Legal Support and Awareness to Address Workplace Sexual Harassment - Anticipatory Call for Proposals

Overview

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that workplaces are healthy and safe environments; however, workplace sexual harassment continues to impact the health and well-being of employees, particularly women, young people, 2SLGBTQI+ persons, Indigenous people, and racialized Canadians.

In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada proposed renewed investments to address workplace sexual harassment. Starting in 2024-2025, $30 million over three years would support individuals, particularly the most vulnerable, to access legal advice and information resources related to sexual harassment in the workplace; and enhance efforts to increase awareness and education for Canadians on workplace sexual harassment, their rights and available legal options, and the obligations of employers.

Justice Canada is launching an anticipatory call for proposals for project applications that aim to improve access to legal information and advice services for complainants of workplace sexual harassment and increase access to public legal education and information resources.

What is sexual harassment in the workplace?

The Canada Labour Code defines sexual harassment as any conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that is likely to cause offence or humiliation to any employee; or that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by that employee as placing a condition of a sexual nature on employment or on any opportunity for training or promotion.^{Footnote 1}

Sexual Harassment – Canada.ca

Funding Opportunities

This call includes two streams of funding:

• Stream 1: Legal Advice and Information
• Stream 2: Public Legal Education and Information

Applicants are invited to apply to one or both streams of funding. Please note that each stream will require its own application to be submitted.

Key Considerations

The following key considerations should be applied in developing applications for this anticipatory funding opportunity and evidenced in your applications. These considerations will be part of the assessment criteria for all applications received.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a gendered issue. Indigenous women, racialized women, people who identify as 2SLGBTQI+, people with disabilities, newcomers and immigrants, and people living in rural and remote areas are at higher risk of workplace sexual harassment. Projects under this initiative will need to account for relevant intersectional factors, such as race, culture, class, sexual orientation, age, disability, language, and/or immigration status, etc., to address the experiences of complainants of sexual harassment in the workplace. When preparing your application, please elaborate on how your proposed activities will consider and respond to diverse individuals and groups.

To learn more about GBA Plus and while developing your application, you are encouraged to take the free online course: Introduction to Gender-Based Analysis Plus.

Trauma-Informed

Trauma-informed practice is a client-centred model that is built on knowledge about the impact of violence and trauma on people’s lives and health. It requires programs to integrate this knowledge into all aspects of practice and programming in ways that foster their clients’ safety, respect and empowerment. Your application should demonstrate an understanding of trauma-informed practice as it relates to people who have experienced workplace sexual harassment and describe how this practice will be integrated into project activities.

Official Languages

In support of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act, Justice Canada is committed to facilitating the participation of official language minority communities and their organizations in the development and assessment of Justice's policies, programs and services having significant impact on the development of the communities; and to taking measures to ensure that Justice's programs and services reach official language minority communities. In the context of project funding, these measures include:

• outreach to official language minority communities to enhance their understanding of Justice funding programs; and
• encouraging contacts between organizations that are receiving financial assistance and official language minority organizations/groups to ensure that the needs of these communities are taken into consideration in relation to the proposed projects to be considered for Justice funding.

Applications should describe how the proposed project will consider the needs of English and French linguistic minority communities.

Length of Project

The length of your project will depend on proposed objectives and activities. Projects are anticipated to commence in Winter 2024/25 and all projects will be required to end by March 31, 2027 at the latest.

How to Apply for Funding

Funding Decisions

As funding is limited, the department may not be able to approve all eligible applications.

Funding decisions will be communicated by email to the contacts identified in the application. We expect decisions on applications in Fall/Winter 2024.

If your project is approved, the department will contact you for next steps. A funding agreement must be signed with the department before you can begin project activities. In addition, recipients of funding will be required to seek permission from the Department of Justice prior to any public announcement of the funding.

Information Sessions

Information sessions will be held to provide an overview of key application criteria and processes. The information sessions will cover both funding streams, and are set to take place on the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, July 23, 2024 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT – English Session
• Wednesday, July 24, 2024 from 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT – French Session
• Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT – English Session
• Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT – French Session

To join an information session, please click the link next to the date and time of your preferred session. All sessions will be delivered through MS Teams.

