Emergency Treatment Fund 2025: Applicant guide

Who should apply

Table of contents

• Purpose of this applicant guide
• Section 1: Overview
• Section 2: Before you apply
• Section 3: How to apply
• Section 4: After you apply
• Section 5: Contact us
• Annex A: How to complete the application form
• Annex B: Glossary

Purpose of this applicant guide

This applicant guide explains the funding opportunity and Annex A explains how to complete and submit your application for funding under the Emergency Treatment Fund.

This guide is intended to help applicants gain a clear understanding of the process and requirements, and to support the development of strong, well-prepared proposals.

Please read this entire Applicant Guide before applying for funding.

Section 1: Overview

About the Emergency Treatment Fund

Health Canada's Emergency Treatment Fund is a contribution funding program that aims to provide urgent, targeted funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support rapid responses to the overdose crisis.

The 2024 federal budget committed $150 million over 3 years to the Emergency Treatment Fund, starting in the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year. Projects which address Emergency Treatment Fund funding priorities have been funded through a call for proposals in 2024. New projects will be funded through this call for proposals.

Funding will address urgent and immediate needs, as defined by the communities, to bolster local capacity and provide access to culturally-relevant, trauma-informed and evidence-based programs and services.

Funding priorities

For the Emergency Treatment Fund call for proposals 2025, the primary priority will be "urgency," defined as the need for swift action in relation to the overdose crisis, as applied to an individual community's context. Projects must demonstrate that they are responding to urgent needs in order to be considered for funding.

Additionally, Health Canada will further prioritize projects that can demonstrate:

• Financial feasibility: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to responsibly spend the requested funding within the proposed timeline of the project; and
• Project readiness: Applicants must provide a clear plan to complete proposed activities by March 31, 2027.

Program outcomes and indicators

The section below outlines the desired outcomes for the Emergency Treatment Fund, as well as the corresponding indicators that the program reports on. Projects will need to contribute to the measurement of all immediate Program Outcomes and Program Indicators listed below.

Program outcomes

• Enable municipalities and Indigenous communities to increase access to, and availability of, substance use services
• Improve community capacity to address urgent needs associated with the overdose crisis

Program indicators

• Number of clients participating in Emergency Treatment Fund funded activities, including relevant demographic data, as appropriate:
  • Gender
  • Language
  • Age
  • Location
  • Priority population
    • Indigenous
    • 2SLGBTQIA+
    • Racialized people or communities
  • Recipient satisfaction: Were you satisfied with Emergency Treatment Fund program administration?
  • Program benefit: Was the Emergency Treatment Fund helpful in addressing targeted issues?

Application deadline

The application deadline for this funding opportunity is 2:00 p.m. (ET) November 4, 2025. Applicants will not be able to request an extension.

Project limits

You may submit multiple applications and be considered for multiple projects.

The total maximum amount of funding per fiscal year for a single organization is $2,000,000.

Projects are anticipated to begin as early as April 1, 2026 and must be completed by March 31, 2027.

Who can apply

The following types of organizations may apply:

• Canadian municipalities and their agencies outside of Quebec and Alberta^{Footnote 1} (representative of the political or administrative division defined as a municipality by the laws in its respective province and territory (PT))
• Indigenous entities, including:
  • First Nations
  • Inuit communities
  • Métis governing bodies
  • Modern Treaty Holders and Self-Governing Nations
  • National and regional Indigenous organizations that are legally registered or incorporated not-for-profits
  • Not-for-profit Indigenous associations, organizations, and health authorities

Current and past ETF recipients can apply to this 2025 Call for Proposals. Note, however, that priority may be given to those that have not been previously selected to receive funding through ETF.

Proposals from current or past ETF funding recipients must outline new projects with a distinct scope of work. While some overlap in activities may occur, the overall project must not duplicate or extend any project previously or currently funded under ETF.

Notes:

Indigenous entities (that is, Indigenous governments and organizations) in Quebec and Alberta are eligible to apply to the Emergency Treatment Fund.

In Quebec, some Indigenous entities located and operating only in Quebec will need to obtain written confirmation by the Ministre responsible des Relations canadiennes et de la Francophonie Canadienne before applying to Health Canada for Emergency Treatment Fund funding. For more information consult the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

The Emergency Treatment Fund will allow funding to be shared with non-Indigenous led not-for-profit organizations through third-party agreements. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how activities carried out by third parties will benefit the project audience and beneficiaries. If approved for funds, the applicant will be responsible for giving the funds to the final recipients and for keeping track of their project's progress.

All eligible applicants and their project activities must be in accordance with federal, provincial and municipal laws. Eligible applicants must be and remain in compliance with the requirements of the legislation under which they were incorporated (federal or provincial or territorial), including under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act that governs internal affairs of federal not-for-profit corporations.

Municipalities and Indigenous governments are not required to submit proof of eligibility in their application. Other organizations must demonstrate eligibility.

These applicants cannot apply

Those not described above in "Who Can Apply" as well as:

• Quebec municipalities subject to M-30; and
• Alberta municipalities subject to Alberta's Provincial Priorities Act. Alberta municipalities should contact the Government of Alberta to discuss their funding needs.

