Building Safer Communities Fund
Terms and Conditions

1. Authority

The Minister's statutory authority to make transfer payments to support public safety objectives is section 6(1)(c) of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act, S.C. 2005, ch.10.
A Memorandum to Cabinet titled Combating Firearms Crime and Completing the Prohibition of Assault-Style Firearms was ratified on January 25, 2021 granting policy authority to create a separate program stream to invest $250 million over five years to support municipal and Indigenous community action against gun and gang violence.

2. Objective

The objective of the Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) is to support Municipalities and Indigenous governments in their efforts to address gun and gang prevalence by providing a determined funding allocation to put in place community led projects to combat gun and gang violence and address knowledge gaps concerning the impacts of interventions in gun and gang violence.

The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (hereafter Public Safety Canada or the Department) is responsible for administering contributions agreements to municipal governments as well as Indigenous communities, which then can redistribute all or a portion of the funding to support gang prevention and intervention initiatives, in accordance to their respective needs.

The Department will continue to work in collaboration with municipal governments and Indigenous communities to understand the gun and gang violence-related priority issues and will continue to facilitate a coordinated national data collection strategy.

The BSCF will:

1. Support municipalities and Indigenous communities to develop community-based prevention and intervention strategies and initiatives to tackle gun and gang activities.
2. Increase the knowledge of the nature, scope and challenges of the identified recipients to tackle gun and gang activities.
3. Support recipients to develop a plan to sustain successful prevention and intervention activities on completion of the five-year program.

The BSCF contributes to the Federal Government's leadership role in promoting community safety by providing funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities, which will in turn enhance efforts in communities for preventing and reducing gun and gang violence.

3. Eligible Types of Initiatives

Under the BSCF, the Department provides funding to municipal governments as well as Indigenous communities to support their efforts in combating gun and gang violence by:

• developing local and community–based strategies and initiatives
• building capacity to better understand the nature, scope and impacts of the types of prevention and intervention initiatives implemented
• enhancing evidence-based and targeted prevention and intervention activities
• advancing knowledge and evidence of what works, and
• developing a data collection strategy and system

Funding provided to direct eligible recipients may be further distributed to eligible ultimate recipients, as outlined in section 6. BSCF funding will support new and incremental activities and is not intended to replace or displace other funding for ongoing initiatives.

Funding received under the BSCF may not be used by eligible recipients to fund ongoing core activities, which includes police officer salaries.

4. Expected Results and Indicators

The activities and outputs of the BSCF are expected to support the following results:

Short-term expected results (1-2 years):

• Result: Identified municipalities and Indigenous communities have funding for prevention and intervention initiatives to address and respond to gun and gang violence.
• Indicator: Percentage of identified recipients that received dedicated funding to address gun and gang violence through crime prevention and intervention initiatives.

Medium-term expected results (3 years):

• Result: Identified municipalities and Indigenous communities implement informed prevention and intervention initiatives to respond to gun and gang violence.
• Indicator: Percentage of municipalities and Indigenous communities who report that the funding has enabled them to respond to gun and gang violence in their jurisdictions.

Long-term expected result (4+ years):

• Result: Identified municipalities and Indigenous communities are equipped to address gun and gang violence through intervention and prevention initiatives.

Percentage of recipients that indicate prevention and intervention activities will be sustained at the end of the BSCF funding.

• Indicator: Percentage of funded communities that positively shifted in the rankings on the identified Communities list based on the proxy indices (Homicides by firearm; incidents of firearms offences; and organized crime/street gang-involved crime).
• Indicator: Percentage decrease in rates of homicide by firearm amongst identified Communities
• Indicator: Percentage decrease in rates of firearms offences amongst identified Communities.
• Indicator: Percentage decrease in rates of homicide by organized crime/street gang-involved crime amongst identified Communities.

5. Eligible Recipients

The eligible recipients are municipal governments or Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit or Metis) governments, including a Council of a Band within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Indian Act, R.S.C. 1985, c.I-5, or a government established under the authority of self-government agreement, which has been approved and has force of law under an act of Parliament or a legislature.

