Overview

The Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant provides $25.5 million over 2 years to:

  • combat hate in Ontario
  • build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities

This will help ensure faith-based organizations (such as, churches, mosques or synagogues) and cultural organizations (such as, those that serve Black, Indigenous, Asian or 2SLGBTQIA+ communities) have safe and secure community spaces to practice their faith or express their cultures and beliefs.

These organizations can receive a one-time grant of $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000 (based on their 2022 revenues) to enhance or implement measures to protect and secure their facilities from:

  • hate-motivated incidents
  • graffiti
  • vandalism
  • other damages

This funding builds on the $40 million originally allocated to help protect communities. The grant has expanded eligibility to cover the cost of additional prevention and capacity building measures and to allow for more organizations to apply.

Protection measures

Recipients can use the funding to enhance or implement protection measures, such as:

  • making building upgrades
  • enhancing locks
  • installing cameras
  • training staff
  • completing security assessments
  • introducing safer cybersecurity measures
  • hiring professional security
  • making repairs

You can find detailed information on eligible and ineligible expenses when you apply for the grant.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for the grant:

  • religious and spiritual organizations and communities (for example mosques, synagogues, temples, churches, etc.)
  • cultural organizations and communities (for example, 2SLGBTQIA+ groups, traditional culture programs, workshops and ceremonies, etc.)
  • a registered charity without share capital (charities must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a charity by December 31, 2022)
  • a registered not-for-profit corporation without share capital (not-for-profit corporations that are not registered charities must be incorporated by December 31, 2022)
  • First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous organizations and communities (for example, ceremonial lodges, friendship centres, private Indigenous postsecondary institutions, First Nations band councils, First Nations tribal councils, First Nations education authorities, First Nations schools including First Nations language immersion schools, etc.)
  • faith-based private elementary and secondary schools
    • to be eligible, schools must operate full year (September to June) or all year (September to August) — weekend-only schools are not eligible
  • cultural private elementary and secondary schools that serve communities at risk of and/or experiencing hate-motivated crimes or incidents
  • to be eligible, schools must operate full year (September to June) or all year (September to August) — weekend-only schools are not eligible
  • faith-based private postsecondary institutions and faith-based private career colleges
  • cultural private postsecondary institutions and cultural private career colleges that serve communities at risk of and/or experiencing hate-motivated crimes or incidents

Ineligible organizations

The following types of organizations are not eligible to apply for the grant:

  • sports organizations, sports teams and recreational, athletic, hobbies or games-oriented clubs
  • organizations whose primary activity is providing health care, housing, child and youth care, or social services (for example, hospices, convents and similar group homes, nursing homes or assisted living facilities, food banks, shelters and daycares)
  • organizations, outside of private schools, private postsecondary institutions and private career colleges, whose primary activity is providing children’s and youth programming
  • organizations whose primary activity is performing arts (for example, theatre, ballet and opera)
  • organizations whose primary activity is organizational or administrative meetings (for example, regular meetings to award cultural grants, meetings of business organizations like a Board of Trade)
  • publicly funded elementary and secondary schools (this includes, “schools” within the meaning of the Education Act)
  • publicly assisted postsecondary institutions, within the meaning of the Post-Secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000, including federated and affiliated institutions associated with publicly assisted universities
  • organizations whose primary purpose is to advance a political cause
  • organizations that engage in practices and observances that are hateful, incite hatred or violence against other individuals or groups, or contravene criminal law
  • crown corporations, municipalities, for-profit organizations and individuals

Additional eligibility criteria

Eligible organizations must:

  • be operational in Ontario on July 18, 2023
  • as a primary activity, host regular gatherings (at least once a month) of religious, spiritual or cultural significance (including ceremonies, congregations, classes, events, etc.)
  • own, lease, license or rent a non-residential indoor facility in Ontario that is used at least once a month for hosting regular gatherings of religious, spiritual or cultural significance
  • comply with filing, reporting and other requirements under the federal Income Tax Act or as established by the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • attest that it complies with the Ontario Human Rights Code and hate-related laws under the Criminal Code
  • attest that all funds received will be used for eligible expenses related to safety, security and capacity building measures against hate-related incidents for the organization (including additional non-registered chapters, if applicable), and that all eligible expenses will be, or have been, incurred between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024

Apply for the grant

The Ontario Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant (2023-24) is closed for applications. Applications for 2023-24 closed on November 7, 2023. The Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will open again for fiscal year 2024-2025.