Eligible activities

The following types of activities are eligible for funding:

• Activities related to capital expenditures with a strong rationale and alignment with substance use programming and plan for ongoing use, such as:
  • Mobile outreach activities involving a vehicle purchase or retrofit
  • Retrofit or repurposing of existing structures, which may include Supervised Consumption Sites^{Footnote 2}, Urgent Public Health Need Sites, Overdose Prevention Sites or semi-permanent structures for Indigenous-led cultural and spiritual programming such as on-the-land healing, to increase the number of people accessing these sites
  • Drug checking services (with an existing Section 56 exemption in place) involving drug checking equipment
• Recovery support, including cultural and community programming (for example, on-the-land healing)
• Harm reduction and overdose prevention support, including access to harm reduction supplies or overdose reversal medication such as Naloxone
• Delivery of training or education that enhances individual and community capacity
• Facilitating immediate access and eliminating barriers to existing substance use harm reduction, treatment and recovery services and supports, including access to substance use and health expertise such as:
  • Crisis counsellors
  • Peer led outreach
  • Systems navigation
  • Mobile response teams
  • Knowledge keepers and other Indigenous professionals
  • Paraprofessionals

Eligible expenditures

The following types of expenditures are eligible for funding:

• Personnel salaries and benefits
• Contractual personnel
• Travel and accommodation
• Materials and supplies
• Equipment
• Rent and utilities
• Performance measurement
• Capital expenditures
• Other costs, such as honoraria or administrative costs

Certain capital costs, such as the purchase of equipment, or retrofitting and repurposing of existing structures, will only be eligible in circumstances where the purchase of such capital is needed to carry out the activities related to the Emergency Treatment Fund priorities. The purchase of new structures will not be eligible.

Note: Costs incurred prior to Health Canada approval or the project start date will not be reimbursed by Health Canada. Your organization will be solely responsible for these costs.

Annex A includes more details to help clarify which costs are eligible and which are not. Please refer to the section on Ineligible expenditures for the full list of expenses that cannot be claimed.

Section 2: Before you apply

This section outlines information that Health Canada wants to you to be aware of before you begin the application process.

Information session

An information session recording is available for applicants. This recording will provide a review of:

• the funding program
• the funding parameters
• the funding priorities
• how to set up an account in the Funding Application System
• how to complete the application form

Contact the Emergency Treatment Fund at etf-fut@hc-sc.gc.ca to request a copy of this recording.

Privacy and personal information

Health Canada is committed to respecting applicants' privacy and protecting their personal information. The department is obligated to manage information according to the Department of Health Act, Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, and the Library and Archives Canada Act. These acts dictate how Health Canada may use, disclose, and retain personal, confidential or other information.

You have the right to:

• the protection of your personal information
• access your personal information
• request a correction or notation to your personal information
• file a privacy complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you feel your personal information has been handled improperly

Notice to applicants

Health Canada reserves the right to:

• reject any application received
• accept any application in whole or in part
• cancel or re-issue this funding opportunity at any time

Health Canada is under no obligation to enter into a funding agreement as a result of any invitation to submit an application.

Health Canada funding seeks to improve health outcomes of all people living in Canada, including racialized, equity-seeking groups.

Information in your application will be subject to the Access to Information Act (ATIA) which gives Canadians a right to access information under a department's control, with some exemptions.

Section 3: How to apply

You are invited to complete and submit your application online via the Funding Application System (FAS). FAS is the digital gateway to apply for funding opportunities at Health Canada.

If you have not previously used the FAS you will need to create a FAS profile for yourself and an account for your organization. A FAS account can have many members, who can collaborate to draft and edit an application. We strongly encourage you to start this process early so that you have plenty of time to review and submit your application.

Note: Applications can be submitted until 2:00 p.m. (ET) November 4, 2025, at which point the portal will close.

Creating a FAS profile and organizational account

• The Funding Application System: Portal User Guide provides an overview of the registration and account management process.
• Each person using FAS must have their own profile, which will be tied to a unique email address and include a username and password.
• Ideally, the person who creates the organization account in FAS should be someone who has authority in your organization.
• The person who creates the organization account will be able to authorize other members to join and assign their roles and responsibilities.
• The Portal User Guide will provide clarity on how to identify your organization type.

If you need further instructions or would like a copy of the Portal User Guide, contact the FAS Help Desk at fas-sdf@canada.ca. The Help Desk is operational from Monday to Friday during regular business hours EST. Normal response times are within 3 business days.

Starting an application

• You will be able to view open the Funding Opportunities page from the FAS menu once your profile and organization account are set up.
• Use the "Start application" button to begin an application. FAS will display the Application Form and generate a reference number.
• Ensure the person who will submit the application has the correct role (Owner, Delegated Owner, or Representative - Submitter).

Annex A of this Applicant Guide has additional instructions on how to complete the application form and what content is required for each section.

If you have questions about the program or content of the application, contact the Emergency Treatment Fund at etf-fut@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Section 4: After you apply

Health Canada will acknowledge receipt of your application

After you submit your application, the status of your application in FAS will change to "Submitted."

