Government women grants are free funding for female applicants only. The money awarded never has to be repaid and is awarded for a variety of different reasons including for post-secondary education, research initiatives, and even for budding female entrepreneurs looking to start their own company.

Women Education Grants

Female education grants are awarded in Canada for a number of different reasons and circumstances. If you are a single mom or a low-income female that wants to pursue post-secondary studies but simply can’t afford it, there are women grants for you.

Education grants are also awarded to women with plans to study in a traditionally male dominated career path such as math, science, and/or technology. The government is very generous in these grant awards in hopes to entice more women to take on these studies and help build a more diverse workforce. You may also consider seeking out private industry grants from companies looking to sponsor women in their field of work.

Women Grants for Research

Monday was a sad day for women researchers, whose efforts were overlooked in federal grant funding, but not all doors have closed. Female researchers can find government funding from their university department who often offer generous grants to unique and well organized research efforts with clearly defined benefits. Female researchers may also choose to search for outside industry funding, by approaching companies that can benefit from the research you are conducting.

Women Business Grants

The number of female business owners in Canada is growing, but still has a long way to go, in order to be on par with male owned businesses. The government offers a variety of financial incentives to female entrepreneurs looking to take the plunge and start their own business. You can find a list of relevant and available business grants on the Small Business Finance Centre.

Applying for Women Grants

Canadian women may also want to consider using a free grant kit to locate appropriate grants and cut down on the application time. The grant kit will list all available Canadian grants and will even walk you through the application process. This will help prevent unnecessary errors in your application that could slow down approvals. Start finding women grants today.

Writing Grants are awarded for:

• Publication
• Production of screenplays
• Production of stage plays
• Residencies
• Scholarships
• Workshops
• Travel expenses
• Research expenses

Read on below to find out where to get Canadian Writing Grants and which ones that you will qualify for.

Provincial Writing Grants

Each province has its own arts council that distributes public writing grants to assist professional writers and writing organizations. Applying for these provincial writing grants is a great way for writers to subsidize some of their writing costs. Grants awarded are usually upwards of $10,000 and among the other requirements will require proof that you need this public grant funding.

Below are several of the public grants available in Ontario and British Columbia. Keep in mind however, that there are likely similar public writing grants in the other provinces too.

Works in Progress Grant- (Ontario)

If you live in Ontario and are in the midst of writing a substantial piece of literature this could be the grant for you. The Ontario Arts Council grants money through this program to assist professional writers with the completion of book-length works of literary merit. The works in progress grant has 3 deadlines each year, at which time it awards $12,000 to successful applicants.

Project Assistance Grant (BC)

BC creative writers should pay attention to this grant. The Project Assistance Grant program awarded through the British Columbia Arts Council assists professional writers with the writing of specific creative projects. Awards are available for projects in the genres of drama, fiction, juvenile, non-fiction and poetry.

Touring Initiatives Grant (BC)

This grant is also administered by the BC Arts Council and supports touring professional artists and arts and cultural organizations in British Columbia. The idea is to fund the projects that will help to develop markets outside the province or to represent British Columbia at significant national or international exhibitions or events.

National Writing Grants

National writing grants are awarded and distributed through the Canadian Arts Council. The main difference between these and the provincial level ones is that the funding comes from the Canadian Arts Council and applicants are competing with other writers from all across the country, instead of just in their own province. This can often mean stiffer competition, but also, larger grant awards if you make the cut. These writing grants include, but are not limited to:

Travel Grant

These grants give writers and translators the financial ability to accept opportunities to speak or attend national or international conferences, presentations, festivals, fairs etc., where they receive awards, are keynote speakers or are promoting their work.

Creative Writing Grant

The Creative Writing grant provides support to Canadian authors working on new projects in the fields of novel, short story, poetry, children's literature, graphic novel and literary non-fiction.

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities

If you are a homeowner or a landlord who provides residence to low income individual with disabilities, then this is the grant for you. Successful applicants will receive Grant Money from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), so that they can carry out renovations to improve accessibility. Eligible renovations include those which intend to eliminate physical barriers, imminent safety risks and improve the ability to meet the demands of daily living within the home.

The amount that homeowners are entitled to varies according to your geographic zone. If your home is located in southern Canada you could receive anywhere from $16,000 to $24,000. Eligible homes in the northern areas of Canada could receive between $ 19,000 and $ 28,000. And homes in the far northern areas could receive between $24,000 and $36,000.

Emergency Repair Program (ERP)

Is your home’s roof leaking, or is your electricity faulty? Well if you can’t afford to make these essential repairs the government can help you with some grant money awarded through the Emergency Repair Program (ERP). To qualify for this free grant money, homeowners must be considered low income and reside in a rural area. Essential repairs are changes to your home to ensure the safety of its occupants as well as the structure. Examples include: heating systems; chimneys; doors and windows; foundations; roofs, walls, floors and ceilings; vents, louvers; plumbing, and electrical systems. And depending on your area of residence and the improvements you require, you could receive between $6,000 and $ 11,000 in grant money for these repairs.

