The elimination of this grant has been proposed in Budget 2020: A plan for jobs and the economy.
To address fiscal challenges, we are reviewing all programs and services to find savings and efficiencies.
Delivery of fire services is a municipal responsibility and it’s up to local governments to determine how best to fund and train their services.
The province will work with impacted communities to help build their own training capacity.
Important dates
2018/19 Reporting document deadline: June 30, 2020
Extension/Course change requests: April 1, 2021
Course delivery deadline: May 31, 2021
Reporting document deadline: June 30, 2021
Overview
The aim of the Fire Services Training Program is to:
- support Alberta communities in developing capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to identified risk
- help ensure training of fire services remains current and is updated as required
- ensure training aligns with and supports community planning
For more information, read the Fire Services Training Program: Program Guidelines document.
Funding
The supplemental funding enhances basic training. The municipality/training group must agree to contribute any outstanding funds for the training.
Funding is made as a lump-sum payment to the hosting municipality or First Nation.
Table 1. 2019/2020 Fire Services Training Program Grant recipients
| Municipality | Amount awarded |
|---|---|
| Athabasca County | $9,418 |
| Big Lakes County Fire Services (Big Lakes County) | $9,418 |
| Blue Ridge Fire Department (Woodlands County) | $9,418 |
| City of Beaumont | $25,238 |
| City of Camrose | $25,238 |
| City of Lacombe | $9,419 |
| City of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (City of Lethbridge) | $9,419 |
| City of Lloydminster Fire Department (City of Lloydminster) | $9,419 |
| County of Forty Mile No 8 | $25,238 |
| County of Newell | $13,136 |
| County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 | $13,136 |
| Cypress County Emergency Services and Redcliff Fire Department (Cypress County) | $13,136 |
| Enoch Cree Nation | $9,419 |
| Fishing Lake Metis Settlement | $9,419 |
| Highway 16 Regional Training Group (Hinton) | $12,504 |
| Kananaskis Improvement District | $14,846 |
| Kneehill County | $13,136 |
| Lac La Biche County | $8,206 |
| Lamont County Emergency Services (Lamont County) | $9,419 |
| Montana Cree Nation Fire Department (Montana Cree Nation) | $13,136 |
| Municipality of Crowsnest Pass | $5,812 |
| Northern Sunrise County Protective Services (Northern Sunrise County) | $17,736 |
| Parkland County | $13,136 |
| Red Deer County | $23,133 |
| Town of Hanna | $13,136 |
| Mayerthorpe Fire Department (Town of Mayerthorpe) | $6,140 |
| Town of Olds Fire Department (Town of Olds) | $25,238 |
| Town of Picture Butte | $25,238 |
| Town of St. Paul | $13,136 |
| Town of Taber Fire Department (Town of Taber) | $13,136 |
| Town of Westlock | $25,238 |
| Town of Whitecourt | $9,410 |
| Tsuut'ina Nation Fire Rescue Service – First Nations | $9,419 |
| Stirling Fire Department (Village of Stirling) | $13,136 |
| Vulcan County Emergency Services (Vulcan County) | $25,238 |
| Grand total | $500,000 |
Eligible entities
Eligible entities include Alberta’s:
- municipalities
- Metis settlements
- First Nations communities
- partnerships of the above or partnerships with a municipality as the primary applicant
Ineligible entities
Ineligible entities include:
- individuals
- applicants with history of non-compliance
- for-profit business/corporations
Eligible project costs
Eligible costs for projects and courses include, but are not limited to:
- fire services training
- specialized training programs
Ineligible costs
Ineligible project costs include:
- capital or equipment purchases, repairs, upgrading or maintenance
- wages, stipends, meals, travel or honoraria for students
- training carried out before the minister signs the conditional grant agreement
- Incident Command System courses
- training completed prior to receiving minister approval
- rental of owned classrooms and equipment
- in-house instructor fees (that is, training is not intended to subsidize an employee’s full-time salary, but may be paid to volunteers as contractors).
After you apply
Application criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- a comprehensive plan outlining timelines for training completion
- a letter of support demonstrating the collaboration with training partners, including a breakdown of course hosting
- meeting compliance in previous years and history of training completed
All courses or the full requested amount may not be awarded.
Successful applicants
Applicants will be notified within 2 1/2 months of the application deadline.
Successful applicants will sign a conditional grant agreement. Training can begin after the minister (or his delegated representative) signs this agreement.
The terms of the agreement include:
- the use of the grant for approved purposes only
- eligibility
- reporting and accountability requirements
- the minister’s right to audit any project
- the minister’s right to require a refund of any grant funds not used in accordance with the agreement
Minister’s decisions regarding grant funding are final.
First Nations applicants
First Nations must submit a band council resolution along with the signed conditional grant agreement.
Reporting requirements
Reporting documents for the 2018/2019 Fire Services Training Program grants are due June 30, 2020.
Use the Fire Services Training Program Reporting Form (PDF, 776 KB) to help fill out your reporting requirements.
Reporting documents for the 2019/2020 Fire Services Training Program grants are due June 30, 2021.
The 2019/2020 Reporting form will be posted in the future.
You will need to submit information that demonstrates:
- that the total grant received was used in accordance with the conditional grant agreement
- include all receipts/invoices
- a description of the training undertaken
- certification that the municipality or First Nation did not use any portion of the grant to carry out any training before the original conditional grant agreement was signed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs
- that course(s) were completed by May 31, 2021 or by the completion date as stated in an amended conditional grant agreement
Contact
If you have any questions about the program or these guidelines, contact the grants coordinator.
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-866-421-6929
Email: firecomm@gov.ab.ca