Application guide
Canada Community Security Program (CCSP)

How is the Canada Community Security Program delivered?

The Canada Community Security Program is a transfer payment program. Funding is transferred to the recipient through either a grant or a contribution. The CCSP is currently delivered via contributions, which means that the selected applicant is required to pay for all costs at front. Public Safety Canada may then reimburse up to 70% of eligible expenditures at the end of the project if the recipient meets the requirements and deliverables stipulated in the Funding Agreement. Grants anticipated to be available in 2025.

Grants

Grants are payments made to an individual or organization which are subject to pre-established eligibility and other entitlement criteria. In most cases, a grant is not subject to being accounted for by a recipient nor subject to audit by the department; however, there can be exceptions depending on program requirements. As a recipient, you may be required to report on results achieved.

Contributions

Contributions are similar to grants; however, instead of a payment, an organization is reimbursed for specific costs if it meets eligibility criteria and specific conditions. As a recipient, you must account for the funds you receive. A department can examine how the funds have been used throughout the duration of a project and you may be subject to an audit.

Minimum program eligibility requirements

This program is intended for communities at risk of experiencing hate-motivated incidents or hate-motivated crimes, that belong to an eligible recipient class as defined in the Canada Community Security Program Website.

What is the difference between a hate-crime or incident and a crime of opportunity?

For the purposes of this program, a hate-motivated crime is an unlawful activity committed to cause damage, harm, fear, intimidation, or threaten the security and property, of an identifiable individual/group, where motivation for the crime is based solely, or in part, on race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, language, gender, gender identity or  physical or mental disability.

Hate-motivated incidents are activities with the same harmful intent, but which do not meet the threshold of a criminal offence.

Gender-based violence is a form of hate-motivated crime/incident, as motivation for the violence and abuse may be based solely on the victim's gender.

For example: A person vandalizes a place of worship with hateful symbols or slurs aimed at the faith practice by the congregation.

A crime of opportunity occurs when a person takes advantage of a situation where a crime can be easily committed, typically with little or no planning. The motive is usually for personal gain or convenience, rather than prejudice or bias against the victim.

For example: A person sees a building with valuables inside and decides to break in to steal them simply because the opportunity presented itself.

While it can be challenging to legally prove hate-motivated crimes/incidents, Public Safety Canada focuses on determining whether there is reasonable indication that an incident was driven by hate or bias. This includes looking for evidence of motivation based on race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. Incidents related to homelessness, substances addiction, or general insecurity due to high crime rates in the area are typically not considered hate crimes in this program, as they do not show clear evidence of bias against a specific group.

How to use this guide

The CCSP Application Guide has been designed to be read in chronological order, as you work through your project proposal and complete your online application. You may use the table of contents at the beginning of this guide to quickly reference a particular section as needed.

Carefully review the information in this application guide, noting the requirements and supporting documentation needed.

Completing your application

This section will walk you through each section of the application form. The application is comprised of nine (9) sections, and will take approximately 60 minutes to complete if all the information required is available and your mandatory documentation is ready to be attached. The application can be completed in multiple sessions. The software will autosave your responses as long as you use the same webpage (link), the same internet browser, and the same device (i.e., desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone). Please bookmark the link or keep your browser window open. Closing your browser without bookmarking it may result in loss of progress and inability to access your application again. Fill out all sections and ensure that all mandatory and supplemental documentation has been uploaded prior to submitting your application. If your application is incomplete, it will not be considered for funding. You will have the opportunity to review and correct your answers as needed and at the end of application and before submitting the application.

Navigating your application form

Instructions on how to navigate the application form are available at the beginning of the application. Please read them carefully. You must use the navigation buttons at the bottom of each page.

Open-ended questions

A character limit is set for each open-ended question found within the application form. You are not obligated to reach this limit to complete the question. Provide as much information as necessary to answer the question. We encourage you to be as concise as possible with your responses. Responses provided in bullet form are accepted.

Technical difficulties

If you experience any unforeseen technical issues as you complete your application, please contact us at ccsp-pscc@ps-sp.gc.ca.

Walking through the application form

This walkthrough is for the application form version associated with the standard Canada Community Security Program. If you are applying for security personnel only, not all questions/sections may appear in the application.

Please submit only one (1) application per project site. If you are applying for more than one (1) project site, each project site requires a separate application. The information in each application must be unique to its respective project site.

If applying on behalf of an organization, ensure you are inputting the organization information of the intended recipient. Failure to do so will result in the application being deemed ineligible. An organization or individual may apply on behalf of another organization only if authorized to do so.