Additional Information

For any further information or questions on this funding opportunity, please contact:

Programs Branch
Department of Justice Canada
Phone: 613-941-4193
Email: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca

Stream 1: Legal Advice and Information

Funding will be available through the Legal Aid Program for the development and implementation of legal information and advice services for individuals impacted by workplace sexual harassment.

The Legal Aid Program’s Legal Advice for Complainants of Workplace Sexual Harassment component will support organizations that provide legal information and advice to persons who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, regardless of their economic status.

Objectives of the Funding

The objective of this call for proposals is to increase access to legal information and advice services to individuals impacted by workplace sexual harassment. Justice Canada seeks to ensure that such services are made available through various means (for example by telephone, on-line, in-person) across each province and territory.

• It is anticipated that there will be one lead service delivery organization in each province and territory; however, proposals for pan-Canadian projects or those spanning more than one province or territory will also be considered.
• The legal information and advice services may be provided by the lead organization itself; through collaborations with other not-for-profit organizations or agencies (i.e., referrals); or in partnership with private sector organizations.
• For greater efficiencies and effectiveness of funding, organizations that seek to provide services in one region of a province or territory, or to one demographic, are asked to collaborate on proposals with those that seek to provide services in the same regions of that province or territory, or to similar demographics.
• Justice Canada seeks to ensure that legal advice and information services are accessible to particularly vulnerable populations, such as workers in low-wage and/or precarious jobs; those who provide personal services (e.g., homecare health aide) or rely on tips; women, especially those who work in male-dominated industries; youth; Indigenous and racialized women; persons with disabilities; those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+; and newcomer women.
• Justice Canada aims to ensure that the provision of services is made available:
  • to multiple populations and are not limited to one demographic group or workers in a particular industry;
  • outside of regular office hours; and
  • for ancillary services (e.g., counselling, job search assistance) or to assist people in obtaining such services.
• Justice Canada seeks to support evidence-based decisions by relying on the organization’s capacity and existing data management systems to provide disaggregated demographic data.

Assessment Criteria

Applications must clearly demonstrate the following:

• The application responds to the objectives of the call for proposals, and clearly defines the outcomes and indicators, demonstrating how they would be achieved;
• Knowledge of the needs of the vulnerable population(s), including experience working with the project’s target population(s) (or existing or identified partnerships with organizations who work with the target population(s));
• Ability to clearly articulate proposed project activities to best suit the needs of the vulnerable populations, and the expected impact of achieving the project’s objectives;
• Integration of key considerations in proposed activities;
• Reasonable project budgets aligned with proposed activities;
• Experience and capacity of the organization:
  • Experience developing and delivering legal advice information (or leverage existing capacity through identified partnerships);
  • Organizational stability and strong support structures;
  • Efficient financial management practices; and,
  • Existing data management systems able to provide reliable data, including client demographics and GBA Plus data.

Who can apply for this funding?

• Organizations that provide legal advice and information services
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations
• Bands, Tribal Councils, self-governing First Nations and Inuit

How much funding is available for each project?

• The level of funding will vary from project to project based on the nature and scope of proposed activities. Up to $1,000,000 is available per project across three fiscal years (beginning Winter 2024-25 until March 31, 2027).
• Up to $1,500,000 is available for interprovincial or interterritorial projects, or projects that are national in scope across three fiscal years (beginning Winter 2024-25 until March 31, 2027).

Reporting Requirements

All approved projects will be required to submit project and financial reports. This includes:

• Semi-annual progress reports, which will include but not limited to the following:
  • The indicators outlined in the proposal;
  • Aggregated data on activities and participants, including disaggregated data by language, geographic location (e.g., rural, urban), employment sectors, and target populations, specifically women, Indigenous status, people with disabilities, newcomers and immigrants, and 2SLGBTQI+ people who are more at-risk of experiencing workplace sexual harassment;
  • The number and the mode of legal advice provided, which may include 1-800 calls, website hits, e-mails, one-on-one client interactions, legal counsel referrals, emails, workshops, workshop/conference participants, and other referrals such as those to social services;
• Semi-annual financial reports; and,
• Annual financial reporting, including audited financial reports.

Additional Information

To request additional information or to request an application form for this funding stream, please contact: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca. Please include in your email that you are requesting the application form for Stream 1: Legal Advice and Information. A copy of the application form will be provided to you by email.