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Homeowners

This housing grant provides funding to low-income persons who own and occupy substandard housing so that they can have a comfortable home that meets the minimum federal health and safety standards. This means repairs to heating, structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety. To qualify for this housing grant you will need to show that you live in low-income housing and that you don’t have the financial means to pay for your home’s necessary repairs. Eligible applicants could receive anywhere from $16,000 to $24,000.

Where to Start

Single moms can qualify for many available government and private sector grants. A good way to start your search is by contacting your municipal government office or YMCA. Either one of these offices will be able to give you a number of local resources that are currently offering grants that are in line with your needs. In fact you may even qualify for a variety of different tax and/or supplementary benefits that you never even knew that you qualified for.

You will also want to do internet searches which have a wealth of information. There are a variety of databases with grant listings, and which even list the necessary qualifications a candidate must have in order to be considered. You will definitely want to check out women’s foundations which are continually updating their grant services and are an indispensable grant resource for low income females.

Don’t Rule Out Education

If you are a low income single mom with plans to go back to school and improve your education then there are several grants that you will qualify for. The Canadian government wants to encourage women to be the best that they can be and help them prepare themselves for a well paying and satisfying position in the business world. Whether you plan to study full or part time will not affect your ability to qualify for an education grant.

If you are in full time studies you will qualify for a Canada Student Grant for Persons with Dependants, which will provide you with a monthly $200 grant for each of your children under 12, continuing for a period of one year. And if you are in part time studies you will qualify for a Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants. This grant will provide $40 per week of study to part time students with up to two children under 12 years of age, or $60 weekly for 3 or more children.

Students that come from a low-income family are eligible to receive a needs based scholarship grant. Whether your family fits into this low-income bracket, will be determined by a financial assessment carried out by the government. These grants are based solely on your finances rather than your grades.

Merit based scholarship grants, on the other hand, focus their eligibility on academic or athletic excellence which is judged both before and after the grant award has been given. Most will require students to have a minimum GPA, and they may also require them to be full time students. Students who excel in academics, athletics, debate, drama, music, community service, and many additional areas can be eligible for merit based scholarships by government and private foundations.

Then there are scholarships granted based on your geographical location such as your town or region. These scholarships tend to be less competitive as they draw from a significantly smaller applicant pool, and often have more lax requirements too. Check out your local banks, grocery stores, clubs, businesses, organizations, and churches, which are all potential sources for regional scholarships.

To get started on your search for scholarship grants you should definitely start with the Internet. The Internet search engine is a great way to conduct preliminary research and come across all sorts of grant funds small and large, that you would never have thought of otherwise. Keywords such as ‘scholarships’, ‘grants’, and ‘student financial aid’, will all generate a wealth of information. There are even specific database search engines that scan through large lists of available financial awards. Typically, when you use one of these search engines, you are asked to fill out a profile. This profile asks you questions about your funding needs and your personal characteristics. Only scholarships that match the particulars of your profile are identified as matches.

With all of the scholarship databases online, these search engines are able to comb through more than 1.5 million scholarships. The total monetary amount of these scholarships is estimated to be around $3.4 billion. When you fill out a profile for one of these search engines, you will be asked to provide your email address. This then allows the search engine to email you every time there are new scholarships available that match your profile. You can apply for many scholarship grants through the links provided by the search engine. The process could not be simpler.

You do not have to be a genius to qualify for a scholarship grant. There are many scholarships available for all types of people. So get started today and apply for as many grants as you can qualify for.

Under the current policy for medical grants for cosmetic surgeries Canadians have been enjoying medical grant tax credits that allow consumers to write off 15% of covered cosmetic surgeries which up to the moment have included Botox injections, teeth-whitening, hair replacement and liposuction. Unfortunately too many Canadians have been using this grant and the Canadian government has quickly incurred over $40 million in costs directly related to this cosmetic tax grant. The above listed elective surgeries will no longer receive government medical grants to subsidize them and will need to be paid for on your own.

Not to worry, however. Canadians with legitimate needs for cosmetic surgery will still be eligible for this medical grant. Reconstructive surgery after injury, or to correct deformities, for instance, will still qualify for the tax credit, which continues to be 15% of eligible unreimbursed medical expenses in excess of $2,024 or 3% of a person’s net income, whichever is lower. Below are several examples of surgeries covered by the cosmetic surgery medical grant:

• Breast Reconstruction to provide the patient with two balanced and symmetrical breasts, typically following a mastectomy.
• Correct deformities that result from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Rebuild bones and soft tissue of legs and other body parts after devastating accidents and cancer surgery.
• Repair facial defects such as cleft lips.

If you qualify for the cosmetic surgery tax break, this money will not actually come until you file your taxes. Generally, all eligible medical expenses can be claimed, even if they were incurred outside of Canada. When medical expenses are reimbursed by an insurance plan, only the portion not reimbursed can be claimed.

Summer Company Grant (Ontario)

This business grant is available to young entrepreneurs between the age of 15 and 29 who live in Ontario and are looking to start up a summer time company. Successful applicants will receive $3,000 to help start and run a summer business, half of which is received at the beginning of the summer and rest at the end. The perk of this business grant is that new entrepreneurs receive the added benefit of hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local community business leaders.

Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur

This business grant is available to Ontario residents between the ages of 18 and 29. To qualify, these young entrepreneurs must have plans to start a for-profit business in Northern Ontario. This Grant Money is intended to encourage young entrepreneurs to stay local instead of moving their business idea southbound to the province’s larger cities. Successful applicants can receive a grant of up to $25,000 which can be used to purchase office furniture, fixtures and equipment. The only catch is that you must match 10% of this grant with your own funds.

Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF)

If you are planning to start or grow a business in Eastern Ontario that will help the local market you are likely eligible for an Eastern Ontario Business Grant. This is an $80 million dollar grant fund to encourage the growth and diversification of eastern Ontario communities. The program supports projects that create and retain jobs, encourages the introduction of new technologies, and pursues growth in new markets. Businesses must have at least 10 employees and a great project idea that will create new jobs in the next five years Successful applicants can be approved for business grants covering up to 15% of project expenses.

Canadian Youth Business Grant

If you are a young immigrant between the ages of 18 and 34 years old and live in either Ontario or British Columbia you could qualify for a Canadian Youth Business Grant. All you need is a business plan, a letter of reference from your bank confirming your account status, and reference letters. Successful applicants can receive start-up business grants of up to $15,000.

EcoENERGY Retrofit Grant Program

This grant program, run by Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources, provides Grant Money to small and medium sized companies implementing energy-saving projects in commercial and institutional buildings as well as industrial facilities. Applications deadline is September 2012. If you have not yet started a new energy efficiency project, once approved you could receive up to 25 percent of eligible project costs or $50,000 per project.

EcoENERGY for Renewable Heat Grant Program

Businesses in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors are eligible to receive business grants to subsidize the installation of energy-efficient solar air and/or water heating systems. The amount of grant money that your company will receive uses a calculation formula of: Performance Factor X Incentive Rate X Area of Collector.

EcoEnergy for Renewable Power

This grant program will pump almost $ 1.5 billion into Canadian businesses, municipalities, and institutions by the time of its completion in 2011. This business grant money will help to increase Canada’s supply of clean electricity from renewable sources which include wind, biomass, low-impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. Businesses, municipalities and institutions that make these power changes before March 2001 are eligible to receive of one cent per kilowatt-hour for up to 10 years.

Better Building Partnership (New Construction)

This business grant is limited to construction projects taking place in Toronto, Ontario. Construction projects intended for commercial, institutional, industrial or multi-unit residential tenancy that are reducing their energy consumption are all eligible to receive this free grant money. Grant incentives are as follows:

• $50 to $400 incentives per verified kW saved or up to $60 per appliance
• 100% of modelling, up to $10,000

Canadian government grants proudly support stimulation of the Canadian economy via non-repayable government grant funding from the Canadian government, allotted to business and individuals alike.

Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament, Helena Guergis urged Canadians to applaud to the achievements of women in Canada, and acknowledged that more work needs to be done to improve the status of women in Canada overall. The Canadian government will continue to take steps to tackle violence against women and enhance women’s economic security.

The government grant funding followed recent remarks about changing some of the lyrics in the Canadian national anthem, to better represent and acknowledge the female gender.

The Prime Minister’s office announced last Friday that the government decided against re-examining the lyrics, and will not be proceeding with the throne speech asking the parliamentary committee to reconsider the lyrics.

Pam McConnell, a Toronto councillor who chairs a committee in support of electing more women to office, said that the government grant support, if successful, will see more women in office, and the subject of lyrics in the Canadian national anthem will more likely be re-examined once this happens.
However, the Harper government in the House of Commons, rejected the oppositions accusations that the government contributed to letting down the status of women with weak policies from childcare to poverty alleviation.

Guergis, however, supports the decision to no longer consider changing the anthem lyrics.

Female Members of Parliament from all 4 political parties gather in front of Parliament in a group photo to mark International Women's Day. Photo by Wayne Cuddington, CanWest News Services

Canadian Government Grants proudly support Canadian economy by providing non-repayable funding in the form of free government grants to companies and individuals alike. Billions of dollar each year go to stimulate the Canadian economy by providing financial assistance to individuals and companies.
"Thanks to the special measures provided for under Canada's Economic Action Plan, our national economy is on the road to recovery. Implementing the second phase of this Plan, which includes the allocation of $19 billion in new spending, will help lay the foundations for solid long-term economic growth and job creation," concluded the Minister of State.

The financial assistance will make it possible for the organization to offer tenants state-of-the-art facilities, quality management guidance, as well as administrative support. The government grant funding is expected to help create 15 temporary jobs during the construction phase; enable 20 new companies to cultivate; and create some 100 jobs in the area.

"The establishment of a second incubator for technology start-ups will help support the development and renewal of the region's manufacturing base. I am delighted that, on top of creating 15 temporary jobs during the construction phase, this project will enable 20 new companies to see the light of day over the next five years and lead to the creation of some 100 jobs in the area," explained the Minister of State.

For more on Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.