How to apply to the Environmental Damages Fund

Overview

The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment.

For examples of previously funded projects, see the EDF project map.

Objective

The purpose of the EDF is to fund projects that restore damage to the natural environment and support wildlife conservation, in a cost-effective way.

Funding categories

Fines directed to the EDF are used to fund projects that focus on the following four categories in order of priority:

Geographic location

Projects must be undertaken within Canadian provinces and territories. Fund Use Requirements accompany each available funding amount and may include prioritized geographic regions.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants are not-for profit organizations and may include:

Individuals, businesses, and/or other federal departments or agencies are not eligible to apply for funding, but are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants. Offenders that have been fined or made monetary payments directed to the EDF are not eligible to apply or to partner with eligible groups for fines or monetary payments they have made that were directed to the EDF.

Eligible projects

Priority is given to projects that restore the natural environment and conserve wildlife, followed by:

There is no maximum project duration; however, the average EDF project typically does not exceed five years.

To be eligible for funding through the EDF, projects must meet the following criteria:

While matching funds are not required, evidence of other funding sources such as matching contributions and the respective amounts, or demonstration of the applicant’s ability to raise funds from sources other than the federal government, will be considered an asset at the proposal evaluation stage.

Ineligible projects and activities include:

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. If you are unsure about any of the examples listed above or the eligibility of your project and activities, please email the ECCC office in your region.

EDF Calls for Proposals are competitive processes; applications must include all details of the project and expected results. The level of detail provided must support the complexity of the project.

In addition, the project must include at least one of the EDF’s performance indicators and a clear target value for each chosen indicator.

Eligible project costs

Costs related to the following types of expenses are eligible under the EDF program:

Please refer to the National Joint Council’s website for your provincial/territorial kilometric rates.

Available funding

Available funding varies according to the number of court awards and voluntary contributions directed to the EDF. In its sentencing decision, the court may make recommendations about how the fund should be used, including the recipient, location and scope of a project. This information is considered in the assessment of the fine and in the development of the Fund Use Requirement. Details on available funds and Fund Use Requirements can be found on the available funds page and in the Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS).

Applying for funding

Project proposals are accepted through GCEMS.

General EDF Call for Proposals

Refer to the EDF Applicant Guide for more details and how to submit an application to the GCEMS portal.

Technical assistance and support

Visit the GCEMS application instructions page for technical assistance documents, tutorials, and support throughout your application preparation.

Evaluation of applications

Your application will be reviewed to verify eligibility and to assess technical and scientific merit. All project proposals are subject to the same evaluation criteria.

If your project application is approved in principle, you will be sent a notification letter and will be contacted by an ECCC Project Manager to negotiate a funding agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of the funding. Federal Members of Parliament and/or their teams may be advised about the approval in principle of a project and may be provided with information provided in your application including applicant’s name, project title, project description, project location, funding amounts, and contact information.

If your application is not approved, you will also be informed of this decision in writing.

Contact us

National EDF Office
E-mail: fde2-edf2@ec.gc.ca

Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island
E-mailfdeqa-edfaq@ec.gc.ca

Ontario
E-mailedf-fde.on@ec.gc.ca

British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut
E-mailedfwestnorth-fdeouestnord@ec.gc.ca

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