FAS will email all Application contact(s) for this application to acknowledge that your application was received. Ensure to check your junk or spam folder. The mailbox within FAS will also receive the acknowledgement email.

If you have any issues contact the FAS Help Desk at fas-sdf@canada.ca.

Health Canada will assess your application

Once submitted, your application will be assessed. Health Canada may share the information provided in your application with other federal government departments, provinces, territories, agencies, or external experts (such as scientific, medical, technical) with confidentiality obligations, so that they can assist in assessing your application.

The Emergency Treatment Fund will screen and assess all applications against the following criteria, as applicable:

• That the proposed project meets an urgent need, as defined by the community, and supports the Funding Priorities.
• That the proposed activities and expenditures are eligible, reasonable, and required to meet the project objectives.
• Your ability to implement a successful project, your experience and expertise to administer the proposed project.

Health Canada will notify you of the final funding decision

Once all applications are assessed, all applicants will be notified in writing as to whether their application was selected for funding. Communications will be sent to the email address for the Application contacts you provided when applying. Ensure that the email address is accurate and valid.

All funding decisions are final and non-negotiable; funding decisions are expected to be made during the winter of 2026.

If your application is successful

Agreement and reporting requirements

If your application is selected for funding, funds will be administered through a formal agreement. You will be required to provide project-related financial, progress and performance reports, or other reports requested by Health Canada.

Audit

If you receive funding, all project records and financial expenses associated with the project may be audited to ensure they comply with the terms and conditions of your funding agreement.

Budget

If you receive funding, eligible expenditures must be incurred within the period stipulated in your funding agreement. Funds may only be used for expenditures that are directly related to project activities. Total government funding (federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal) for the same eligible expenditure cannot exceed 100% of that expenditure.

Intellectual property

If you receive funding, your funding agreement will contain an intellectual property clause stating that you will own the intellectual property of any materials created or developed for the project.

Proactive disclosure

If you receive funding, Health Canada will proactively disclose information about your project to the public on the Open Government website to increase the transparency and usefulness of funding data. Project information will include:

• the name of the successful applicant
• funding amount
• duration of the agreement
• project description
• location

Records

If you receive funding, you will be required to keep proper accounts and records related to the project for a period of 6 years after the agreement end date.

Research ethics

If you receive funding, and your project includes research involving humans, you will be required to seek approval from a research ethics board that adheres to the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans before any research begins.

Unpaid debts to the Government of Canada

If you receive funding, you must declare any amounts owing to the Government of Canada. Any amounts you owe to the Government of Canada may be deducted from the funds awarded to the project under the Emergency Treatment Fund.

Section 5: Contact us

For more information on the Emergency Treatment Fund or this funding opportunity, email etf-fut@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Annex A: How to complete the application form

This Annex provides instructions to help you complete and submit your application. It is essential that you refer to this guide when developing your project idea and completing your application.

The tabs in the Funding Application System (FAS) align with the sections in this Annex for easy reference. The FAS questions are included in this Annex for reference only; you must complete and submit your application online via the FAS. The questions are bolded and identified with "FAS question".

This Annex shows character limits for each part of your application in FAS, which counts the characters (text and spaces) you have used. Keep your responses within the recommended character limit to help ensure clarity and fairness in the review process. FAS will not restrict the maximum number of characters you use, and it is not guaranteed that any characters beyond the limit will be assessed.

Note: the system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity. As you complete a section, you must click on the "Save and continue" button to ensure your content is saved.

It is highly recommended that you review this Annex in its entirety prior to completing your application.

Guidelines

This tab displays information about this funding opportunity, the Health Canada program, and your application. You are not required to complete anything on this page.

Application contacts

This tab shows the Application contacts for this particular application. Individuals listed here will receive communications regarding your application. They do not need to be the project lead or an executive officer. Ensure all information is accurate and up to date.

Applicant information

This tab reflects information such as the address and operating name from your organization account in FAS. Ensure all information is accurate. If you need to update this information, go to "My organization" on the FAS Home screen.

Eligibility

Upload documents to provide evidence of your legal status. You can provide a brief description of the documents being uploaded. Documents can include:

• Articles of incorporation
• Certificate of charitable status
• Reference to your organization's constitution, if established pursuant to an Act
• Letters patent
• Terms of reference or governance structure
• Band Council Resolution
• Treaty Agreement
• Board of Directors list

Applications submitted on behalf of other levels of government, including Indigenous governments and municipalities and their agencies do not need to submit documentation verifying eligibility.

Note: A list of eligible applicants can be found in the Who Can Apply section of these guidelines.

Indigenous not-for profits must provide a letter explaining how their organization is Indigenous led.

We recommend you attach your document in.doc or.pdf format. There is a maximum of 20MB per attachment. Indigenous not-for profits must provide a letter explaining how their organization is Indigenous-led in this section.

Project summary

This section will capture high-level details of your application that will help the Emergency Treatment Fund easily understand what your project is about.

Note: Greater detail is requested about your project's objectives, activities and outputs in the Objectives, activities and evaluation section of these guidelines.

Project title

Maximum character limit is 200.

• Ensure the name is succinct and accurately reflects the focus of your project.
• If your project will be implemented in both official languages, include both the English and French titles.