Section 1 of 9: Eligibility

In this section, you are required to provide information about the activities you would like to apply for, and your organization's information to determine eligibility for the Canada Community Security Program. Depending on the activities that you choose and the type of recipient your organization identifies as, the application will automatically display the pertinent questions.

• Select all applicable activities: Check the boxes next to the activities that your project involves.
• Confirm all statements: Ensure that all statements in this section apply to your organization. If any do not, your application is ineligible. Should you have any questions or concerns for this section in particular, please do not hesitate to contact us.
• Choose the appropriate recipient type: Select the category that best describes your project site. Hover over the titles to see the definitions of each type.
• Provide required documentation: You must attach a copy of the document that confirms your organization is recognized by the province or territory in which you operate. The documentation must be valid at the time of application and for the upcoming academic year. Ensure the document is in one of the accepted formats (.PDF, .JPG, or .PNG)

Section 2 of 9: Organization Identification

In this section, you are asked to provide information about your organization. Please ensure the information in this section is accurate and complete. This information is requested to identify you as the applicant.

• Answer yes or no: Indicate whether a third party is applying on behalf of another organization.
• Complete the form: Attach a completed Third-Party Representative Authorization Form if a third party is applying on behalf of the organization. If the recipient does not submit the signed and completed form, the application will be ineligible.
• Answer yes or no: Indicate whether your organization can cover 30% of the project costs using other financial sources. Additional verifications may be completed if the project is selected for funding. If your organization is unable to cover the 30% cost-share, your application may be deemed ineligible.
• Select one option: Choose whether your organization claims federal or provincial tax rebates. If yes, please provide the GST and or HST rebate percentages.
• Specify if you are submitting more than one application for different project sites: If so, ensure each application is unique and addresses the specific project site.
• Provide information about the organization: Fill in the required information about your organization's legal and operating names, designated contact person, incorporation information, and signing authority.
  • Your organization's corporate name is your organization's legal name. This name identifies your corporation, and it must be used in all contracts and invoices and can be alphanumerical, e.g., "12345678 Canada Inc."
  • Your organization's operating name is the name your organization uses for day-to-day activities and advertising. Providing the operating name is only necessary if it is different from your legal name. For example, Canada 12345678 Inc. could be known as 'Learning Faith Canada'.
  • Your business number (BN) is a unique number issued by a government entity at the time of incorporation. This number is the standard identifier for businesses which is unique to a business or legal entity. If your organization is registered federally, the number is issued by CRA. If not, the business number is provided by the province or territory where the incorporation was registered.
  • Your GST/HST number is a 9-digit number issued to you by the CRA for tax purposes, which allows you to collect GST on behalf of the Government of Canada. If incorporated federally, your organization's GST number is identical to your business number.
  • You are asked to provide the contact information for the individuals who will liaise with Public Safety Canada for the duration of the process. Only the Designated Organizational Contact will receive communications regarding the application. Should this contact change once your application has been submitted, please contact us as soon as possible. Please be sure the individual designated as the Designated Organizational Contact check their junk/spam folders regularly so communications are not missed.

Section 3 of 9: Demographic Information

In this section, you are asked to provide information regarding the communities your organization serves and/or represents. Information provided in this section is for statistical purposes only and will not impact your application. Completion of this section is mandatory.

Please ensure your responses are based on the facility at the project site and the community that uses the facility. Please respond to the questions as accurately as possible.

Section 4 of 9: Project Site Information

In this section, you are asked to provide more information about your project site and historical information of previous agreements with the federal government. The project site is the physical location where your organization intends to enhance the security measures.

