Terms and Conditions for Contribution Funding Under the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP)

1. Authority

The Minister’s authority to make contributions is section 6(1)(c) of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act, S.C. 2005, c.10. The Communities At Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) supports security enhancements for communities victimized by hate-motivated crime.

2. Purpose

The purpose of the SIP is to support the implementation of projects to help communities with a demonstrated history of being victimized by hate-motivated crime through the enhancement of their security infrastructure.

The SIP supports Public Safety Canada’s Strategic Outcome of providing Canadians with “A Safe and Resilient Canada”. Providing communities with security infrastructure should lead to a reduction in the number of hate-motivated crimes, which would then lead to an increase in community safety, part of Public Safety Canada’s Strategic Outcome. Furthermore, it is aligned with the Department’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA).

Public Safety Canada’s SIP contributes to the federal government’s leadership role in promoting community safety. It does this, in part, through providing contribution funding to local communities for targeted hate-motivated crime prevention projects.

3. Objectives and Results

This program focuses on achieving three expected results: a) a reduction of incidents of hate-motivated crime in targeted area; b) an increased sense of security in communities at risk of hate-motivated crime in targeted area; and c) an increased awareness of the particular challenges faced by communities at risk of hate-motivated crime. By providing these communities with security infrastructure, a reduction in hate-motivated crime is anticipated which will lead to an increase in overall community safety.  

The activities and outputs of the program are expected to lead to immediate and intermediate outcomes.

Immediate Outcomes

• As a result of the outreach and program implementation, more communities will become more aware of the SIP and will apply for available funding to address hate crimes at their facilities;
• There will be increased physical security for educational institutions, places of worship, and community centres in communities at risk of hate-motivated crime that have received support under SIP; and
• Better and more informed program decision-making for Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS) as it relates to the administration of SIP and for funding recipients as it relates to implementation of their project.

Intermediate Outcomes

• A reduction of incidents of hate-motivated crimes in targeted areas;
• An increased sense of security in communities at risk of hate-motivated crime in targeted areas; and
• An increased awareness of the particular challenges faced by communities at risk of hate motivated crime.  

The intermediate outcomes are expected to lead to the following ultimate outcome:

• A safer, more secure Canadian society.

4. Class of Recipients

Contributions may be provided, in support of the SIP objectives, to private, not-for-profit organizations, associations or societies that are clearly linked to a community at risk of hate-motivated crime, but are limited to:

• Provincially/territorially recognized educational institutions;
• Places of worship; and/or
• Community centres.

5. Eligible Activities

Activities eligible for support could include:

• Completion of security assessments;
• Construction and/or installation of modest security measures such as: cameras, lighting and fences;
• Renovations directly related to enhancing the security of the building;
• Training; and
• Project evaluation.

6. Type and Nature of Expenditures

Funds may be used only for expenses directly related to the activities of the project identified in a budget approved by the Department. Eligible expenses include:

• Security assessments (report and consultation fees) not to exceed 25% of total project cost. Recipients who have received a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment from a police service will not be eligible for reimbursement of any subsequent security assessments;
• Minor construction related to the project (contractor fees, labour, equipment rental, installation fees);
• Minor renovation related to the project (renovations to the main entrance or lobby area of a building to enhance the security);
• Security equipment and hardware costs including alarm systems, fences, gates, lighting, security film for windows, relocation of existing cameras, anti-graffiti sealant, motion detectors, signage and landscaping consistent with a CPTED assessment;
• Closed circuit television systems (CCTV) which may include exterior cameras, digital video recorder, monitor, and installation costs associated with the system including wiring, brackets and accessories. The system accessories cannot exceed 25% of the total cost of the CCTV system;
• Training costs such as for proper use of new security equipment and basic training for staff to respond to a hate-motivated incident; and
• Project related monitoring, reporting and evaluation costs.

Examples of ineligible costs include:

• Capital costs that include land, construction of buildings, and vehicles;
• Salaries and wages for full time personnel;
• Hospitality and travel;
• Core or ongoing operating expenses related to the project, including maintenance;
• Equipment and/or hardware which includes any of the following: benches, concrete barrier wall, fingerprint reader system, night vision goggles, body armour, projectors, security desk, radios, hidden cameras or dummy cameras, tire shredders and any other equipment or hardware not related to deterring hate motivated crime; and
• Hiring of security guards.

Any capital items purchased with the assistance of this program do not become the property of the Department or the Crown. The Crown is not liable for the upkeep or maintenance of any such property.

Any enhancements must adhere to municipal codes, by-laws and provincial / territorial laws and regulations.

7. Stacking

SIP contributions can not be used in combination with any other federal/provincial/territorial/ regional/municipal government assistance for the same purpose and eligible expenses.

SIP funding from the Department shall not exceed 50% of the eligible project costs up to a maximum contribution of $100,000. Projects will be encouraged to find additional sources of funding. The Department will require all recipients of contributions to disclose all sources of funding for a proposed project before the start and at the end of a project.

8. Method Used to Determine the Amount of a Contribution

Contribution funding amounts will be determined based on an assessment of the recipient’s planned activities and budget submission, previous financial performance, and capacity of the recipient to achieve results. The availability of Program funds and the number of successful applicants will also be used to determine the amount the recipient is eligible to receive.

9. Maximum Amount and Period

The maximum contribution payable shall not exceed $100,000 per project. Twelve (12) months is the maximum period for which a contribution will be approved.

