- What is the Community Enhancement Employment Program (CEEP)?
- What types of projects does the CEEP fund?
- Who can be a project sponsor?
- Who is eligible to be employed on a project?
- What is the deadline for applications?
- Where can I find out more information on the program and the application process?
- When does the project have to start?
- When do project sponsors need to submit the project’s employee declarations?
- Are there any liability issues that project sponsors should know about?
- Are there any occupational health and safety issues that project sponsors should know about?
- What happens if the project sponsor must change the activities detailed in the application after the project has started?
- What laws do project sponsors need to follow?
- What happens if I do not use all of my approved funding?
- I have submitted the final report, but the Department requires additional information. Do I have to provide it?
- Can my project be cancelled after my organization has been approved for project funding?
- Is the letter of offer received by my organization a contract?
1. What is the Community Enhancement Employment Program (CEEP)?
The Community Enhancement Employment Program (CEEP) is a provincially-funded program that provides short-term employment. Workers in rural areas are employed by local governments or community organizations for up to 400 hours in order for them to become eligible for Employment Insurance benefits.
2. What types of projects does the CEEP fund?
The Department provides funding towards projects that directly contribute to tourism development, economic development, community/municipal infrastructure, or community services. Projects are also expected to provide skills development opportunities for workers and ongoing benefits to the region.
3. Who can be a project sponsor?
Project sponsors must be established not-for-profit organizations or local governments. This includes towns, regional municipalities, Inuit community governments, local service districts, community or economic development organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations.
4. Who is eligible to be employed on a project?
All workers hired for the project must be unemployed and not have been successful in getting enough insurable hours to qualify for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits during the current year. Workers must be eligible for EI benefits after project employment and cannot receive more than 400 hours of project employment.
Individuals requiring more than 400 hours of project employment for EI eligibility cannot be hired.
Individuals currently receiving EI benefits who are within the last nine weeks of their current claim are eligible, provided they require 400 hours or less of project employment toward their new claim. These individuals should contact Service Canada regarding the interruption of their claim.
5. What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for receipt of applications is toward the end of July each year.
6. Where can I find out more information on the program and the application process?
More information is available through the Department’s website or by calling
The website includes the CEEP application form, a separate CEEP Application Guide to help sponsors complete the application, and the CEEP Program Administration Guidelines.
7. When does the project have to start?
If a project is approved for funding, the sponsor will receive a letter of offer outlining the amount approved. The sponsor must sign acceptance of the letter of offer and return it to the Department. Projects must start within 30 calendar days after the approval letter has been signed by the Department. If the project has not started within 30 days, the project may be CANCELLED at the Department’s discretion.
8. When do project sponsors need to submit the project’s employee declarations?
To be considered for employment, applicants are required to complete an Employee Declaration Form and their Record of Employment from their previous employers(s). These documents must be submitted to the Department seven calendar days prior to the individual starting work on the project. The Department will notify the sponsor in writing whether or not the individual is eligible to participate in the CEEP project. Sponsors cannot hire individuals without Departmental approval. Labour costs incurred prior to receiving written Departmental approval will not be reimbursed.
9. Are there any liability issues that project sponsors should know about?
Any liability arising from this employment shall be the sole and absolute responsibility of the project sponsor. The Division recommends that the sponsor obtain general liability insurance coverage for any damages to third parties or their property.
10. Are there any occupational health and safety issues that project sponsors should know about?
All CEEP funding is conditional upon the project sponsor being compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations prior to the start of project activities, including:
- Ensuring that one worker employed on the project has the required training to act as the safety representative, and if not, arranging OHS training for an individual to act as a safety representative as required by OHS regulatory requirements. This training is approximately a 2 day course on workplace safety. OHS training providers are listed on the Certification Training page of the WorkplaceNL website. Sponsors should contact the nearest office of OHS to ensure they take action necessary to meet this requirement
- Ensuring compliance with the OHS regulatory requirements for having at least one worker certified in first aid
- Requiring workers to have any necessary safety gear (e.g., boots, pants, face protection)
11. What happens if the project sponsor must change the activities detailed in the application after the project has started?
Any changes to the activities contained in the scope of work for a project must be submitted in writing to the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities and approval by the Department must be granted prior to implementation.
12. What laws do project sponsors need to follow?
Project sponsors must ensure they comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations for the duration of the project, which includes the acquisition of necessary permits. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Environment Protection Act and associated regulations
- Human Rights Code
- Labour Standards Act and Regulations
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulations and First Aid Regulations
- Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission Act
13. What happens if I do not use all of my approved funding?
The program provides funding to sponsors for ACTUAL costs incurred that are deemed eligible based on the review and audit of the final report, up to a maximum of the total approved funding.
It is possible that fewer workers than anticipated may be employed. Since the cost allowances for materials and administration are a percentage of actual total labour costs, if a project does not use all of its approved hours of employment, the budget for materials and administration will be adjusted downwards accordingly. Therefore, sponsors should not commit the full value of their materials and administration budgets until they are certain that they will use all the hours of labour approved for the project.
If actual costs are greater than the initial 75% advance, once the final report has been audited, the eligible amount of funding above this 75% (up to the maximum amount of total approved funding) will be provided to the project sponsor.
If the actual costs for a concluded project are significantly lower than the approved amount, the initial 75% advance may be greater than the overall project cost. If this situation develops, the project sponsor will be required to repay the difference between the actual eligible costs and the 75% initial advance to the Department when submitting the project’s final report.
14. I have submitted the final report, but the Department requires additional information. Do I have to provide it?
Yes.
By accepting and using the program funding, you are required to provide any additional information requested by the Department.
15. Can my project be cancelled after my organization has been approved for project funding?
The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities reserves the right to cancel any project. This would be a measure of last resort and would be undertaken after discussions with the project sponsor.
If the Department cancels a project, the project sponsor will be entitled to payment for the part of the work completed up to the date of cancellation which is eligible under the project administration guidelines. Any excess funding paid must be returned to the Department.
16. Is the letter of offer received by my organization a contract?
Yes.
The letter of offer is a contract that is binding on the applicant and its successors and assigns.