Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program – 2022 call for proposals

The 2022 call for proposals is accepting applications that address systemic anti-Indigenous racism and/or discrimination in Canada's health systems. Applications are for the project stream only.

On this page

• Priority areas
• Eligible recipients
• Eligible activities
• Eligible expenses
• Funding details
• Duration
• Assessment criteria

Priority areas

Priority will be given to projects that:

• develop and implement cultural safety and humility training, curriculum and/or accreditation requirements for health services providers (health human resources), including administrators and
• integrate culturally safe care in acute care settings and traditional approaches to health

Applications from Indigenous health system partners, such as organizations, associations and education or training institutions, will be given priority.

Eligible recipients

The following are eligible to apply for funding through the program:

• Indigenous governments and organizations
• health system service providers and associations
• educational and academic institutions
• incorporated not-for-profit organizations

Non-Indigenous organizations may apply but must partner with an Indigenous community or organization. They must also demonstrate the partnership throughout the entire project, including the development/design, implementation and monitoring/evaluation phases. Letters of support from project partners are required.

Eligible organizations must also demonstrate that they:

• are committed to addressing systemic racism and/or discrimination
• consider diversity and inclusion in their recruitment and retention practices
• have the expertise to carry out the project successfully

Eligible organizations may submit only 1 application for funding in this call for proposals.

Eligible activities

The following project activities are eligible for funding:

• support meaningful engagement with communities and/or organizations who serve Indigenous populations
• such as roundtables with Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQ community members to inform the scaling of a guideline/tool
• develop, implement and test interventions and/or develop and mobilize knowledge products
• such as tools, standards, guidelines, training/learning materials, anti-racism and anti-discrimination resources, and other cultural safety, inclusion and clinical competency products
• for example, develop cultural safety training/curriculum for nursing staff
• foster knowledge mobilization to support equitable partnerships and networks
• such as convene hospital administrators to inform national accreditation requirements for cultural safety in acute care settings
• design and implement data collection and analysis
• such as performance measurement activities like training participant surveys

Eligible expenses

Funding must be used only for expenditures that are directly related to the activities identified in the funding agreement with Health Canada.

Eligible expenditures may include:

• equipment
• more than $500,000 per project will need to receive written approval from Health Canada first
• honorariums
• rent and utilities
• materials and supplies
• contractual personnel fees
• personnel salaries and benefits
• travel and accommodation within Canada
• must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business

Funding details

The total funding available is $13 million.

The total requested funding for each project must be between $100,000 (minimum) and $1 million (maximum).

Further distribution of funding:

Recipients:

• may further distribute to entities to conduct approved activities
• have full independence and responsibility in choosing these entities
• are responsible for all funding, activities and reporting

Limits of government assistance:

Total government assistance:

• cannot exceed 100% of total eligible project-related expenses
• includes all levels of government funding (federal, provincial and municipal)

Duration

Projects can have varying durations and should begin no earlier than April 1, 2022. Health Canada must formally notify recipients before a project can begin. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2024.

Note: The fiscal year for the Government of Canada runs from April 1 of 1 year until March 31 of the following year.

Assessment criteria

Health Canada will use due diligence to assess the proposals for funding. The assessment of each application will examine, at a minimum, how it:

• aligns with the program's objectives and expected results, as well as with the priority areas outlined above
• addresses anti-Indigenous racism and/or discrimination in Canada's health systems
• demonstration the project is needed
• is cost-efficient and offers value for money
• indicates the level of support, quality and diversity of partners and collaborators
• includes Indigenous Peoples with lived and living experience
• employs sex- and gender-based analysis plus (SGBA Plus)
• demonstrates innovation and have the potential to scale, expand and/or replicate outcomes

The application must also show that:

• the applicant and partner have the capacity to undertake the project
• the strength of the evidence-based rationale demonstrates the need for the project and approach
• the proposed work plan and budget are feasible
• Indigenous Peoples with lived or living experience of racism and/or discrimination within the health systems are participating meaningfully in all project phases
• the project can be implemented, delivered, evaluated and reported on with measurable results

Finally, we will assess the application based on whether it:

• is submitted by a priority applicant
• aligns with a priority funding area
• is submitted by an applicant with experience in implementing solutions that address anti-Indigenous racism and/or discrimination in Canada's health systems
• demonstrates the innovation and potential to expand and/or replicate the outcomes
• addresses a gap based on geography, population group, official language group or any other gap that Health Canada considers a priority

The following outlines how the various sections of the application form will be weighted:

• section 2, organizational capacity: 25%
• section 3, proposal details: 20%
• section 4, partnerships and collaborators: 25%
• section 5, performance measurement: 5%
• section 6, sex- and gender-based analysis plus: 5%
• section 7, work plan: 10%
• section 8, budget and narrative: 10%