Project description

Maximum character limit is 1,000.

FAS question: Provide a brief summary of your project.

The project description is a summary, and should be brief and clearly describe what your project intends to achieve. Outline the main elements of your project, that is, objectives, activities, and outputs.

Consider using this format:

"The objective of this project is to [insert main objective]. This project will [insert key activities and outputs] for [insert project beneficiary(ies)] in [insert geographic scope]".

Example of a project summary:
The objective of this project is to reduce overdose harms in young adults aged 18-25 in XYY community by providing harm reduction training and access to harm reduction supplies via a mobile outreach vehicle.

This descriptive summary may be posted publicly if your project is funded.

Planned project start date

Projects that receive funding approval are anticipated to begin as early as April 2026. As such, the planned project start date can be anytime on or after April 1, 2026.

Planned project end date

Projects must be completed no later than March 31, 2027.

Applicant capacity

This section will show how you have the experience and expertise to carry out your proposed project activities.

Suitability

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe how you, the applicant, are well-suited to undertake the project (e.g., credibility, relevant skills, interest, and experience with the project audience and/or project beneficiaries).

Describe relevant experience and your success delivering similar projects and services. This could include:

• Examples of similar projects you have undertaken in the past
• Experience you have working with or representing the identified project audience or project beneficiaries
• Experience working with stakeholders or Indigenous partners in this field

Governance and delivery capacity

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe your ability, as an applicant, to appropriately manage and oversee the project (e.g., governance structure, defined roles and responsibilities, formal personnel policies & procedures, capacity to recruit, train and retain appropriate personnel).

This could include a description of your:

• Organizational structure, including leadership and management team, board or band governance
• Ability to recruit, train and retain appropriate personnel
• Ability to manage and coordinate project activities
• Ability to develop partnerships
• Project management policies, procedures and processes

Financial management capacity

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe your capacity, as an applicant, to manage the finances for the project (e.g., sufficient financial staff, financial administration/management policies, procedures and systems).

Clearly describe how you are well positioned to manage and spend the requested funding during the project timeline. This could include a description of your:

• Financial administration or management staff, such as a finance division, a director, or a staff member dedicated to financial management
• Quality control mechanisms
• Financial management polices, procedures, processes and systems

Rationale

In the following section, it is important to provide a clear explanation of why your project is needed, and to include evidence where possible. We understand that not every organization will have access to detailed local data, but we encourage you to share any relevant information you do have, even if it's based on your experience or observations.

Funding priorities

FAS question: Choose one or more of the funding priorities.

Select the funding priority or priorities that your project will contribute to. Additional information is available in the Funding Priorities section of these guidelines..

Max character limit is 500.

FAS question: Describe how your project aligns with one or more of the funding priorities, as outlined in the Applicant Guide.

Reference the funding priorities listed in the Funding Priorities section of the Applicant Guide, to which your project will contribute.

Project goals

Maximum character limit is 2,500.

FAS question: Describe your project, include what your project is trying to achieve (project goal).

Explain the goals of the project and describe the urgency it will address. Include details about why it is important to address this urgency. Also, provide estimated timelines for achieving the project goals, including key milestones and target dates.

Project need

Maximum character limit is 5,000.

FAS question: Describe the evidence base for the project. Demonstrate and/or expand on the need for the project and why it is important to carry out this work.

When describing the evidence, include references to the title of any documents you attach.

Provide the evidence-base that demonstrates the urgent need for this project in relation to the overdose crisis. Expand on the urgency of the situation and why it is important to carry out this project quickly.

Evidence of urgency could include but is not limited to:

• declared states of emergency
• data showing recent increases in overdose rates
• a community impact statement
• local public health data
• other community-level data on substance use trends and impacts

Project evidence file

FAS question: You may attach the evidence base, citations, research or references for your project.

Upload references, documents, or additional evidence as needed. You can provide a brief description of the documents being uploaded.

Note: We recommend you attach your document in.doc or.pdf format. There is a maximum of 20MB per attachment.

Reach and beneficiaries

A project's audience and beneficiaries can be the same, or they can be different. Audience and beneficiaries are outlined further below and are defined in the Glossary of this applicant guide.

Scope

FAS question: Select the scope that applies to your project.

• National: a project that will focus on 4 or more provinces and/or territories*
• Provincial/Territorial: a project that will focus on 1 to 3 provinces and/or territories*
• Regional: a project that will focus on a region within a province or territory*
• Community/Municipality: a project that will focus on a single area, this could include an Indigenous community, a town, a city, or a municipality
• Other: this scope selection is not applicable to the Emergency Treatment Fund and should not be selected.

*These scopes may only apply to Indigenous led projects.

Project audience

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe who the project intends to reach. Who will participate in or be exposed to project activities? Include key demographics as described in the Applicant Guide.

Your response should include the following:

• Key details about the audience's demographics. These could include age, sex, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status
• The estimated number of people in your project's audience
• The exact project location(s) of your project audience
• How is the project audience involved in your project (for example, participating in workshops, providing the project with knowledge and guidance such as lived experience)?

Note: If your project audience and project beneficiaries are the same, you can duplicate your response for both of those sections.

