Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF) Stage 3

Dear colleagues,

On May 15, the Government of Canada announced the Canada Research Continuity Emergency Fund (CRCEF) as part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. This temporary, needs-based program is helping to sustain research enterprises at Canadian universities and health research institutions during the pandemic. The CRCEF is entering Stage 3 of its mandate, which is the final phase. This portion of the program provides a notional allocation of at least $9.3 million to McGill and its six affiliated health research institutions for eligible expenses related to research activities affected by COVID-19. Stage 3 of CRCEF allows for claims against a much broader source of research funding than Stage 1 which was targeted at wages/salaries/stipends paid from non-governmental sources. This phase includes expenses covered by tri-agency funding as well as charitable and industry funding.

I urge all Principal Investigators (PIs) to consult the McGill CRCEF webpage, reading the information carefully. This webpage will be updated frequently as we learn more about the program from the federal government. At this time, I suggest that you conduct a thorough assessment of how the pandemic has impacted your research program. The University must make its final submission to the program on November 15, 2020. New expenses related to the ramp down and ramp up of your research can still be incurred up until the November 15 deadline.

Faculty Financial Officers (FFOs) will be the main point of contact for PIs making claims to the CRCEF. PIs who expensed extraordinary items using a COVID-19 “Activity Code” will be contacted directly by their FFO as these expenses will be visible in routine reports. We know that many researchers incurred expenses related to COVID-19 using other activity codes and so we will be issuing an open call through the Faculties for PIs to make claims against the CRCEF Stage 3 allocation.

Professor Nancy Ross, Associate Vice-Principal (Research), Cristiane Tinmouth, Associate Vice-Principal Financial Services, and I will host a virtual town hall meeting on October 13 at 3 p.m. to provide additional information and clarifications related to the CRCEF. Click here to register. Until then an FFO may be in touch with you and do watch for the open call to apply for CRCEF funding through your Faculty.

Sincerely,

Martha Crago

Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation)