 and May 24, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Description of the funding

The Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Fund (WHVPF) is a grants and contributions program. WHVPF will invest in projects that will create safer workplaces for federally regulated employees. Through this funding, partner organizations will receive funding to co-develop sector-specific tools and resources that address these workplace issues. Approaches could include behavioural changes, education and guidance, to ensure the physical and psychological health and safety of employees. These projects will help workplaces comply with Bill C-65—legislation to protect employees from harassment and violence in federally regulated workplaces.

This WHVPF 2022 Call for Concepts is a 2 step intake competitive process for the funding application.

During Step 1, applicants must submit a concept based on established parameters.

It must include:

• an explanation of how the concept meets the program objectives
• the area of focus for their proposal
• the organization’s eligibility; and
• the feasibility of the proposed concept

During Step 2 of the process, ESDC will only invite organizations that submitted successful concepts to submit a detailed project proposal. ESDC will post online a list of organizations invited to Step 2 of this Call for Concepts. You must agree to have the name of your organization posted in order to advance to Step 2.

Total funding: up to a maximum of $2,000,000 per project.

Project duration cannot exceed 36 months and must end by March 31, 2026.

The Proactive disclosure page discloses details on funded projects.

Objectives

• Develop sector-specific tools and resources related to harassment and violence prevention that will support behavioural changes in the workplace
• Provide guidance to workers regarding new harassment and violence regulations

Eligibility

To apply, you must meet all the following eligibility criteria.

Eligible applicants

Your organization must be one (1) of the following types:

• not-for-profit organizations
• federally regulated private-sector organizations
• Indigenous organizations (including band councils, tribal councils and self-governing entities)
• unions

Eligible projects

Your project must meet all of the following criteria:

• duration cannot exceed 36 months and must end by March 31, 2026
• request no more than $2,000,000 per project
• meet at least one (1) program objective and develop at least one (1) of the eligible activities
• demonstrate eligibility and capacity to undertake activities and meet objectives
• describe the activities to be undertaken; including milestones and/or outcomes to be achieved within the period covered by the agreement
• the projects must focus on at least one (1) of the following federally regulated sectors:
  • banks
  • marine shipping, ferry and port services
  • air transportation, including airports, aerodromes and airlines
  • railway and road transportation that involves crossing provincial or international borders
  • canals, pipelines, tunnels and bridges (crossing provincial borders)
  • telephone, telegraph and cable systems
  • radio and television broadcasting
  • grain elevators, feed and seed mills
  • uranium mining and processing
  • businesses dealing with the protection of fisheries as a natural resource
  • First Nation managed organizations in First Nations communities such as band councils, or
  • private businesses necessary to the operation of a federal act

Eligible activities

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• funding of conferences, including costs associated with venue, speakers, promotional materials and hospitality
• travel for individuals, or groups, for whom there are barriers to access the required training (e.g. individuals living and working in remote and isolated First Nations communities)
• subject matter experts to ease the discussion between union and management for the development of an organization’s harassment and violence prevention policy
• supporting the development and delivery of training resources. These include but are not limited to:
  • in-class training
  • educational videos
  • developing online learning platforms, and
  • website development
• supporting the capacity of workplace stakeholders to respond to questions regarding the new harassment and violence prevention provisions in the Canada Labour Code and associated regulations
• supporting the development and delivery of train the trainer forums/activities
• supporting the expansion and evaluation of best practices that address workplace harassment and violence
• supporting participation and success of groups who are known to experience barriers (such as geographic and financial) to accessing resources and training, such as:
  • Indigenous people
  • newcomers, and
  • persons with disability

Expected results

To apply, your concept must meet at least one (1) of the following short term results and/or intermediate results:

Short term results

• Increase awareness of sector-specific workplace practices that contribute to the development of positive workplace cultures
• Improve the capacity of employers and unions to communicate the new harassment and violence prevention provisions in the Canada Labour Code and associated regulations
• Improve dissemination, transfer, and application of knowledge and information among partners, stakeholders, employers, and unions

Intermediate results

• Enhance the use of sectoral tools and resources to address workplace harassment and violence
• Enhance the integration of sectoral best practices into tools and resources for employers, unions, and employees

How we assess your application

The application and review process consists of two (2) steps.

Step 1

ESDC will evaluate your application based on the following criteria:

• the reception of the completed Concept Application Form (EMP5688) within the allowed timelines

  Important notice: ESDC may refuse applications that are incomplete or contain errors. We will contact you to request any mandatory information if it is missing from your application. We will do this before we determine if your application is eligible. If you receive such a request, you must respond within 5 business days of the date we sent the request. If you do not respond by the deadline, we will assess your application as is.

• the application submitted by an eligible applicant
• the concept submission must focus on at least one (1) of the 11 federally regulated sectors
• the concept must contribute to achieve WHVPF’s objectives and expected results by meeting at least one (1) of WHVPF’s objectives
• the concept must develop at least one (1) of the eligible activities
• the concept must meet one (1) of the expected results, and must also be specific, concrete and measurable (qualitative or quantitative)
• ESDC will review and evaluate the concept based on the clarity and adequacy of the information presented in the Concept Application Form (EMP5688)
• concepts that are partnership-based with industry participation may receive additional consideration

Step 2

In Step 2 of this intake process, ESDC will only invite organizations that submitted successful concept applications in Step 1 to apply. These organizations will have three (3) weeks to submit a full project proposal. ESDC will only provide further instructions to the selected organizations. The invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee funding.

Apply by email or mail

1. Read the Applicant Guide to complete your application form. This guide includes details for each question of the form
2. Complete the Concept Application Form (EMP5688)
3. Provide a copy or official document from the Canada Revenue Agency (must include your business or registration number)
4. Send your completed application by email to: EDSC.DGOP.FPHVMT-WHVPF.POB.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca before May 24, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. EDT

5. If you are unable to send all the required sections or any other documents by email, you may mail them with a date stamp no later than May 24, 2022 to the following address:

   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

   In your email, clearly indicate if further documentation will be forthcoming by mail. For any documents mailed, clearly indicate the organization name and project title.

After you’ve applied

ESDC will notify all applicants of the status of their application within 112 days of the Call for Concepts closing date.

ESDC will notify you, in writing of the outcome of the review of your application.

Decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

Contact us

If you have questions or need help with this application process, contact us by email: EDSC.DGOP.FPHVMT-WHVPF.POB.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca before May 24, 2022.

Any question submitted after May 24, 2022 may not be answered prior to the closing date and time of the Call for Concepts.

If you have an accommodation request, please advise us before May 17, 2022, to ensure there is enough time to address your request.

Information sessions

Information sessions to provide an overview of this application process took place on May 10, 2022 (in English) and May 11, 2022 (in French). Participation was online or by teleconference.

Glossary

Harassment and violence

Any action, conduct or comment, including of a sexual nature, that can reasonably be expected to cause offence, humiliation or other physical or psychological injury or illness to an employee, including any prescribed action, conduct or comment.

Work place

Defined as any place where an employee is engaged in work for the employee’s employer. This includes locations where work is being performed outdoors and on third-party premises.

The work place controlled by the employer is not necessarily a building, structure or surrounding property; it is any place owned or controlled by the employer where an employee is engaged in work for the employer. Also, to be a work place for the purposes of the Code, the place must be associated with an employee who is, has been, or can be expected to be present in or otherwise associated with that place.

Determining when a work place is controlled by the employer and therefore subject to the Code is very important. For instance, there is a need to recognize the employer’s responsibility for contractors granted access to the work place when the place in question may be federally owned property where employees rarely, if ever, perform work.