Environmental Damages Fund (EDF)

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible, applicants must be not-for-profit, and may include:

• non-governmental organizations (e.g., environmental community groups, registered charities, etc.);
• Indigenous organizations, defined as:
  • National, provincial, and territorial Indigenous organizations;
  • Tribal councils;
  • Indigenous communities.
• universities and academic institutions (e.g., community colleges, CÉGEP);
• provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.

Individuals, businesses, international entities, and other federal departments or agencies are not eligible to apply for funding but are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants. Offenders that have been fined or made monetary payments directed to the EDF are not eligible to apply or to partner with eligible groups for funds available as a result of fines or monetary payments they have made that were directed to the EDF.

Eligible Projects

• EDF funding is available for projects that meet the following criteria:
  • are carried out in Canada and/or the benefits of the project’s activities must accrue to Canadians;
  • address one or more of EDF’s four funding categories noted above;
  • satisfy all fund use requirements as listed on the EDF Available Funds page;
  • are scientifically sound and technically feasible;
  • are cost-effective in achieving goals, objectives and results;
  • can measure results using one or more EDF performance indicators;
  • are beneficial to the environment, addressing an environmental issue(s) or knowledge gap; and
  • are complete and accurate with sufficient information to adequately assess the application.
• EDF funding is available for projects that fall into one or more of the following four EDF funding categories: Restoration, Environmental Quality Improvement, Research and Development, and/or Education and Awareness.

An eligible EDF application: 

• must be carried out in Canada and/or the benefits of the project’s activities must benefit Canadians;
• addresses one or more of the EDF’s four funding categories;
• is complete and accurate with sufficient information to adequately assess the application;
• is scientifically sound and technically feasible;
• is cost-effective in achieving goals, objectives, and results;
• benefits the environment and addresses an environmental issue(s) or knowledge gap;
• measures results using one or more EDF performance indicator;
• satisfies the Fund Use Requirement(s) as listed on the EDF available funds page

Summary

The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), on behalf of the Government of Canada, to direct funds received from fines, penalties, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment. Through its support of these projects, the EDF helps to ensure environmental good follows environmental harm. 

ECCC collaborates with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, and Transport Canada to deliver the program. These federal departments are responsible for the enforcement of legislation that may be used to direct funds to the EDF such as, the Fisheries Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. 

The primary goal of EDF-funded projects is to restore the environment and conserve wildlife and habitats in a scientifically sound, cost-effective, and technically feasible way.

Overhead

20% of total eligible expenditures

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

ECCC Application Process

Log into Grants and Contributions Enterprise Management System (GCEMS) to review the funding opportunity and EDF Applicant Guide. The Guide contains in-depth eligibility criteria and tips to strengthen your application. Refer to the Guide to ensure all proposed project activities are eligible for funding and that the project satisfies the Fund Use Requirement(s).

Once you have submitted your application through GCEMS, the portal automatically generates an acknowledgment of receipt. If you do not receive an acknowledgment, it is important that you email sgesc-gcems@ec.gc.ca to confirm that your application was received.

Following the project review phase, a decision will be communicated to you by email.

RESOURCES

Reminder: The sooner the researcher engages with Research Services, the more help we can be!

Contact the following Research Service units for support with:

Projects Involving Indigenous Research:

Support with incorporating wise practices in Indigenous research, community engagement, and Indigenous data management is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST).

Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Knowledge Mobilization, Research Impact Assessment, DORA:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation, community partnerships, research impact, responsible research assessment (DORA), and open science, is available through the Knowledge to Impact team.

Applicants can reach out by email to the KI team at knowledge.impact@ucalgary.ca.

For more information and access to resource archives, please visit the KI team webpage.

Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca.

EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice.

Contact edi.rso@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Research Security:

The Research Security Division is available to ensure researchers adhere to research security guidelines and policies, including the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships (NSGRP) and the policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC).

Visit the Research Security website to learn more or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

Pre-Award Submissions:

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award LOI
RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application