Municipal governments and Indigenous communities as explicitly defined and meeting the mandatory attributes are the only direct Eligible Recipients to receive contributions under the BSCF (* will need to probably explore an exception of Quebec due to legislative requirements (M30)).

However, direct Eligible Recipients may further distribute funds to ultimate Eligible Recipients to put in place a prevention initiative or an intervention to address gun and gang activity. Examples of possible ultimate recipients could be not-for-profit organizations or Canadian universities.

A Recipient may further distribute funding to one or more eligible entities.

If a Recipient further distributes funding to one or more eligible entities:

• The Recipient has independence in the choice of those entities and will not be acting as an agent of the government in making further distributions.
• The Recipient funding agreement will address the provisions in Appendix G (27-34) of the Directive on Transfer Payments.

6. Eligible Activities

Activities eligible for support are those that contribute to the achievement of the BSCF objectives and are domestic in scope. Eligible activities include:

• Development of a strategy on gun and gang violence;
• Development and delivery of prevention intervention initiatives addressing risk factors associated with gun and gang violence, including but not limited to mentoring, counselling, skills development and recreational opportunities;
• Development or enhancement of data systems to support data gathering/reporting on gun and gang crime or on results achieved;
• Development of knowledge to fill gaps at the community/recipient level, including research, and sharing of information and/or best practices related to gun and gang violence;
• Outreach and recruitment of preventative initiatives or intervention participants;
• Public awareness and education;
• Collaboration and integration of horizontal initiatives related to gun and gang violence;
• Development of a plan to sustain successful preventative initiatives or intervention activities beyond the end of the contribution agreement;
• Any other prevention and intervention initiatives as developed in consultation with the program authority.

The funding provided is not to be used for any costs already supported through existing police service agreements.

7. Requests for Funding

The BSCF targets identified communities. A ranked listed has been developed based on two critical elements – a set of proxy indices and population data – which together will permit the program to address the needs of the communities.

In the absence of specific indices on gang-related firearm violence across Canada, three primary proxy indices are considered and combined in an effort to identify Canadian municipalities and Indigenous communities at greatest risk for gang-related firearm violence: (1) Homicides by firearm from Statistics Canada's Homicide Survey (as per CC, Section 85); (2) incidents of firearms offences captured in Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR) (i.e., referring to Statistics Canada's violation [150], “total firearms, use of, discharge, pointing” from their Incident-Based Crime Statistics data and adhering to sections of the Criminal Code of Canada articulated below); and (3) organized crime/street gang-involved crime from the UCR (i.e., crimes for which police have confirmed or strongly suspect that the offender and/or victims were members or prospective members of an organized crime group or street gang).

Identified Eligible Recipients must submit for consideration by the Department a prevention and intervention plan to combat gun and gang activities that outlines how they plan to spend their funding allocation over the duration of the agreement. These plans should outline the prevention and intervention initiatives they expect to fund in order to build community capacity to reduce gun and gang activities in their jurisdiction. Plans should include descriptions of initiatives to be funded, sustainability plans and activities, their links to the BSCF objectives and expected results.

The outlined initiatives must be new and implemented with a view to measure its results and consider its time-limited nature.

Assessment of applications from recipients will consider the following:

• Completeness of application (detailed project descriptions, anticipated reach and expected results and how it meets the objectives and priorities of the funding);
• Value for dollar (itemized budget for projects, expected expenses and value of project);
• Demonstrate need for community based intervention and prevention programming to combat gun and gang activities;
• Demonstrate how the recipient's project to be funded is within the scope of eligible activities;
• Does the proposal include a plan for monitoring, regular reporting, evaluation and dissemination of final results for the projects to be funded?
• Will the project activity, event(s) or training contribute to enhanced public safety to effectively combat gun and gang activities?

7.1 Additional Contribution Funding Approaches for Transfer Payments to First Nation, Inuit and Metis Recipients

7.1.1 Flexible Contribution Funding

The Government of Canada will consider utilizing a flexible contribution funding approach where a recipient has demonstrated the capacity to manage transfer payments. A flexible contribution approach can be used for First Nation, Inuit and Metis recipients when they have demonstrated capacity to effectively manage transfer payments.

