The following FAQ contains items on the following topics:
- HOW DO I APPLY?
- WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?
- WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
- HOW TO PROVE YOU ARE A REGISTERED NOT FOR PROFIT
- HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE?
- THE RULES
- WHERE IS DISTRICT 7?
- WHAT IS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
HOW DO I APPLY?
Download the application form and submit to Vicki Palmeter in Councillor Mason’s Office, more info here.
WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?
Submission deadline is 5pm Monday April 14 2024. Be sure to contact Vicki in advance to ensure your project is eligible and your form is complete.
HOW TO PROVE YOU ARE A REGISTERED NOT FOR PROFIT
Print a Joint Stocks Profile Sheet
The following instructions will work ONLY if you use Google Chrome or Apple Safari web browsers. For Firefox and Internet Explorer users you can install a PDF printer, see instructions here.
To get a copy of your Registry of Joint Stock Companies Profile Sheet follow these steps:
- Visit the Registry’s website
- Read and accept their search terms
- Enter either your organization’s name or registry number and click Search
- Find and select your organization from the list
- If your organization is not listed retry your search or check with your organization to ensure you are registered
- On your profile page, click “Printer Version” in the top right of the page
- Right click anywhere on the page and choose Print
- In Google Chrome, choose Save As PDF and proceed to download the file.
- In Safari, choose PDF at the bottom of the Print Dialogue Box and then select Save as PDF.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE?
Residents should know in advance that all HRM policies and guidelines must be met. There are a bunch of rules that help define what can and can’t be funded, you can read the HRM District Capital Policy here.
RULES
- You must comply with the District Capital Policy and have discussed your application with staff prior to the deadline.
- There is a limit of $10,000 that any one project can receive per year.
- Each group may only apply for one project per year.
- A previous project must be completed to the satisfaction of the Councillor before an organization can apply for more funds.
- Organizations must be registered with the Registry of Joint Stocks as a Society or Not For Profit Cooperative (faith community groups and school associations are exempted) (see above)
- If you are asking for funds to improve a building, the organization must own the building.
WHERE IS DISTRICT 7?
You can see an official big map of it here or you can look at a google map we created.
The district is south of a boundary that runs from the Northwest Arm along Jubilee to Oxford, then north up Oxford to Quinpool, then east along Quinpool and Cogswell to North Park, north up North Park to Cornwallis, then is south of Cornwallis to the harbour. It also includes Sable Island.
WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a process of democratic deliberation and decision-making, and a type of participatory democracy, in which citizens decide how to allocate part of a municipal or public budget. Participatory budgeting allows citizens to identify, discuss, and prioritize public spending projects, and gives them the power to make real decisions about how money is spent.
WHAT IS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR DISTRICT CAPITAL GRANTS/PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING?
Halifax Regional Municipality is empowered in its Charter to use funds for “public grounds, squares, halls, museums, parks, tourist information centres and community centres (79 ai)” and other capital projects with public benefit, and allowed to provide grants to “any charitable, nursing, medical, athletic, educational, environmental, cultural, community, fraternal, recreational, religious, sporting or social organization” non-profit organization. (79 av. v)
Regional Council adopted the HRM District Capital Fund Policy on July 31, 2007 to guide the distribution of these funds. Each year Council approves a capital budget for each district, in 2015/16 it will be $94,000 per district.
Councillors have the discretionary authority to determine which organizations receive funds in the district they represent. Some Councillors have chosen to use a Participatory Budgeting process. The Participatory Budgeting process provides non-binding advice to the Councillor as to which applicants may be considered for funding. The decision of the Councillor is final.icki