• Project Title: Enter the specific name of your project.
• Start and End Dates: To avoid delays and possible amendments to your funding agreement and further delays, we recommend including clear timelines of when each activity will take place as the funding agreement will be locked to those dates. We recommend that the activities you applied for can be completed within a fiscal year (April 1 - March 31).
• Project Site Location: Provide the physical address of the project site.
• Mailing Address: Indicate if the mailing address is the same as the project site address, if not, provide the mailing address information for your organization.
• Construction or Renovation: Specify if the project site is currently under construction or major renovation. Please note a permanent building or structure is required to receive funding for the implementation security enhancements. If construction is not at a point where security enhancements can be completed by the time your project is approved, Public Safety Canada may be unable to support your project.
• Other Tenants: Indicate if there are other businesses or tenants occupying the project site. If yes, provide details about their activities and access. If the building at your project site is shared with other tenants, ensure you share enough detail for us to understand your circumstances.
• Link to Program Objectives: Explain how your project activities align with any of the program's objectives below. Please note that each project activity has to meet at least one of the objectives. If it does not, we may be unable to support your project.
  • A reduction and mitigation of the harm caused by incidents of hate-motivated crime in targeted areas;
  • Target communities are equipped to address the risk of hate-motivated crime at their community gathering spaces; and,
  • An increased awareness of the particular challenges faced by communities at risk of hate-motivated crime.
• Description of the Project: Please provide a brief summary of what your project entails.
• Primary Security Concern: Identify the main security issue your project aims to address, providing examples and evidence of its importance.
• Existing Measures: Indicate if there are any physical security measures in place at the project site. If yes, list and describe them.
• Security Assessment: Specify if a security assessment has been completed within the last year. If yes, please ensure to upload a copy. This will help Public Safety Canada assess your project proposal with better understanding of the site needs.
• CPTED Assessment: If your project involves landscaping activities, a recent Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment is required.
• Previous Funding History: Indicate if your organization has received funding from other government sources. If yes, identify the sources and projects.
• SIP or CCSP Funding: Specify if the project site has previously received funding from the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP), Enhanced Security Infrastructure Program (ESIP), or the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP). If yes, provide the year and file number, if known.
• New or Existing Project: Indicate whether this is a new project or a continuation of a previously funded project.
• Other Government Programs: Indicate if you have applied or intend to apply for funding from other government programs to support this project and provide the funding amount.
• Incorporation Information: Provide your organization's corporation/business/charity number and GST/HST number.
• Organizational Mandate: Briefly describe your organization's mission and purpose.

Section 5 of 9: Community Risk

This section assesses your organization's risk of hate-motivated incidents. Questions focus on whether your organization has:

• Directly experienced a severe hate-motivated crime/incident.
• Is located in proximity of an organization that experienced a severe hate-motivated crime/incident and is at risk of experiencing a similar event.

Please provide supporting documentation to substantiate your organization's risk level.

• Answer Yes or No: Indicate whether your organization has directly experienced a severe hate-motivated incident in the past two months.
• Answer Yes or No: Indicate whether your organization is at increased risk due to a severe hate-motivated incident that occurred nearby in the past two months.
• Identify location: Specify if your project is located in one of the listed cities or within a 500m/1km radius of a site that experienced a severe hate-motivated incident.
• Nature of Incident: Select all applicable elements that describe the severity of the incident.
• Confirm Statements: Ensure that the incident meets all the specified criteria to be considered severe.
• Provide Details: Offer a detailed summary of the incident, including who was involved, what happened, where and when it occurred, and how it developed.
• Police Report: Indicate if you obtained a copy of the police report for the incident. If yes, attach a copy.
• Letter of Support: Indicate if you obtained a letter of support from your local police service. If yes, attach a copy.
• Media Article: Provide a document or link to a media article about the incident. If your organization did not experience a direct severe hate motivated crime/incident, please provide documents or photographs, including a description of how they demonstrate your organization is at risk of hate-motivated crimes/incidents.
• Additional Documents: Attach any other documents that may be relevant to your demonstration of need.
• Demonstrate Risk: Explain how your organization or community is at risk of hate-motivated crimes or incidents.

Section 6 of 9: Work plan and Project Financial Information

This section requires you to:

• Provide a minimum of one (1) quote with a cost estimate of your proposed project activities and/or each protection measure to be installed.
• Provide a project budget using the Mandatory Budget Template.
• Ensure your budget and quotes match in terms of protection measures/project activities, costs and quantities. Discrepancies may cause delays or the exclusion of some sections of your project from consideration.

Work plan

Please input details of your work plan (project activities, duration, timeline, and objectives) into the table shown in the application.

In the work plan, you are asked to outline your project activities/protection measures and how they will address the needs of your organization.

Your workplan is devised as a simple table with four (4) separate columns. Each row in the table represents one element of your project (i.e., a project activity or protection measure).

• To complete work plan, include the following information:
  • In the first column (Project Activity), list each main element of your project in general terms (e.g. "Surveillance Cameras", "Perimeter Fencing", "Access Control System", "First Aid Training" etc.).
  • In the second column (Installation Location), indicate the specific areas in which the protection measure will be installed. If it is a training or security assessment activity, simply put 'X' in the field. If the measure is to be installed both outdoors and indoors, please enter them as two separate protection measures as they may have separate security objectives.
  • In the third column (Timelines), indicate the expected timeline for the activity to start and to be completed.
  • In the fourth column (Security Objective), describe the purpose/objective of the protection measure or activity so Public Safety Canada can understand how it will mitigate your organization's risk to hate-motivated incidents/crime. The program objectives are used as criteria to assess eligibility, so it is important to explain how the each activity meets the program objectives.

