CanExport GAC-Led Delegations: Applicant's guide

On this page

1. 1. Program overview
2. 2. Eligible companies and projects
   1. 2.1 Eligibility criteria
   2. 2.2 Ineligible companies
   3. 2.3 Ineligible projects
   4. 2.4 Eligible GAC-led delegations
3. 3. How our funding works
   1. 3.1 Funding mechanism
   2. 3.2 Project time frame
   3. 3.3 Stacking limit for government funding
   4. 3.4 Funding limits
   5. 3.5 Concurrent projects
4. 4. Eligible international markets
   1. 4.1 Target markets
   2. 4.2 Ineligible markets
   3. 4.3 Sub-national markets
5. 5. Eligible expenses
   1. 5.1 Category A: Travel for trade event participation
   2. 5.2 Category B: Trade events
   3. 5.3 Ineligible expenses
6. 6. Applying for CanExport GAC-Led Delegations Funding
7. 7. Assessment criteria
   1. Criteria 1: Pursuing new or expanded initiatives "Incrementality"
   2. Criteria 2: Export business case
   3. Criteria 3: Market potential
   4. Criteria 4: Exporting readiness and history
   5. Criteria 5: Global Affairs Canada trade priorities
8. 8. How to apply
   1. 8.1 Working with the Trade Commissioner Service
   2. 8.2 Submitting an application
   3. 8.3 Processing time
9. 9. After applying
   1. 9.1 Decision.
   2. 9.2 Payments.
   3. 9.3 Amendment to the funding agreement
   4. 9.4 Disclosure of change of circumstances
   5. 9.5 Closing a project
   6. 9.6 Reporting requirements
10. 10. Contact us

1. Program overview

CanExport Global Affairs Canada (GAC)-Led Delegations is a funding program that supports Canada's trade diversification efforts. It provides funding to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participating in select trade missions and delegations led by GAC's Trade Commissioner Service.

This new funding stream of the CanExport SMEs program is designed to enhance the support provided to SMEs through trade missions and delegations. It is also streamlined to the specific needs of these events. All CanExport SMEs program requirements remain the same, except:

• eligible applicants must have been selected after applying to a GAC-led trade mission or delegation as outlined in Section 2.4 of this guide
• to facilitate the application process, only expenses essential for participation in the trade mission or delegation - such as travel and trade show costs - are eligible for funding
• considering the narrowed eligible activities, there is no funding minimum

Similar to the regular CanExport SMEs program, the GAC-Led Delegations stream supports activities related to the export of existing products and services to foreign markets. Activities designed to attract investment or related to a company's day to day operations in Canada are not eligible. Activities related to the development, production and distribution of new products and services are not eligible.

This funding stream is being operated as a pilot (which will expire no later than November 2029) and as such will cover a limited number of eligible trade missions or delegations. During the pilot, the program will evaluate the stream's performance and recipient feedback.

The program is delivered by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

2. Eligible companies and projects

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations is open to companies active in any business sector.

2.1 Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, your company must satisfy the following criteria:

• Be a Canadian SME selected to participate in an eligible GAC-led delegation
• Be for-profit
• Be an incorporated legal entity, limited liability partnership (LLP) or cooperative in Canada
• Have an active^{Footnote *} Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number
• Have fewer than 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Have between $100,000 and $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during its last complete tax reporting year (or during the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers)

Example of how to count full-time employees

Your company has 5 part-time employees on its payroll. Each employee works one day per week. Over the span of one year, these employees represent the equivalent of 1 full-time employee.

Declared annual revenue

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations reserves the right to validate information provided in your application. We may do so by requesting a copy of your GST 34 return or FP-500-V for Quebec based applicants.

To complete your application, the amount from the following section of your taxes for your company's last complete fiscal year should be used:

• Line 101 of the GST 34 return for most of Canada
• FP-500-V for Quebec-based applicants

For monthly and quarterly filers, please use the most recent 12-month period.

Companies that have not filed a tax return should apply only after they have the required financial information.

We do not grant exemptions to the annual revenue eligibility requirement for companies that:

• have not achieved revenues of $100,000 during their last complete tax reporting year (or during the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers)
• achieved revenues of $100,000 but do not have the required financial information described above (GST 34, FP-500-V)

2.2 Ineligible companies

All other forms of business structures are not eligible, such as sole proprietorships and limited partnerships (LP).

