On October 21, 2005, the Government announced its commitment to proactively disclose the awarding of grants and contributions over $25,000 as part of its Management Improvement Agenda.

Beginning on May 31, 2006, and every three months thereafter, this Web site will be updated to include information on grants and contributions awarded in the previous fiscal year quarter.

The rules and principles governing government grants and contributions are outlined in the  Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments. Transfer payments are transfers of money, goods, services or assets made from an appropriation to individuals, organizations or other levels of government, without the federal government directly receiving goods or services in return, but which may require the recipient to provide a report or other information subsequent to receiving payment. These expenditures are reported in the  Public Accounts of Canada. The major types of transfer payments are grants, contributions and "other transfer payments."

Included in this category, but not to be reported under proactive disclosure of awards, are:

• transfers to other levels of government such as Equalization payments as well as Canada Health and Social Transfer payments;
• grants and contributions reallocated or otherwise redistributed by the recipient to third parties; and
• information that would normally be withheld under the  Access to Information Act and the  Privacy Act.