Supplementary Information Tables 2022 to 2023 Departmental Results Report: Details on Transfer Payment Programs

Accessibility Standards Canada Grants and Contributions Program: Advancing Accessibility Standards Research (the Program)

Start date: 2019 to 2020

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grants and Contributions

Type of appropriation: Each year through Main Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018 to 2019

Link to departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility: Accessibility Standards

Departmental result: Research informs the next generation of accessibility standards.

Indicator: The percentage of funding invested by the organization in research and development (R&D) projects. These are projects that influence accessibility standards. These are also projects that influence standards development priority setting.

Link to the department’s program inventory: Standards Development

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

The Program provides funding for research projects. The purpose of these projects is to identify and remove barriers to accessibility and prevent the creation of new barriers. This research will help inform accessibility standards in the future.

The Program allows the organization to work with different stakeholders across Canada. The goal of this work is to advance accessibility standards research.

Each year, the organization identifies the priority areas for this research.

This program uses funding from these transfer payments:

• Grants under the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program; and
• Contributions under the Advancing Accessibility Standards Research Program

Results achieved

In 2022 to 2023, following an open call for research projects proposals; the Program funded 11 research projects. Research reports resulting from the funded projects will be made available to the public once they are completed.

The Program also launched an online platform to provide applicants with an accessible and user-friendly process to submit their applications for funding. This platform will continue to be improved as the Program matures.

Findings of audits completed in 2022 to 2023

Not applicable as no audits were conducted as this is a new program.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022 to 2023

Not applicable as no evaluations were conducted as this is a new program.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022 to 2023

The program’s ongoing activities include:

• adding program information and call for proposals on the website and
• helping applicants by phone and email

As part of the launch for calls for proposals, the Program sends:

• an invitation email to those who have shown interest in the Program and to Accessibility Standards Canada’s stakeholders and
• notifications via social media sites, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and LinkedIn

The organization works with Program stakeholders throughout the year by

• organizing meetings
• attending related conferences
• consulting stakeholders to help with identifying and setting Program priorities

Financial information (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2020–21 actual spending	2021–22 actual spending	2022–23 planned spending	2022–23 total authorities available for use	2022–23 actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2022–23 actual minus 2022–23 planned)
Total grants	2,749,723	2,307,995	4,250,000	4,250,000	1,333,495	(2,916,505)
Total contributions	2,487,879	6,192,003	4,250,000	4,250,000	7,164,680	2,914,680
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	5,237,602	8,499,998	8,500,000	8,500,000	8,498,175	(1,825)

Explanation of variances

Many agreements are signed in-year and the split between grants and contributions is difficult to forecast. As a result, planned spending adheres to the funding provided, which is an even split between grants and contributions. This allows flexibility to reallocate the funding based on the agreements that are signed.