Third-party representatives are not eligible for CanExport GAC-Led Delegations funding. Examples of third-party representatives include but are not limited to:

• entities representing the interests of a third party, such as agents, promoters, sales representatives and consultants
• trading houses and export brokers (unless for the agriculture and agri-food sector)
• distributors
• wholesalers acting as an intermediary

2.3 Ineligible projects

A project where a company applies on behalf of another entity identified by a different business number, is not eligible.

Funding is not offered for projects that have a focus on recreational cannabis, even in jurisdictions where its use is legal. This includes projects that focus on the cultivation or supply of recreational cannabis, as well as ancillary products related to its cultivation or use. For projects focusing on medical cannabis, it is the applicant's responsibility to demonstrate how its products or services qualify as medical and how they comply with Government of Canada policies.

Additionally, funding is not available for projects focusing on tobacco, vaping or any similar industries involving recreational substance inhalation.

2.4 Eligible GAC-led delegations

The program currently supports participants in (1) Team Canada Trade Missions and (2) delegations solely for diverse groups in trade led by Global Affairs Canada. Please see below for specific initiatives eligible under CanExport GAC-Led Delegations.

Companies invited to participate in trade missions or delegations organized by GAC's TCS may also continue to apply for funding under the regular SMEs program (if open), under its standard terms and conditions. For example, you may want to pursue activities in your target market beyond those directly related to a trade mission or delegation. Please note, however, that companies cannot apply for the same activities (e.g. travel) for the same project under both CanExport GAC-Led Delegations and CanExport SMEs. Please refer to the CanExport SMEs program website.

Eligible Team Canada Trade Missions

Team Canada Trade Missions (TCTMs) are minister-led missions designed to open doors for Canadian businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For more information, please visit the TCTM website. Current eligible TCTMs include:

GAC-led trade delegations solely for businesses from diverse backgrounds

The TCS organizes business delegations tailored to businesses of diverse backgrounds, enabling them to discover international opportunities, access supplier diversity opportunities, and gain important market insight. For more information, please visit this TCS Inclusive Trade resource. Current eligible delegations include:

3. How our funding works

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations will strive to provide funding decision within 15 business days. These service standards may vary depending on the volume of applications received.

The program is competitive, and the funding is limited. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds are allocated. Once funds for the fiscal year are fully allocated, applications will no longer be accepted.

Funding is provided in the form of cost-sharing between the recipient and CanExport GAC-Led Delegations. The program funds up to 50% of eligible costs up to $50,000 in funding per project. The applicant is responsible for the remaining 50% (in-kind contributions are not permitted).

3.1 Funding mechanism

Financial assistance can take the form of a contribution or a grant.

The funding mechanism is determined based on a risk assessment of the applicant and the project. Each application is assessed on its own merit.

Contributions work on a reimbursement-basis and have additional reporting requirements. For contributions, applicants must have sufficient cash flow to fund their proposed activities in their entirety, prior to reimbursement. Activities must be completed, invoiced and paid prior to submitting claims for reimbursement.

Grants are issued once the funding agreement is signed and does not require recipients to submit a claim. Receiving a grant for a given project does not guarantee receiving a grant in a future year. Each application is subject to a risk assessment and, notwithstanding a previous decision.

The approval of a project (contribution or grant) in one year does not guarantee approval of a project in a subsequent year, as all projects are assessed on their own merit and based on the relative competition in a given year.

See Section 9.2 for more details about payments terms.

3.2 Project time frame

• CanExport can support projects that span up to two Government of Canada fiscal years. The duration of a project is determined by the time frame of proposed activities.
• The Government of Canada fiscal year begins April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following calendar year (e.g. April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025).
• The costs of the requested activities must be broken down by fiscal year in which the disbursements are to be made. Financial assistance cannot be transferred from one fiscal year to another.
• Expenses must be incurred and paid, and activities completed in the fiscal year for which the funding was provided.
• If your project activities are approved, your expenses will be eligible from the date your project was submitted (exception: projects submitted before April 1st of a new fiscal year).
• The program does not reimburse expenses incurred or paid prior to a project's start date. There will be no exceptions.

3.3 Stacking limit for government funding

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations' stacking limit applies when funding is accessed from different Canadian government sources for the same activities within a project.

We calculate stacking based on the total funding provided by federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal governments, or Crown corporations. Canadian government assistance must not exceed 75%.