This approach enables the recipient to redirect funding among the cost categories established in the funding agreement. It also allows the recipient, in a multi-year funding agreement, to roll-over unexpended funding remaining at the end of each fiscal year for use in the next fiscal year to further achieve results toward the funding objectives. A request or notification letter must be made in writing by the recipient, prior to the end of the fiscal year, to roll-over unexpended funding to the next fiscal year. Before approval by the Government of Canada of such a request, the funding manager will consider the recipient's:

• governance structure;
• organization for purposes of funding and activities management, financial and administrative experience, and capacity to deliver activities;
• management processes, procedures and controls;
• accountability mechanisms for transparency, disclosure, responsibility and redress; and
• financial situation.

All unexpended funding from Canada at the termination or expiry of a funding agreement, unless it is renewed, will constitute a debt due to Canada and will need to be reimbursed.

7.1.2 Fixed Contribution Funding

The Government of Canada will consider utilizing a fixed contribution funding approach for modern treaty recipients.

A fixed contribution approach allows the recipient, in a multi-year funding agreement, to carry over unexpended funding remaining at the end of each fiscal year for use in the next fiscal year to further achieve results toward the funding objectives. It also allows the recipient to retain unexpended funding remaining at the expiry of the contribution agreement provided that the obligations and objectives set out in the contribution agreement are met and the recipient agrees to use the unexpended funding for purposes consistent with the objectives of these Terms and Conditions.

8. Funding Formula

Base Funding + Severity Top-Up + Population Adjustment = Total Notional Allocation Per Recipient

• A base funding amount is set for each recipient to establish a minimum project capacity to sufficiently implement prevention and intervention programs. This funding takes into consideration project costs under previous and existing federal crime prevention and intervention programs.
• The severity top-up provides funding to recipients based on an index that uses three proxy indices (homicides by firearm, incidents of firearms offences, and organized crime/street gang-involved crime) to calculate a recipient's risk for gang-related firearm violence.
• The population adjustment provides a funding amount based on a recipient's population proportional to all 120 recipients that have been identified.

9. Eligible Expenditures

The following categories of expenditures are considered eligible, insofar as they relate directly to project expenses:

• Salaries and wages and benefits;
  
• Professional and consultant costs, not limited to audit and evaluation expenses and professional fees related to the preparation of financial statements;
• Recruitment and training costs;
• Costs associated to conferences, including conference room, virtual conferences and associated equipment rental;
• Travel, accommodations and related expenses in accordance with National Joint Council Guidelines as well as bus tickets, tokens, and other reasonable participant related transportation reimbursements;
• Rent, normal utilities such as electricity, heat, water and telephone, and maintenance of offices and other buildings where the expenses are directly related to the development and implementation of the project;
• Office equipment, supplies and materials, including computers, printers/scanners, and communications equipment and associated costs;
• Minor renovations to the facility where the interventions are taking place (principally required to enhance security or to ensure program fidelity), where deemed essential for the success of the project. Minor renovations are defined as $10,000 in total or less, over the course of the project;
• Translation and simultaneous interpretation costs;
• Meals and/or refreshments for participants in activities and workshops directly related to the project;
• Honoraria, defined as time-limited remuneration for a volunteer service or participation in project delivery that is consistent with, and essential to the attainment of, the project's objectives. This can include, but is not limited to, volunteer services and guest speakers; but cannot be provided for individuals whose participation in a project is already being compensated (e.g., by their employer) or is being accrued as part of an in-kind contribution; and
• Culturally appropriate expenditures including gifts (for a maximum of $100), community feasts, ceremonies and ceremonial meals, gatherings, and circles in accordance with National Joint Council guidelines.
  

10. Ineligible Expenditures

• Goods and services that, in the opinion of the Government of Canada, are normally provided by the First Nation community or by the federal, provincial, territorial or local municipal government;
• Cannot be used to pay for regular or ongoing police services;
• Core or ongoing operating expenses;
• Hospitality, that does not meet the eligible expenses criteria;
• Interest charges or costs of borrowing; and
• Amortization.

