Disclosure of Grant and Contribution Awards Over $25,000 and Three-Year Plan for Transfer Payment Programs

On October 21, 2005, the Government announced its commitment to proactively disclose the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000 as part of its Management Improvement Agenda.

This Web site provides information on grants and contributions awarded by or on behalf of Privy Council Office.

Beginning on May 31, 2006, and every three months thereafter, this Web site will be updated to include information on grants and contributions awarded in the previous fiscal year quarter.

The rules and principles governing government grants and contributions are outlined in the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments. Transfer payments are transfers of money, goods, services or assets made from an appropriation to individuals, organizations or other levels of government, without the federal government directly receiving goods or services in return, but which may require the recipient to provide a report or other information subsequent to receiving payment. These expenditures are reported in the Public Accounts of Canada. The major types of transfer payments are grants, contributions and 'other transfer payments'.

Included in this category, but not to be reported under proactive disclosure of awards, are (1) transfers to other levels of government such as Equalization payments as well as Canada Health and Social Transfer payments. (2) Grants and contributions reallocated or otherwise redistributed by the recipient to third parties; and (3) information that would normally be withheld under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

According to Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments, each department must present a three-year plan which identifies plans for new transfer payment programs, the continuation, amendment or termination of existing transfer payment programs, evaluations or reviews of relevancy and effectiveness to be conducted, and initiatives to engage applicants and recipients.