Applicants must identify all Canadian government sources of funding for each expenditure submitted as part of their application. Failure to disclose all other sources of funding may lead to:

• application being rejected
• active project being terminated

If total Canadian government assistance exceeds the stacking limit of 75%, CanExport GAC-Led Delegations will adjust the funding to comply with this limit.

3.4 Funding limits

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations identifies each company by their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) business number:

• Companies can only have one active project under this stream at any given time. Once a project is complete, you may reapply for funding including within the same year.
• Companies can receive a maximum of $99,999 in funding per government fiscal year. This includes funding received under CanExport GAC-Led Delegations and CanExport SMEs.
• A group of related companies can receive a maximum of $200,000 in funding per government fiscal year. "Related companies" includes but is not limited to parent company and subsidiaries, sister companies and affiliates.

3.5 Concurrent projects

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations does not support concurrent CanExport GAC-Led Delegations projects; projects need to be finalized before a new application can be submitted. NRC IRAP requires 30 business days to process final claims and report before a new application can be submitted to the program. Applicants may have both a CanExport GAC-Led Delegations and a CanExport SMEs project open at the same time, but they may not cover the same activities for the same project.

4. Eligible international markets

4.1 Target markets

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations supports market diversification by helping Canadian companies introduce their products and services in up to 5 new and eligible target markets.

Target market

Defined as a country (or sub-national market) where a company wishes to secure new customers or generate new sales. Activities described in an application must be directly linked to the Target market. A Target market is not a continent, geographical area, or group of countries.

A Target market is new and eligible if, during the company's last complete tax reporting year (or last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers) sales for that market were:

• less than $100,000. If sales generated in the target market were greater than $100,000, then the following criteria would apply:
• sales for that target market must be less than 10% of the company's total sales (domestic and international sales combined).

Destination

Defined as a country (or sub-national market) where the project activities take place. For some projects the "Target market" and "Destination" will be different.

4.2 Ineligible markets

Efforts to introduce new business lines in markets where the applicant has already generated more revenue than defined in section 4.1 are not eligible for funding. To determine sales in a market, CanExport GAC-Led Delegations considers brick-and-mortar retail sales as well as online sales.

Moreover, it is important for applicants to stay informed about Canadian economic sanctions. Sanctions may be placed against a country or a specific individual or entity. CanExport GAC-Led Delegations may decline funding for reasons of national interest. For more information, please visit Current sanctions imposed by Canada.

4.3 Sub-national markets

Sub-national markets under CanExport GAC-Led Delegations are those listed under Section 4.3 of the CanExport SMEs Applicant's Guide.

5. Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses are described below and fall within the two categories listed.

For an "eligible expense" to be valid:

• the expense must be directly linked to eligible missions/delegations and associated travel
• the project activity and the related expense must take place within the project start and completion dates specified in your funding agreement; expenses and activities incurred and paid before the project start date or after the project completion date are not eligible
• the project activity must fall within an approved category listed in your funding agreement and must be directly linked to one or more approved target markets

In all cases:

• payments must be made using a corporate/business bank account or a corporate/business credit card
• refundable GST, taxes, duties and other items must be removed from the cost of the eligible expense
• tips and items paid with reward points must be removed from the cost of the eligible expense

5.1 Category A: Travel for trade event participation

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations may support international travel expenses for the purpose of attending eligible trade events related to your target market(s).

How international travel expenses are assessed

Three (3) criteria are used to assess the international travel expenses:

1: Travel duration

The applicant must provide an outline of travel dates and activities for each trip. As the program will only support expenses directly linked to eligible missions/delegations and associated travel, the program does not support costs for extra days in the market. For each trip planned, indicate the number of travelers and the number of days they expect to travel or conduct business.

2: Number of participants

Recipients can submit travel expenses for a maximum of 2 travelers per trip.

"Travelers": defined as owners and/or employees of the company based in Canada. Employees must be legally permitted to work in Canada and must be on the applicant company's payroll.

3: Costs

Funding is allocated per traveler based on a review of the estimated costs in the application. The applicant must provide reasonable, economical quotes and consider, where possible, advance booking.

Receipts are not required for meals and incidentals; however, your receipts (e.g. accommodation receipt, airline tickets, etc.) should be kept for 5 years in the event of an audit.

Estimates that appear high may impact the approval of your activity and/or project. A strong rationale must be provided for estimates considered higher than the standard.

