Service Canada

This update is from March 30, 2020 at 3:02pm

Information received from Service Canada,

1. Will the current COVID-19 situation affect my project or funding agreement?

The current COVID-19 situation may affect your organization. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is committed to ensuring that the management of grants and contributions is flexible to adapt to various situations. 

The Department will exercise flexibility to reduce potential impacts on recipients, clients and participants as well as on project duration and the types of activities that can be funded. 

ESDC will continue to work with our provincial, territorial, indigenous and municipal counterparts to ensure maximum flexibility and a streamlined process for recipients to allow them to modify or amend their grants and contribution agreements in dealing with the challenges posed by COVID-19.

2. In the current context, what will happen if I submit my reports and claims late?

The Department will exercise flexibility to accommodate for delayed transmission of documents, reports and payment claims.

3. Do I need to adapt my project activities in the context of COVID-19? What should I do if the activities of my project are affected or cancelled?

The current COVID-19 situation may affect the activities and timelines set out in your funding agreement. If the situation merits, based on advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), alternate activities to reduce travel, group-based activities and personal contact could be considered, such as virtual conferences or teleconferences. We recommend that you refer to the advice provided by the PHAC to stay informed on current prevention measures. 

If your activities need to be adapted or cancelled due to the current COVID-19 situation, or if you require an extension of your funding agreement, please provide a written rationale describing the situation. 

4. What costs, if any, will be allowed moving forward for organizations that may be closing indefinitely due to the COVID-19 situation?

The current COVID-19 situation may result in organizations closing for an indeterminate period. Should this occur, ESDC will continue to work with the organizations to allow costs such as staff and participant wages and subsidies. Overhead costs (such as invoices and rent) may also be covered through the contribution agreement. In these cases, the recipient is requested to provide a rationale to explain the situation. Please provide a written rationale. 

5. What should I do if participant-based activities set out in my agreement are disrupted due to COVID-19?

Additional flexibility will be given for participants to accommodate situations such as delayed orientation activities or registrations, group activities or interrupted workshops and training, as well as to ensure the continuity of salaries and allowances for affected participants.

Flexibility measures will have to respect the terms and conditions of the program in question. Please provide a written rationale describing the situation. 

6. I had to cancel some activities set out in my agreement. Do I have to reimburse the Department for the funds I already received to cover the expenses incurred for these activities? 

No. Project activities may be disrupted, postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19. Flexibility will be exercised on all reasonable costs associated with the event and its cancellation. These costs can be covered through the contribution agreement. In these cases, the recipient is requested to provide a rationale to explain the situation.Please provide a written rationale describing the situation.

7. In the current context, I am concerned that I will not meet the results set out in my agreement. What should I do?

The Department will provide flexibility in terms of expected results. In cases where an amendment to your agreement is required, for instance to substitute or withdraw certain activities, the expected results will need to be revised to reflect the current situation. Please provide a written rationale describing the situation.

8. Will ESDC continue to accept Applications for Funding?

Some program intakes may be delayed or postponed. Programs currently accepting applications will continue to operate although there may be delays in processing.

Please refer to the ESDC funding programs page for more information. Updates will be posted as they become available.