Funding to Support Indigenous Participation in the new Impact Assessment System

Public Notice

July 10, 2019 — The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is making funding available through a new Indigenous Capacity Support Program to Indigenous peoples, communities and organizations to help develop skills to better participate in the new impact assessment process.

Improvements proposed in the new impact assessment system for Indigenous peoples include:

• Respect for Indigenous rights, including mandatory consideration of impacts on rights and Indigenous culture;
• Indigenous engagement and partnership early and throughout the process;
• Mandatory consideration of Indigenous knowledge;
• Provisions for arrangements with Indigenous groups to exercise powers and duties under the legislation; and
• Aiming to secure free, prior and informed consent through processes based on mutual respect and dialogue.

Indigenous peoples are key partners in project assessments. This funding, provided outside the context of specific project reviews, is intended to support better informed and more meaningful engagement and leadership of Indigenous peoples in consultations on project assessments, regional and strategic initiatives, and policy development.

Who can apply?

All Indigenous organizations, groups and communities are eligible, including:

• Indigenous groups or collectives coordinating more than one Indigenous group; and
• incorporated or registered Indigenous non-profit organizations, such as a band council, association, co-operative or institution.

Eligible activities

The nature and type of activities that are considered eligible include:

• Developing or supporting organizational capacity to participate in or undertake, as well as deliver information, data and studies on behalf of Indigenous communities or organizations mandated to support the implementation of environmental assessments;
• Outreach activities to strengthen awareness of environmental assessment issues; and
• Design and delivery of workshops, training programs, or materials for Indigenous peoples for related activities.

How funding will be allocated

Funding decisions will be based on assessment criteria as indicated in the National Programs Guidelines for Indigenous Capacity Support Program. The amount of funding per successful applicant will depend on the activities proposed and funding availability. As funding is limited priority will be given to organizations and groups. Note: Even if all criteria are met for a given component, funding is not guaranteed. Priority will be given in 2019/20 to organizations that can provide support to a number of Indigenous communities. The following considerations will be applied:

• Raising awareness and knowledge of environmental assessment and the new Impact Assessment Act and features of the new system in communities;
• Increasing community capacity to participate in environmental assessment and impact assessments, particularly with regards to increasing the ability to analyze and relay potential project impacts on Indigenous peoples and their rights;
• Increasing capacity in regions where major development projects are expected;
• Ability of the organization to service a large number of communities;
• Evidence of community support for the identified organization;
• Experience providing support for communities;
• Expertise in environmental assessment; and
• Alignment with other federal programming, e.g., capacity support for similar or related activities.

Funding allocations

Maximum funding allocation will be $300,000.

How to apply?

For more details on who is eligible, how to apply, what expenses may be funded and how the funding program works, consult the National Funding Guidelines for Indigenous Capacity Support Program.

To apply, send a proposal and budget or fill out this application form. Submit your completed proposal or application and supporting documents to CEAA.FP-PAF.ACEE@canada.ca.

Deadlines

Applications received by September 7, 2019 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.

Contact

If you have questions about this funding availability opportunity, please email CEAA.FP-PAF.ACEE@canada.ca.