The following expenses are eligible:

• Airfare defined as a refundable roundtrip economy-class or premium economy-class flight, departing from Canada to the approved project "Target market/Destination", directly or via a layover. Airfare costs must be booked and paid for after the project start date and travel must begin and end prior to the project completion date. The use of reward program points is not permitted. In exceptional circumstances such as cost savings, flights departing from a country other than Canada may be considered.

  Higher class fares are generally not permitted. However, CanExport can accept, with supporting evidence and justification, the selection of higher-class fares, provided the cost does not exceed the equivalent for economy or premium economy class on a direct route.

• Ground Transportation defined as the costs related to the use of a ride-share service, taxi, bus, train or subway. It also includes costs related to vehicle rental, and associated costs for gas, parking and tolls, during the stay in the approved project "Target market/Destination". Vehicle rentals must be made via a reputable vehicle rental company.
• Per diem consists of a total daily allowance of $400 to cover accommodation, meals, and incidentals for each eligible traveler participating in an approved round trip to conduct business only. This includes the departure and return days and may not exceed 30 consecutive days for a maximum of two eligible travelers per round trip. Personal days must be deducted from the number of days claimed.
• Mandatory visa fee consists of the cost incurred to obtain a visa required for travel to an approved Target market/Destination.

Other eligible travel related costs

• Seat selection: The cost of seat selection for a flight to an approved project "Target market/Destination".
• Baggage: The fees charged by airlines for checked luggage, or excess baggage.
• Travel to/from Canadian airport: the cost of "ground transportation" to/from the traveler's home or office to the airport.
• Electronic Travel Authority: Some countries, such as Australia, mandate a travel fee for short-term trips. The cost incurred for these fees is eligible.

All other travel-related costs are ineligible and cannot be claimed.

5.2 Category B: Trade events

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations may support non-travel related expenses associated with participation in eligible trade events (per section 2.4).

Participation to trade events is limited to owners and/or employees of the company based in Canada. Employees must be legally permitted to work in Canada and must be on the payroll.

The following expenses are eligible:

• Attendance in a Trade Event defined as registering to attend an international trade event for a maximum of 2 Travelers per event. A Trade event must be named and have confirmed dates to be eligible.
• Exhibition Fees defined as the cost of registering as an exhibitor (space/booth) for a Trade event in an approved Target market/Destination. Exhibition Fees also include the costs associated with the on-site design and construction of a booth, rental of a booth, electrical and Wi-Fi costs, rental of business card scanners or audiovisual equipment and liability insurance. Items purchased and that can be re-used or re-purposed are ineligible. Where the trade event mandates sponsorship or membership for participation, CanExport will reimburse the cost of the lowest sponsorship or membership tier. In all other cases, sponsorships and memberships are not eligible.
• Return Shipping and Handling Costs defined as the cost associated with shipping print marketing materials, booth pop-ups and products for Trade events and returning to Canada. For companies in the agri-food sector, the shipping of food samples is also eligible. This also includes the cost of shipping prototypes to the Target market/Destination. All prototypes must be returned to Canada and cannot be sold.

All other costs related to trade events are ineligible and cannot be claimed.

5.3 Ineligible expenses

Except the Category A and Category B expenses listed above, no other expenses are eligible to be supported by funding from CanExport GAC-Led Delegations. However, the regular CanExport SMEs program may be able to support other expenses to further your international business development goals such as marketing tool development and the engagement of a consultant for expert advice. For more information, please visit Section 5.3 of the CanExport SMEs applicants guide.

6. Applying for CanExport GAC-Led Delegations Funding

Your application must explain your project in the context of your CanExport GAC-Led Delegations funding request. Answers should be concise. The program will assess the quality and the pertinence of information provided. Your project must:

• explicitly connect each proposed activity to a Target market;
• present a budget and costing that is fully broken down and justified;
• align with the company's international business plans;
• be carefully crafted with regards to guidance provided in this document.

7. Assessment criteria

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations is a competitive program with limited funding. All applications are assessed against the same merit criteria and scored relative to:

• project size
• complexity
• funding amount requested

Funding is awarded on a competitive basis for activities that will be most effective in achieving their international business development goals. A company's resources and capacities are considered during the assessment of a project. Funding decisions are final and non-negotiable. Funding amounts awarded will not necessarily equal the amount requested.