11. Applicable Requirements for Contributions

11.1 Maximum Amount and Period

The maximum contribution payable shall not exceed $20,000,000 per recipient. Notional allocation per recipient has been determined using a methodology that considers a municipality/Indigenous communities' severity based on three proxy indices (firearms homicide data, mean firearms incidence, and mean organized crime data) and their population to determine a per year funding allocation.

11.2 Stacking

For any contributions, the maximum level of Total Government Assistance (federal/provincial/municipal assistance for the same purpose and eligible expenses) shall not exceed 100% of eligible expenditure.

The program will require all eligible recipients to disclose all confirmed and potential sources of funds as part of the application process.

The program will ensure that transfer payment assistance respects these stacking limits and that the federal contribution is based on the Total Government Assistance (federal/provincial/municipal assistance for the same purpose and eligible expenses). This includes assistance such as all grants, contributions and any other assistance, including non-monetary/in-kind contribution being considered.

The repayment of any amount exceeding the Total Government Assistance limit will be calculated on a pro-rated basis (federal/provincial/ municipal assistance for the same purpose and eligible expenses).

11.3 Basis and Timing of Payments

Payments will be issued to recipients pursuant to the provisions of the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments and based on the reimbursement of eligible expenditures. Payment frequency will be based on cash flow requirements and the Agreement's risk profile. The assessed level of risk will also determine requirements for a holdback provision to be included in the Agreement.

Progress payments will be issued to reimburse the recipient for eligible expenditures incurred. They will be based upon receipt and acceptance by the Department of financial and non-financial project reports outlining activities and expenditures to date.

Where advance payments are required for the successful implementation of the project, they will be issued in accordance with the recipient's cash flow requirements.

Recipients must meet, and continue to meet, the specific Terms and Conditions of the Contribution Agreement, prior to payments being made.

Provided that the recipient has met the terms and conditions of the contribution agreement, a final payment will be made only upon receipt and acceptance of final deliverables as stated in the Agreement.

11.4 Monitoring and Reporting Requirements

A schedule of financial and non-financial reporting requirements based on the risk level will be included within each Agreement.

Recipients are required to provide the Department with reports outlining progress towards eligible activities undertaken in support of their approved project.

In addition, Recipients will be required to provide financial reports outlining the costs incurred in relation to their approved project, including a final accounting of eligible expenditures.

11.5 Performance Measurement Strategy

Public Safety Canada will facilitate a coordinated national strategy to measure performance under the BSCF to ensure effective implementation and a consistent approach to reporting across all jurisdictions.

As Direct Recipients, Indigenous communities as well as municipal governments will be required to report annually on performance indicators outlined in Sections 4 and 5.

The Annual Performance Report (APR) template will be provided by Public Safety Canada and will collect information on each individually funded projects, including but not limited to:

• name of the organization;
• amount of funding;
• partners;
• type of intervention;
• type of evaluation; and
• expected results and outcomes.

12. Official Languages

Public Safety Canada will work with individuals, communities and organizations in their preferred official language. The BSCF's overall objectives are to be implemented within the broader context of the linguistic duality of Canada by supporting projects that will service official language minority communities while being mindful of gender and diversity issues.

Funding Agreements will include provisions to ensure that recipients address the needs of the Official Language Minority Community identified in their proposal.

Public Safety Canada is committed to the obligations of the Government of Canada as set out in Part VII of the Official Languages Act.

13. Intellectual Property

If a project produces intellectual property, the Recipient retains copyright for any work produced under the funding agreement. However, in situations where Public Safety Canada wishes to use the intellectual property produced by a Recipient, the Recipient shall retain copyright for any work produced under this agreement but may give Public Safety Canada a royalty-free, permanent and non-exclusive license.

14. Gender Based Analysis +

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an analytical tool used to assess the potential impacts of policies, programs, services, and other initiatives on diverse groups of women and men, taking into account gender and other identity factors. The "plus" refers to other intersecting factors beyond gender such as age, education, language, geography, culture and income.

Public Safety (PS) supports the inclusion of robust gender- and diversity- based analysis into the development of all policies, programs, services, communication strategies, public consultations, legislation and other departmental activities, noting its particular importance in the realm of security, technology, countering crime and emergency management.

Date modified:

2023-11-15