General Application Information

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) delivers directed and national programs. Applications are evaluated according to program criteria and it should be noted that WD’s programs are often highly oversubscribed. Only those applications demonstrating the highest merit and fit with program objectives and departmental priorities will receive funding. Please review the eligibility criteria and program objectives in WD Programs before submitting an application.

Applications must include:

• A completed Application Form (PDF or HTML versions of the form)
• Financial statements; and
• Any other additional documents that may expedite the assessment process (including resolutions to proceed with the project).

These documents will be treated as reference documents throughout the assessment process. The department will inform applicants whether they are eligible for further consideration. WD may request additional information (e.g., updated financial information, updated project timelines, etc.) or other supporting documentation as needed.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications online via WD’s online application tool. If you are unable to submit your application using the online application tool, you may send a hard copy, along with the supporting documents, to the WD Regional Office corresponding to the province in which the majority of project activities will take place.

WD will acknowledge your submission within twelve (12) working days of receipt of submission.

Application Definitions

To ensure there are no delays in processing your submission, please ensure all fields in the form are complete. The following definitions are provided to assist you.

Organization Information

This section is required to establish a reference number within our system. This allows WD to assess the eligibility of the applicant organization.

Legal name of applicant organization: The legal name as shown on the certificate of incorporation/registration.

Business number (BN): The unique Business Number assigned to the applicant organization by the Canada Revenue Agency. The Business Number consists of 15 characters: 9 digits, 2 letters, and 4 more digits. For example 123456789RT0001. Further information about the Business Number: www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/bn-ne/menu-eng.html. In some cases an alternate number is acceptable (E.g., a First Nations Band Number (3 digits), or a university). If an alternate number is used, put it in the spaces provided for the Business Number, and indicate the type in the "If alternate number is used, indicate the type" field.

Provide a brief summary of your organization and its mandate: Provide a summary of the organization’s operations and the mandate.

Primary Contact

This will be the person contacted if WD has any inquiries on the project details or requires additional information.

Project Information

This section allows WD to assess the eligibility of the project and its fit with departmental priorities.

Project Title: A short description that best describes what the project is about (maximum of 90 characters).

Proposed shared cost commencement date: The date you propose WD will commence the financial contribution to eligible project costs. Indicate if the date is flexible (ie. Can the project commence earlier or later than the proposed date?).

Provide a description of the project (Maximum 4000 characters): A detailed description of the project including the objective, activities to be undertaken, work/tasks to be done, assets to be renovated or constructed and any other relevant information. 

Provide a rationale for the project (Maximum 2000 characters): A description of how the project will benefit your organization, community, and/or the local economy.  State any significant project risks and your mitigation strategy.

Describe the impact of WD’s contribution on the project (Maximum 2500 characters): An explanation of why WD financial support is required and how it will contribute to the success of the project.

Project Timeline

This section allows WD to determine timelines that could be critical for the project to proceed.

Milestones: Provide specific activities and dates of completion in the project that can be monitored to ensure that the project is proceeding as anticipated. The timeline of activities should relate to the project costs and key phases of the project.

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Project Funding

This section of the application allows WD to determine eligible costs associated with the project.

Funding partner: The amount of funding requested from WD and all other anticipated funders of the project proposal. In addition, the source of each funder and the status of the anticipated funding are required. Select the option that best describes the funding status:

• Intended – the funding for this project has not been requested at this time.
• Requested – the funding for this project has been requested but not confirmed.
• Confirmed– the funding request has been confirmed for this project.

Under the fiscal year(s) enter the expected cash flow for the project. It should be based on a fiscal year starting on April 1st and ending March 31st. Provide the cash flow for each funder.

Project Costs: The total cost of the entire project – not just the portion that WD may be funding. The total project cost should equal the total Project Funding and Cash Flow. Please use the following to categorize your costs:

• Equipment
• Capital improvements
• Supplies
• Marketing/advertising
• Travel
• Other (See Terms and conditions)

Governance and Management

This section allows WD to determine the management capacity of the applicant organization.

Describe the governance of the organization: A description of the organizational structure of your organization. For example, explain the control mechanisms within the organization. Does your organization have a board? If so, describe the powers of the board as well as management delegation.

Describe the qualifications and related experience of the key individuals that will be responsible for the project: A listing of the project management team members, any academic qualifications and or professional designations held by the individual, and comments on related experience.

Benefits

This section allows WD to assess the benefits that will result from this project.

Main Economic Benefit: The main objective of the project activities and the economic benefit to be derived.

Trade, Investment, and Market Access

Enhance international business engagement and attract investment to the region. Activities may include:

• Increasing exports for SMEs (e.g. trade show activities);
• Participation in global markets (both to source and supply goods and services) and international partnerships;
• Attracting new foreign investment as well as Canadian Direct Investments Abroad to support access to and participation in global value chains;
• Address global supply chain gaps (e.g. facilitate SME achievement of international standards to participate in global supply chains; branding of western Canadian capabilities to expand participation in domestic and/or international markets);
• Development of trade-related infrastructure to enhance trade flows in and out of Western Canada and promote Western Canada as an attractive destination for international visitors (tourists, students, researchers, and investors); and
• Supporting international research and development partnerships to enhance awareness of Western Canada's technology capabilities abroad. 

Business Productivity and Growth

Enhance business productivity, competitiveness, and growth. Activities may include:

• Promoting awareness and adoption of sound management and business practices and new technologies;
• Enhancing SME access to new technologies (e.g. testing) to improve competitiveness of western Canadian SMEs; and
• Creating supportive business networks and increasing access to skilled labour and/or highly qualified people.

Technology Commercialization

Increase the commercialization of knowledge-based products, processes, and services. Activities may include:

• Development and production of prototypes, and demonstration of products, as well as third party certification, testing and quality assurance of specific products;
• Outreach and promotional activities to attract investment; and
• Validation of market potential and end-user acceptance, as well as facilitating market-ready knowledge-based products, processes, and services.

Community Development

Strengthen the viability of the local economy, enhance community capacity, and increase the participation of community members. Activities may include:

• Increasing economic opportunities to strengthen the viability of the local economy and ability to respond to challenges; and
• Enhancing skills development to build local/regional workforce capacity.

Innovation Capacity Building

Capacity building in support of commercialization of knowledge-based products, processes and services. Activities may include:

• Acquisition of necessary equipment to engage in applied research and development or in the development of highly qualified personnel;
• Applied research and technology development from proof of concept to validation; and
• Pre-commercialization activities such as triage, patenting, licensing, disclosures, and bundling of technologies; or to develop and demonstrate the potential of research in pre-commercial applications in order to engage commercial partners.

Geographic Scope of the Project Benefits are: Indicate where the benefits will be accrued:

• Regional – the benefits will be accrued within one province.
• Multi-regional – the benefits will be accrued in more than one province.
• Pan-western – the benefits will be accrued across all four western provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).

Describe the economic benefits to be generated from the project: Explain any current and future benefit(s) resulting from this project. Include benefits to your organization, sector or industry, and to western Canadians. If benefits are accrued in more than one province, indicate the provinces.

Attachments

Attach any documents that you feel may assist WD in understanding your project. Financial Statements are required.

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Review and Decision of your Proposal

The department will review submissions and assess them based on the program criteria. Eligible applications meeting departmental priorities and program objectives will undergo a more detailed review. This does not constitute an offer of funding.

Review Process Timelines

All applicants will be advised of the status of their applications once decisions have been made.

Projects involving physical works may be subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which may delay application processing times.

Questions

For additional information please contact the WD office nearest you or call us at 1-888-338-WEST (9378).