Your completed application must be received by Justice Canada no later than September 9, 2024, 11:59 PM PST. It should be submitted by email to pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.

Stream 2: Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI)

The Justice Partnership and Innovation Program (JPIP) is seeking applications that aim to support individuals, particularly those most vulnerable, to access legal education and information resources to better understand their rights and how to access help if they have been sexually harassed in the workplace. Funding also seeks to support employers who wish to create structured supports such as training programs and policies to proactively address workplace sexual harassment.

PLEI is intended to educate people about their legal rights, responsibilities and the overall function of the legal system. PLEI can take various forms and may include printed materials, trainings and workshops, and online resources and helps individuals understand and navigate the legal system, ultimately promoting access to justice.

Objectives of the Funding

There are two priority funding areas eligible under this funding stream. All applications must demonstrate how their project aligns with at least one of the following priorities:

1. Vulnerable Populations: Funding to better inform vulnerable workers (including but not limited to, racialized women, newcomers, those working in precarious employment, and people living in rural and remote areas) about their rights and how they can access help if they have been harassed in the workplace; and/or
2. Employers: Funding to support employers to implement trainings, policies and/or procedures related to workplace sexual harassment.

Applications must demonstrate how their project will support the planned outcome of increasing awareness and knowledge of rights and responsibilities in relation to sexual harassment in the workplace. To support this outcome, project activities could include:

• Develop, adapt, translate and disseminate PLEI resources on the laws surrounding sexual harassment in the workplace and ways to access avenues of resolution when dealing with a case.
• Create PLEI and training materials for employees and employers on addressing workplace sexual harassment.
• Develop and deliver training and/or policies on workplace sexual harassment for employers to ensure culturally relevant, trauma-informed and appropriate responses to complainants.
• Applications supporting vulnerable populations would be eligible to include navigation supports to help individuals who have experienced workplace sexual harassment identify and access other needed services (such as employment, income, housing and mental health services).

Assessment Criteria

Applications must clearly demonstrate the following:

• Experience developing and delivering PLEI materials (or capacity through identified partnerships)
• Experience working with specified vulnerable population(s) (or capacity through identified partnerships) for Priority Funding Area 1 Applications
• Identified proposed partnerships with employers, key stakeholders, and/or workplace sectors for Priority Funding Area 2 Applications
• Organizational stability and strong support structures
• Efficient financial management practices
• Knowledge of community needs and ability to clearly articulate proposed project activities
• Integration of key considerations
• Budget expenses are reasonable and aligned with proposed activities

Who can apply for this funding?

• Organizations that provide legal information and services
• Public Legal Education and Information (PLEI) organizations
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations
• Bands, Tribal Councils, self-governing First Nations and Inuit
• Private sector organizations (for-profit) sponsoring projects/activities that are not intended to generate a profit

How much funding is available for each project?

The level of funding will vary from project to project based on the nature and scope of proposed activities.

• Up to $500,000 per project is available across three fiscal years (beginning Winter 2024-25 until March 31, 2027) for projects that are local, regional or provincial/territorial in scope.
  • Projects are local in scope if they cover one community, such as a town or city.
  • Projects are regional, provincial or territorial in scope if they cover more than one community. They may also cover part or all of a province or territory.
• Up to $750,000 per project is available for interprovincial or interterritorial projects, or projects that are national in scope across three fiscal years (beginning Winter 2024-25 until March 31, 2027).
  • Projects are interprovincial or interterritorial in scope if they cover more than one province or territory or many provinces or territories.
  • Projects are national in scope if they have the potential for impact across Canada.

Reporting Requirements

All approved projects will be required to submit project and financial reports. This could include:

• Annual progress reports
• Semi-annual financial reports
• Annual financial reporting, including audited financial reports
• Data collection on activities and participants, including disaggregated data by language, location, employment sectors, and target populations.

Additional Information

To request additional information or to request an application form for this funding stream, please contact: pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca. Please include in your email that you are requesting the application form for Stream 2: PLEI. A copy of the application form will be provided to you by email.

Your completed application must be received by Justice Canada no later than September 9, 2024, 11:59 PM PST. It should be submitted by email to pb-dgp@justice.gc.ca.