Project beneficiaries

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe whose health the project will ultimately benefit. How will your project affect the health of your project beneficiaries? Provide the rationale for why you chose these beneficiaries over others.

Your response should include the following:

• Key details about the demographics of your project's beneficiaries. These could include age, sex, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.
• The total number of beneficiaries you expect your project to reach
• The location of your project beneficiaries
• A description of your project's impact on these beneficiaries, including how their health will be improved
• The rationale for your choice of these particular beneficiaries

Note: If your project audience and project beneficiaries are the same, it is okay for you to duplicate your response for both of those sections.

Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (diverse populations and gender-based analysis)

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe how you will incorporate Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA Plus) into the planning, implementation, and evaluation of your project. Include how project activities will be tailored to address the needs of the project audiences/beneficiaries (e.g., culture, geographic area, indigeneity, sex, gender, language, socio-economic status) as outlined in the Applicant Guide.

Health Canada is committed to improving equitable access to health programs and services for all people in Canada. Sex- and Gender-based Analysis Plus (SGBA Plus) is an approach to understand how different factors affect the way individuals experience the world. Individual experiences can be affected by multiple factors, such as gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, and income, and how these factors may interact with each other as well as social institutions.

How will the proposed initiative incorporate Sex- and Gender- Based Analysis Plus (SGBA Plus)?

If your project does not specifically target any SGBA Plus populations due to the nature of the activities, briefly explain.

Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs)

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS Question - Could your project impact official language minority communities (OLMCs), as outlined in the Applicant Guide?

If yes, describe why your project will impact these communities and how you will meet their specific needs.

If no, explain why your project will not impact these communities.

Maximum character limit is 500.

In Canada, official language minorities are French-language communities outside of Quebec and English-language communities in Quebec. If the proposed initiative impacts Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs), describe this impact and how your initiative will address the specific needs of these communities. If your project does not reach or specifically target any OLMC populations due to the nature and/or location of the activities, briefly explain.

If you receive funding, your funding agreement will outline specific official languages requirements for your project.

Language of delivery

FAS question: Select the language(s) you will use for your project activities and outputs, in whole or in part.

If your project will be using a language other than English or French, select "other" and list the language(s) you will use.

Partnerships

The overdose crisis is complex and affect many areas of life. Working with partners can help make a project stronger and more successful. In this part of the application form, describe any key project partners and how they will contribute to your project. While not all projects need partners, those that do should explain the important role they will play in helping achieve project goals.

Working with partners: Yes or no (If you answer no, the sub-headers below will not appear)

Partner name: Maximum character limit is 200.

Partner contribution description: Maximum character limit is 500.

FAS question: Describe how your partner will contribute to your project (e.g., help you to reach project audiences or beneficiaries).

For example:

XYZ Public Health Organization will provide a curriculum to outreach service providers to teach how to distribute and administer naloxone effectively.

Partner confirmed: Yes or no

Letters of support: Yes or no

Attach letters of support from partner organizations which confirm their role and support, including in-kind and/or financial contribution to the project.

Note: We recommend you attach your document in.doc or.pdf format. There is a maximum of 20MB per attachment.

Your project does not need to have matching funds, but cash and/or in-kind contributions from partners or other funders are strongly encouraged. If you know about these contributions, identify them in the Cash and in-kind contributions section.

Outcomes

FAS question: Select one or more of the Program Outcomes that apply to your project.

Find more information in the Program Outcomes and Indicators section of these guidelines.

Max character limit is 500.

FAS question: Describe how your project will contribute to the Program Outcomes as specified in the Applicant Guide.

Insert the Program outcome(s), from the Program Outcomes and Indicators section of the Applicant Guide, that your project will contribute to.

Objectives, activities and evaluation

This section will provide Health Canada with information about the specific and measurable goals your project aims to achieve, what actions or tasks will be carried out to achieve these objectives and how you will assess whether or not your project is on track to meet your objectives.

For each key activity in your project, complete the table in the application form using the guidance below.

Objectives and activities

Activity name: Maximum character limit is 200.

Identify a brief name for this key activity.

Activity:

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Describe the key project activity that you plan to complete to meet this project objective.

The project activity (that is, actions taken or work performed to produce outputs) must be clearly stated, feasible, and link directly to your project objective(s). For example:

• train outreach workers on administering and distributing naloxone
• increase access to naloxone for people who use drugs
• develop awareness materials
• disseminate information to community members
• measure impacts

Objective:

Maximum character limit is 1,000.

FAS question: Describe your project objective. Ensure that it addresses the funding priority, as indicated in the Applicant Guide.

Insert the project objective(s), that correspond to the activity. The project objective you reference here needs to align with the project objectives you described in the "Project goal" section of your application.

Measuring Results

Output(s):

Maximum character limit 1,000.

FAS question: What do you plan to produce from this activity?

List the products, materials, tools and/or resources you will develop that directly stem from the project activity. For example:

• naloxone teaching sessions
• community awareness campaign
• outreach worker and community member surveys
• naloxone education infographics

Number of person(s) reached:

Maximum character limit is 100.

FAS question: Identify the number of people in your project audience who you plan to reach through this activity.

Indicator(s):

Maximum character limit 1,000.

