Funding, News and Announcements

On June 23, the federal government announced details on the $450M Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF). The three-stage program will be administered by SSHRC on behalf of the Tri-Agency. Demonstration of need will be required for all 3 stages; research that has been impacted and/or delayed entirely or partly is eligible. CRCEF will provide support for two main research areas:

1. Wage support (up to 75% for 12 weeks; $847/week maximum) for eligible research personnel who were paid from non-governmental sources (March 15 – August 29) (Stages 1 and 2, $325M);
2. Incurred costs associated with maintenance and ramp-up of research activities (Stage 3, $125M).

Stage 1 allocations will be awarded to universities and affiliate hospitals.  Dalhousie, together with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and IWK Health Centre (IWK), submitted a Stage 1 application to CRCEF on July 7. CRCEF Stage 1 funds are expected to be received by late July.

As Universities/Hospitals must establish “appropriate procedures, systems and controls to ensure that agency and program policies and requirements are followed,” an internal committee to facilitate CRCEF has been formed.  Committee members are from the Office of Research Services (ORS), Financial Services (FS), Human Resources (HR), the Provost’s Office, NSHA and IWK. CRCEF has confirmed that Stage 1 is primarily a research accounting exercise and reimbursement of accounts is expected. Personnel who have been laid off or furloughed may also be eligible but must be rehired. As a Tri-Agency program, CRCEF is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Process for Researchers

1. FS and HR are using internal financial data to identify research accounts with non-governmental funding and personnel costs;
2. ORS is developing a form for researchers to complete and submit which will, among other things, check account information and capture reporting requirements;
3. Researchers identified will be contacted directly, although, in an effort to ensure no one eligible is omitted, the form will be available to all researchers;
4. The form is expected to be available in the coming weeks; a one or two week timeframe for researchers to respond is expected.

Stage 1 funding must be internally allocated before a Stage 2 application can be considered.

Click here for more information on CRCEF.

Click here for a list of FAQs.

For more information at Dalhousie, please contact research@dal.ca.