Example scenario with workplan

An organization's facility has experienced frequent break-ins and their walls have been repeatedly vandalized with hateful obscenities directed to the community. The facility has an alarm system installed; however, it is easy for anyone to access the site and it is not monitored at night. Given the threats and hateful messages left on their walls and the limited security at their facility, they fear an intruder motivated by hate could show up during business hours to inflict harm on its members.

• Maintenance Plan: Indicate if you have a plan to maintain the physical security equipment proposed in your project.
• Permits and Consultations: Specify if your project requires permits or additional consultations. If yes, ensure you obtain the necessary approvals before project implementation.

Quotes

You are asked to submit quotes (i.e., cost estimates) for the project activities identified in your Work Plan. If submitting more than one (1) quote, ensure all proposed project activities (e.g. training, labour, security equipment, etc.) mentioned in your work plan are included.

A minimum of one (1) quote, originating from a legitimate vendor that provides security infrastructure or related services is required as part of your application. The quote must be valid at the time of application. The vendor must have a valid GST/HST number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency to be considered for your project.

Each quote must contain a detailed breakdown, with security equipment and associated costs itemized to a sufficient level.

For these requirements, please consult our Quote Information Checklist. An example of a model quote is also provided for your reference.

When attaching each quote, it is important to know that:

• The vendor's corporate name is their legal name. This name identifies the vendor's corporation, and they must use it in all contracts and invoices and can be alphanumerical. For example, "12345678 Canada Inc.".
• The operating name is the name used by the vendor for day-to-day activities and advertising. Providing the operating name is only necessary if it is different from the vendor's legal name. For example, "Ontario 1245678 Inc." operates and is known as "ABCD Security".
• The vendor's Business Number (BN) is assigned by the Government of Canada or by the government of the province or territory they are incorporated in.

Please note that quotes associated with training on responding to a hate-motivated event must also ensure the following information is present:

• on the company/consultant's official letterhead and demonstrating that they are a relevant security professional or other reasonably qualified person(s);
• the number of hours of training required;
• the number of participants to attend the training;
• the cost per hour or per participant;
• the total cost; and,
• A detailed curriculum (can be provided separately).

Please review the What you can apply for section for more information on what expenses are eligible and the Source and select vendors section on the Canada Community Security Program website for some tips on how to find the right vendor for your project.

Please note that Public Safety Canada reserves the right to request comparable quotes at any time during the process.

Project Budget

Please provide a copy of the mandatory budget template detailing each of your proposed project activities. The expense items listed in the budget template must match the items listed in your chosen quotes. Your project costs should be based on the quote(s) from your chosen vendor(s).

Please note that failure to provide a budget using this template will result in an incomplete application.

• Budget Template: Attach your completed Mandatory Budget Template, ensuring that the expense items match those listed in your chosen quotes in terms of item names, costs, totals, number of items, etc. It must also match the scope of work for your project outlined in the work plan. The Instructions tab in the Budget Template offers helpful information to troubleshoot budget integrity errors. If you still have trouble resolving your error(s), please contact ccsp-pscc@ps-sp.gc.ca and attach your budget with a description of the problem.
• Federal Funding Request: Once your budget is complete, you are able to indicate the official amount of funding you are requesting through the Canada Community Security Program. Enter the financial information based solely on the calculated amounts in your completed budget. Carefully review your budget to ensure calculations are accurate and contain no errors or omissions. Your funding request must match what was calculated in your budget.

Section 7 of 9: Official Languages and Disclosure

In this section, you are asked pertinent information regarding potential or known conflicts of interest as it relates to this application, if your project has any impact on official languages, if it includes any services of a public servant or a member of the board of directors who left the federal government in the last twelve (12) months,. as well as any inclusion of services of lobbyist. You are also asked to declare how your project will respect the Official Languages Act.

• OLMC Impact: Indicate if your project will have an impact on Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) and if it offers opportunities to foster language recognition and use.
• OLMC Needs: Describe how the needs of OLMCs will be addressed or provide a rationale for why they are not applicable.
• Former Public Servant Involvement: Indicate if a former public servant will be involved in the project. If yes, provide assurance that they comply with relevant ethics and conflict of interest codes.
• Lobbyist Involvement: Indicate if a lobbyist will be involved in the project.
• Federal Official Participation: Indicate if a federal official will participate on an advisory committee or board. If yes, describe their role.