FAS question: Identify what information you will use to track project outcomes (results), i.e. age, sex, and other relevant factors.

Indicators are the tools we use to measure how much change has happened. Although it's not required, if your project will report on more indicators than what is listed in Program Outcomes and Indicators, describe them here for each activity. If your project activities are focussed only on capital cost expenditures, you still need to show how these activities will support the program outcomes.

Also, make sure the indicators will measure the project outcomes you described in the "Project goal" section of your application.

Note: If multiple activities contribute to the same outcomes, it is okay for you for you to duplicate the indicators.

An indicator can be:

• Qualitative: describing attributes, attitudes, opinions or observations
• Quantitative: composed of a number or percentage (how much) and a unit (what)

Data collection methods and analysis:

Maximum character limit 1,000.

FAS question: How will you gather and analyze your indicator information and who will be responsible?

Sample for 1 project activity

FAS data field: Activity

Example: Outreach workers distribute naloxone to people who use drugs of all ages in XYZ community.

Context: A single, key, project-level activity. Should be high level.

FAS data field: Objective(s)

Example: Reduce harms related to overdose in people who use drugs in XYZ community.

Context: The project objective(s) that correspond(s) to the activity. It will align with the project objectives you described in the "Project goal" section.

FAS data field: Output(s)

Example: Increased naloxone accessibility in people who use drugs in XYZ community.

Context: Products, materials, tools, and resources developed that directly stem from this activity.

FAS data field: Number of persons reached

Example: Number of community members of all ages and demographics.

Context: A count of the project audience.

FAS data field: Indicator(s)

Example: Number of people who use drugs who receive naloxone.

Context: How you will measure if a project outcome has been achieved. It will align with the project outcomes you described in the Project Goal section.

FAS data field: Data collection methods and analysis

Example: Distribution tracking.

Context: How you will gather and analyze your indicator information.

Project information

Risk

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: What risks have you identified for your project and how will you address them so that your project can be successful?

Examples of risk:

• The passing of a municipal bylaw
• A reduction in provincial funding
• Inability to secure a key partner
• A delay in the hiring of staff

Describe how these risks will be mitigated. Include the measures you would take to address these risks.

Sustainability

Maximum character limit is 2,000.

FAS question: Project funding is time-limited. If you plan to continue any aspects of your project after HC funding has ended, what are they and how will they be supported? Describe how existing or new partners will contribute to the sustainability of your project. If your project will not continue once HC funding has ended, what steps will be taken to ensure your project wrap-up is smooth?

Examples of sustainability:

• Sustaining knowledge (for example, mobilizing knowledge to stakeholders including the public, community collaborators and decision makers)
• Sustaining collaboration (for example, creating and maintaining productive working relationships and maximizing the reach/benefits of addressing an issue with a diverse group of stakeholders)
• Sustaining impact (for example, by integrating new programs or capacity into organizations and systems)

Budget

Maximum character limit, per budget expenditure category, is 1,500.

The application form has a budget template to capture planned expenses for the entire project, broken down into budget expenditure categories. Consider costs related to managing and coordinating project activities. Costs must be reasonable to support the proposed activities and scope of work.

Your proposed budget must:

• follow the budget limits outlined in the Project limits section of these guidelines
• only reflect the amounts you are requesting from Health Canada
• include budget information for each fiscal year of your project within the period of the project, not before it starts, or after it ends
• account for and relate to, the activities, outputs, and project outcome indicators you outlined in the Objectives, activities and evaluation
• include a detailed description explaining the proposed expenses for each budget category you use, and how you calculated those expenses

Note: A federal fiscal year (FY) spans from April 1 in the current calendar year to March 31 of the next.

Sample budget for a project spanning 1 fiscal year

The example below demonstrates the level of detail expected in your application form for a few categories.

Budget categories: Details of eligible expenditures

You may request funding for expenditures that directly support your project activities. Under each eligible budget category, each expenditure must include a description/details so the Emergency Treatment Fund can clearly understand what the expenditure is and how you estimated its cost.

The information below provides additional context and examples of expenditures within each eligible budget category.

Personnel salaries and benefits

For full- or part-time employees:

• employees' gross salaries (before deductions) for time spent directly on the project, except for doctors, nurses, and paramedics' salaries
• vacation pay for employees receiving a lump sum payment instead of paid leave
• benefits and employer's share of payroll deductions, such as:
  • Employment Insurance
  • Canada or Quebec Pension Plan
  • Other payroll taxes (for example, provincial health tax)

This CRA website on payroll deductions and benefits may help you estimate expenses for your project.