10. Basis of Payment

Payments will be made in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments. Payments and minimum holdback provisions will be based on a Risk Assessment.

Progress payments will be issued to reimburse the recipient for eligible expenditures made and will be based upon receipt and acceptance by the Department of interim financial (including copies of original receipts) and project reports.

Where advances are required, they will be issued based on the cash flow requirements of the recipient.

A final payment will be made only upon receipt and acceptance of a final financial report (including copies of original receipts) and project and evaluation reports.

Recipients must meet and continue to meet the specific terms and conditions of the Contribution Agreement prior to payments being made.

11. Application Requirements and Assessment Criteria

Proposals or applications to support specific projects should, as appropriate and applicable:

1. Include a signed and dated application with the name, address and telephone and facsimile number of the applicant, the period or duration of the project, and the name, title and address (including email address) of an individual with signing authority on behalf of the organization;
2. Demonstrate that the proposal meets the objectives of the SIP and describes the need for the project through supporting documentation;
3. Include a work plan describing the project activities, expected outcomes and an evaluation plan;
4. Provide a detailed budget including type and nature of expenditures, a disclosure of all sources of funding for the project (including in-kind contributions and other assistance), amount of funding requested under the program, audited financial statements of the recipient organization (if available and appropriate), and previous financial support received from the Department;
5. Provide letters of support from the community in support of the project;
6. Include information related to the organization’s legal status (that they are not for profit) and structure, names of project authorities, information on the background, history, mandate, objectives and accomplishments of the organization, and names and contact information for the executive members of the board of directors of the organization;
7. Details on how the organization plans to maintain any equipment or infrastructure acquired or installed in accordance with the approved eligible costs of the project;
8. A declaration that no other municipal, provincial or federal government funding is available for the project;
9. A commitment to install all approved security infrastructure in accordance with all relevant municipal codes, by-laws and provincial / territorial laws and regulations:
10. Describe how the project will respect the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act; and identify whether if the community is an official language minority community;
11. Prevent the risk of conflict of interest by:
    1. Disclosing the involvement of prospective recipients who are subject to the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service, the Conflict of Interest Act (S.C. 2006, c.9)or the Parliament of Canada Act (R.S., 1985, c.P-1.01);
    2. When required by the Lobbyists Registration Act (LRA), registering lobbyists under the LRA (applicants shall provide assurance that, where lobbyists are utilized, they are registered in accordance with Treasury Board policy and that no actual or potential conflict of interest exists nor any contingency fee arrangement); and
    3. Discussing the role of a departmental official if a departmental official is to participate on an advisory committee or board. Such involvement must not be seen to be exercising control on the committee or board or on the use of the funds.

Proposals for consideration under the SIP will be reviewed against program criteria by the Department and its representatives to determine their eligibility, completeness and conformity according to specified mandatory requirements.

In reviewing and recommending proposals, the Department will take into consideration, as applicable and appropriate:

1. The extent to which the project would directly support and advance the objectives of the SIP;
2. The amount of funding requested relative to the amount of resources available from the Department in any given year and whether expenses outlined in the proposal are eligible and reasonable;
3. The history of the organization and/or the community with regard to victimization by hate-motivated crime;
4. The ability of the applicant to implement, manage, monitor, document and evaluate the project within the specified timeframe and budget;
5. The capacity of the organization to maintain any equipment or infrastructure proposed under the project;
6. The Department’s previous experience in working with the applicant, the degree of collaboration and the quality of and success of the project(s);
7. The level of support from the community; and
8. The project’s overall viability, including the strategy for ensuring project transition in the post-federal funding period (if applicable).

12. Performance Measurement Strategy

The Performance Measurement (PM) Strategy outlines the on-going performance measurement that will be implemented by Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) to ensure there is sufficient performance information available to effectively plan, monitor, evaluate and report on results throughout the delivery of the Program.  

The PM Strategy identifies the causal links between its main activities, the key outputs that are produced from these activities, and the intended outcomes arising from the activities and outputs. Some of the outcomes and their indicators include:

NCPC has an established Performance Measurement Working Group which is responsible for overall implementation on the SIP PM Strategy. The Group reports to NCPC Senior Management on the extent to which the PM Strategy is being implemented. The Group relies on the cooperation and efforts of both internal NCPC staff and funding recipients to collect, organize and provide good quality performance data on a regular basis.

Funded projects are responsible for providing reports based on the PM Strategy. The contribution agreement will outline the schedule of deliverables requested from the recipient. These will include financial reports and a final report due three months after the project ends.

The reporting deliverables will be submitted to the NCPC Program officer who is responsible for reviewing and entering data in the NCPC information management system (where applicable).

13. Official Languages

Funding will be consistent with all relevant policies and regulations of the Official Languages Act.

The Department will work with organizations in their preferred official language. All information published as it relates to the SIP will be made available and posted on the Department’s website in both official languages.

The SIP’s overall objectives are to be implemented within the broader context of the linguistic duality of Canada by supporting projects that will serve official language minority communities.

14. Intellectual Property

If a project produces intellectual property, the Recipient retains copyright for any work produced under the contribution agreement. However, in situations where the Department wishes to use the intellectual property produced by a Recipient, additional clauses may be included in the contribution agreement.

15. Effective Date

These updated Terms and Conditions will take effect subject to the date of the departmental approval.

Date modified:

2019-05-31