Section 8 of 9: Declaration and Signature

In this section, you are asked to confirm the accuracy of the application, compliance with all relevant laws, ethic codes and confirm it is submitted with consent of the organization. Please note that failure to agree with the stated declarations and understandings will result in your application being rejected.

Section 9 of 9: Feedback

Completion of this subsection is entirely optional.

In this section, you are given the opportunity to provide any feedback. We welcome any feedback you may have regarding the overall program, online resources and the application form. We read and take into careful consideration all the feedback we receive to further improve the program.

You are also provided with the opportunity to add any additional information which you feel may be necessary in regard to your application for funding. You may note any extraordinary circumstances which have impacted the quality or completeness of your application. This supplementary information is not guaranteed to weigh into the funding decision.

Submitting your application

After submitting online, the Designated Organizational Contact identified in the application form will receive a follow up email (from "Public Safety Canada noreply@qemailserver.com" confirming the submission of your online application). Please contact us if you do not receive one after 24 hours.

Program definitions and terminology

We encourage organizations to familiarize themselves with the following terms, which have been defined by Public Safety Canada for the sole of the administration of the Canada Community Security Program.

Continuous intake

A call for applications with no defined end date and when applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cultural Activity

Related to the affirmation or celebration of cultural elements that are meaningful to the identity of a community or group of individuals (e.g., language, country of origin, race, ethnic or national customs and traditions, Indigenous beliefs and practices, gender identity or sexual orientation).

Funding/Contribution Agreement (CA)

The agreement that is signed by both the recipient organization and Public Safety Canada (on behalf of the Government of Canada), which confirms and outlines the terms and conditions of the CCSP funding for your project.

Gender-based violence

A form of a hate-motivated crime/incident, as motivation for the violence and abuse may be based solely because of the victim's gender.

Hate-motivated crime (i.e., hate crime)

A hate-motivated crime is an unlawful activity (i.e., 1 of 5 possible criminal offences) committed to cause damage, harm, fear, intimidation, or threaten the security and property, of an identifiable individual/group, where motivation for the crime is based solely, or in part, on race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, language, gender, gender identity, or  physical or mental disability.

Hate-motivated incident

Activities with the same harmful intent as defined under "hate-motivated crime" but which do not meet the threshold of a criminal offence.

Modest Security Improvements

A minimal or basic measures that provides a reasonable level of protection without being overly extensive, intrusive, or expensive. These security enhancements are typically designed to address essential safety needs while remaining discreet and not drawing excessive attention or giving the perception of the site being hostile.

Primary Activity/Purpose

An activity or reasoning behind performing an activity which constitutes a distinctive and indispensable component of how an organization achieves its mandate, or as determined by the Public Safety Canada for the purposes of this program.

Primary Mandate

The foundation of what an organization must accomplish as a means to remain connected with the fulfillment of its vision and mission statements (public expectations).

Program Advisor (PA)

The departmental official from Public Safety Canada who will be assigned to your project proposal, if selected, to help you realize your project and reach a funding agreement.

Project Activity

An activity to be performed as part of the realization of the project. This includes the installation of protection measures, security assessments, training, etc.

Project site

The physical location where your project activities will occur (e.g., installation of security equipment).

Protection Measure

The security enhancement being put in place (e.g., cameras, fencing, etc.).

Recipient

The organization identified as the recipient on the funding agreement. An applicant becomes a recipient once the funding agreement is signed.

Regular gathering

A gathering is considered as regularly occurring if it takes place at least once a week on average, with the exception of seasonal youth camps, pauses due to renovation work, or as determined by the Public Safety Canada for the purposes of this program.

Religious and/or Spiritual Activity

Related to a specific and comprehensive system of belief that governs one's conduct and practices and addresses ultimate questions of human existence, such as ideas about life, purpose, death, and the existence or non-existence of a creator and/or a higher or different order of existence, including the spiritual beliefs and practices of Indigenous cultures.

Threat

An event that has the potential to negatively affect the project site and those who occupy the space. For example, an organization may face a threat of hateful graffiti being sprayed on their facility's walls.

Vulnerability

Gap or weakness that undermines an organization's safety and security. A threat will exploit a vulnerability to inflict harm. For example, a lack of surveillance cameras and anti-graffiti spray on the facility walls will leave the facility vulnerable to the threat of hateful graffiti.