Note: While personnel salaries and benefits are an eligible expenditure, the following may be considered ineligible:

• statutory and extended personnel benefits exceeding 20% of salary costs
• performance pay or bonus
• severance, separation or termination payments
• maternity leave including top-up portion not covered under Employment Insurance
• compensation during extended absence

Contractual personnel

A contract employee is hired for a specific job at a specific rate of pay and is not considered a permanent employee. For example:

• a crisis counselor
• a psychologist
• a translator
• an auditor or external booking service
• an evaluator
• a trainer
• a knowledge mobilization specialist
• a doctor, nurse, or paramedic contract may be considered if a rational is provided to explain why there is a current gap in the service that they would provide through a contract
  • It must be clear that their services will not be charged to patients, and that their services will not be restricted to certain populations

Travel and accommodation

Health Canada will only reimburse for travel costs that are consistent with the National Joint Council's travel directive. These include transportation and travel expenses such as:

• airfare, bus pass
• private vehicle mileage or rental vehicle
• meals for staff while on travel status
• accommodations while on travel status
• meeting room rental and related expenses
• conference or seminar fees

These websites may help you estimate expenses for your project:

• National Joint Council kilometric rates for vehicle travel in Canada
• National Joint Council allowances for meals and incidentals in Canada

Materials and supplies

Materials and supplies that may be required to support staff or project participants, such as:

• Office supplies:
  • pens
  • stationery
  • envelopes
• Project materials (not normally covered by provincial or territorial funding):
  • outreach materials
  • clinic supplies
  • naloxone or nasal naloxone
  • harm reduction supplies
• Printing and copying:
  • ink
  • paper
  • costs for work done by a printing firm
• Postage:
  • freight
  • cost of postage
  • messenger services
• Food costs:
  • snacks for outreach
  • meals and food for ceremonial events (estimated to align as best as possible with National Joint Council limits)
  • hospitality offered for clients during programming

Equipment

The rental of office or clinical equipment, such as:

• computers
• photocopiers
• filing cabinets, office furniture
• cell phones
• special types of equipment deemed necessary to carry out the project, such as:
  • drug checking equipment, so long as there is a valid Section 56 exemption already in place
  • some specialized medical equipment related to outreach activities, so long as a strong rationale is provided

Purchasing these items is allowed if more cost-effective than renting.

Equipment related to the direct provision of treatment is ineligible. Ongoing maintenance costs from current or previously funded projects will not be eligible.

Rent and utilities

Rent includes the rent of space, if necessary, as well as utility costs that are included in the monthly rental fee.

Utilities include those that are not already covered in the monthly rental fee. In most cases, it is only telephone charges, but in other cases, heat, electricity and water are not included in the rent.

If the rent or utilities will not be used exclusively for this proposed project, you must specify how the Health Canada-funded portion is calculated. For example, by square footage or other reasonable method.

Capital expenditures

Certain capital expenditures are eligible in circumstances where the rental or purchase of such capital is needed to carry out the project activities.

Capital expenditures are defined as:

• purchase or retrofit of vehicles
• renovation or retrofit of existing buildings or spaces
• semi-permanent structures for Indigenous on-the-land programs, such as tipis, sweat lodges, or wood structures on skids
• capital equipment (equipment used to provide a service, or conduct research that has an extended life and it is regarded as a fixed asset)

Other costs

Costs that are directly related to the project but do not fall under the other budget categories. These costs may include:

• administrative fees that are broken down by item and dollar amount and are not a % of overall project cost
• bank charges
• insurance
• honoraria for Elders and Knowledge Keepers
  • An honorarium is a gratuitous payment that should only be given to an individual as a token of appreciation or recognition for functions that are offered voluntarily
  • Funding is available to provide modest renumeration via an honorarium for a maximum of $500 per day
  • An honorarium must not be used as an alternative to a service contract
• further distribution of funding to a third-party organization

Ineligible expenditures

Some costs are not allowed in any category. These ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:

• costs incurred while preparing or submitting an application
• ongoing operational expenditures that are part of normal business operations or not related to approved project activities
• expenditures that are, or will be, covered by other sources of funding
• administrative fees and overhead as a percentage of project costs
• contingency or emergency allowances
• any unspecified miscellaneous costs
• the direct provision of treatment (for example, opioid agonist therapy, establishing and maintaining treatment beds) or medical assessment fees
• all costs associated with the operation of Supervised Consumption Sites or Overdose Prevention Sites
• expenses associated with medically necessary insured health care services, including salaries for professional health care practitioners (for example, doctors, nurses, and paramedics)
  • It is an expectation under the Emergency Treatment Fund that eligible applicants will partner with or leverage existing programs, service providers and health professionals in their surge responses.
• any costs associated with drug checking services, except for the provision of testing strips, unless a valid Section 56 exemption is already in place.
• certain capital costs, including the purchase of land or buildings, or construction of new buildings
• ongoing costs, such as maintenance costs, associated with any current or previously funded projects
• legal fees
• costs related to activities that duplicate or extend any previously or currently funded project under ETF

Cash and in-kind contributions

Your application may include other sources of confirmed or anticipated funding (cash or in-kind) that will support your project.

"In-kind" contributions are non-monetary goods or services that are given to the project by you, a partner, or another organization for which you will not be requesting Health Canada to re-imburse. In-kind support may include donated equipment, services, or facilities necessary for the proposed project that would otherwise have to be rented or purchased.

Be sure to include any contributions that you will provide (such as space or equipment owned by your organization and used for the project, cash from a fundraising event)

Include contributions from other partner organizations or funders, such as:

• other governments (federal, provincial or territorial, municipal)
• partners
• other organizations (for example, business donating office equipment)

Source of contribution:

Maximum character limit is 200.

FAS question: Type the source's legal name [list one legal name per row].

Amount of contribution: Indicate the amount in dollars. Estimate the amount based on market value of what it would cost your project to rent or purchase the item or service.

Indicate cash or in-kind: Indicate whether the contribution is cash or in-kind.

Indicate confirmed or pending:

Maximum character limit is 50.

Indicate whether the contribution is confirmed of pending.

Describe the contribution:

Maximum character limit is 500.

FAS question: Describe the cash or in-kind funding. What will it be used for in your project? Provide other details as outlined in the Applicant Guide.

Documents to be included

Upload any other additional documents that you would like to be included in your application.

Note: We recommend you attach your document in.doc or.pdf format. There is a maximum of 20MB per attachment.

Authorization

Your application must be authorized by an individual who can submit funding applications in FAS. This individual will need to have one of 3 user roles: Owner, Delegated Owner, or Representative - Submitter. An Owner or Delegated Owner can manage user roles in the "User management" section of the FAS Home screen.

Read all declaration statements before proceeding. By checking the box, the individual authorized to submit your application will be acknowledging the statements listed here.

Validate and submit

The authorized individual will attest that the information in your application is accurate and complete, and then submit your application.

When you validate and submit your application, FAS will ensure that the "Save and continue" button was clicked for all sections. The system will also ensure that all fields marked as "Required" have information in them.

FAS will display an error if your application cannot be validated, highlighting where "Save and continue" was not used, or where "Required" information is missing.

This Annex provides additional information on the content that you should enter for each question. It is your responsibility to ensure that your answers are complete.

Once validated, the application status will change to "Submitted" and an email will be sent to all Application contacts to confirm your application was received.

Annex B: Glossary

2SLGBTQI+

This acronym represents Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities. The "2S" at the front recognizes Two-Spirit people as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities. The "I" for intersex considers sex characteristics beyond sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The "+" is inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies.

The acronym in French is 2ELGBTQI+. It is important to note that "personnes aux deux esprits" et "personnes bispirituelles" can be used interchangeably, although the acronym remains the same.

Activities

What you do, the actions you take (think verbs).

Audience

Your Project Audience are the people that your project will directly reach. These individuals will be directly exposed to your project activities. You will likely interact with them while completing your project.

For some projects, the Audience and Beneficiaries may be the same.

Example of where they are the same:

A project is proposing to improve naloxone availability by providing it to people who use drugs in XYZ community through outreach services. The audience includes people who use drugs, as they are directly participating in or exposed to the project's activities. They are also the beneficiaries, ultimately benefiting from the project's efforts to enhance access to naloxone.

Example of where they are different:

A project is proposing to improve naloxone availability in the XYZ community by training local service providers—such as shelter staff, outreach workers, and peer support teams—on how to distribute and administer naloxone effectively. The audience is the service providers who are directly participating in the project's training and implementation activities. The beneficiaries are people who use drugs, in the community, who will ultimately benefit from increased access to naloxone and timely overdose response.

Beneficiaries

Your Project Beneficiaries are the people whose health your project is aiming to improve. You may not have any direct interaction with these individuals while completing your project, but their health will improve if your project is successful.

For some projects, the Audience and Beneficiaries may be the same. See above for an example.

Community/Municipality (scope)

A project that will focus on a single area, this could include an Indigenous community, a town, a city or a municipality such as the Greater Toronto Area.

Culturally-relevant (and appropriate)

Recognizing, understanding and applying attitudes and practices that are sensitive to and appropriate for people with diverse cultural socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, and persons of all ages, genders, health status, sexual orientations and abilities.

Indicators

An indicator is a means to measure outputs and outcomes to gauge performance. Indicators can be qualitative (describe attributes, attitudes, opinions, or observations) or quantitative (composed of a number or percentage, and a unit of measurement that describes what, how much, or how often).

National (scope)

A project that will focus on four or more provinces and/or territories.

Outcomes

What changes you are trying to achieve, namely the results (think transformation).

Outputs

What you produce, namely the deliverables (think nouns).

People who use drugs

Individuals who consume substances- either legal or illegal- for various reasons, including recreational, medicinal, or coping purposes.

Provincial/Territorial (scope)

A project that will focus on one to three provinces and/or territories.

Racialized People

Individuals grouped as a result of racialization (see the definition of racialization for more information).

Racialization

The process through which groups come to be socially constructed as races, based on characteristics such as ethnicity, language, economics, religion, culture, and politics.

Regional (scope)

A project that will focus on a region within a province or territory.

Relevant experience

Delivering programs and services that target similar groups as your proposed project and/or similar objectives as this funding opportunity.

Rural

Communities with a population of fewer than 5,000 people and a population density of fewer than 400 people per square kilometre.

Transgender

A person whose gender identity does not align with the sex that they were assigned at birth.

Two-spirit persons

Umbrella term for some Indigenous people who identify as having both a female and male spirit within them or whose gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation or spiritual identity is not limited by the binary classification of gender as woman or man.

Urban

Communities with a population of more than 5,000 people and a population density of more than 400 people per square kilometre.

Women

All people who identify as women, whether they are cisgender or transgender women.