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations reserves the right to refuse an application for the following reasons:

• An incomplete application,
• An application where information has not updated since the last submission,
• An application which presents very limited information in the business case and budget,
• An application which presents information in the business case and budget that cannot be assessed properly or independently verified.

Applications are assessed using the following criteria:

Criteria 1: Pursuing new or expanded initiatives "Incrementality"

The program will assess if the project:

• goes beyond the company's core activities or everyday business activities in Canada
• represents new or expanded initiatives aligned with the company's international business development goals
• targets international markets that are new and eligible for all proposed activities

Criteria 2: Export business case

The program will assess the quality and pertinence of answers to the following questions:

• How does the proposed project align with the firm's overall business strategy?
• Are the objectives and expected outcomes of the project realistic?
• How do your proposed activities support the project's objectives?
• Are the proposed activities and expenses reasonable?
• Has the applicant adequately prepared for their target markets?

Criteria 3: Market potential

The program will assess the choice of target markets by:

• weighing opportunities for the applicant's products and services against potential challenges
• looking at the soundness of proposed activities given the applicant's industry sector

Criteria 4: Exporting readiness and history

The program will review:

• capacity in terms of human and financial resources to undertake proposed activities
• previous export history
• performance on previous CanExport projects^{Footnote **}
• past interactions with CanExport, the Trade Commissioner Service, and partners of Global Affairs Canada

Criteria 5: Global Affairs Canada trade priorities

We give special consideration to projects aligned with Government of Canada's Export Diversification Strategy. These include projects that:

• align with Global Affairs Canada-designated priority sectors in chosen market(s)
• align with the Government of Canada's trade priorities
• are put forward by businesses owned or led by groups that are traditionally underrepresented in international trade such as women, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, LGBTQ2+, visible minorities and young entrepreneurs.
• focus on markets where Canada has signed free trade agreements such as:
  • the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  • the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

8. How to apply

8.1 Working with the Trade Commissioner Service

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) helps Canadian companies navigate the complexities of international markets and make better business decisions. On the ground in more than 160 cities worldwide, the TCS shares market intelligence, uncovers opportunities for Canadian companies and helps to manage risk and reduce business costs. The TCS is a free service of the Government of Canada that helps companies prepare for international markets, assess market potential, find qualified contacts, resolve business problems, and provide advice on how to protect IP when doing business abroad.

For further guidance, please reach out to your trade commissioner.

Applicants can find a trade commissioner responsible for their sectors in Canada and in international markets.

For assistance with the agriculture and agri-food sector in the domestic Canadian markets, Applicants are invited to consult with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.

8.2 Submitting an application

Application system

Ensure you regularly save your information as you progress through the online application process. For security reasons, your session will automatically time out after 2 hours of inactivity and unsaved work will not be saved.

Information will be lost if not saved before:

• closing the active window or your browser
• going to another section of the application
• changing the language of the application

8.3 Processing time

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations will strive to provide a funding decision within 15 business days. Any expenses incurred or paid before the program provides a funding decision will be at the applicant's risk.

For first-time applicants, please allow an additional 7 business days for the program to process the Account Creation Verification.

9. After applying

9.1 Decision

After an application is assessed, a decision email is sent to the Legal Signing Authority. Please note that decisions are final and non-negotiable.

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations can only provide information about an application to individuals identified in the application. Authorization can be delegated to another individual by emailing canexportdelegations@international.gc.ca.

Unsuccessful applicants

To be reconsidered, applicants will have to submit a new project for review taking into consideration the comments provided by the program.

Successful applicants

Recipients can expect to receive their funding agreement by email within 10-12 business days after the decision. An authorized individual of the firm will need to review, sign and return the funding agreement within 20 business days of the date of receipt.

If the funding agreement is not returned within 20 business days, the funding will be considered forfeited.

The funding agreement is a legally binding document. It stipulates the responsibilities and obligations of both signing parties: the recipient and CanExport GAC-led Delegations as a funding stream of the CanExport SMEs program, on behalf of Global Affairs Canada.

The funding agreement outlines:

• project start date
• project termination date
• approved target markets
• approved activities
• funding amounts (by fiscal year in case of multi-year projects)
• reporting requirements

NRC IRAP manages all funding agreements, processes claims and issues payments. All questions regarding funding agreements, claims and reporting should be directed to NRC IRAP (nrc.canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca).

9.2 Payments

CanExport GAC-Led Delegations will reimburse eligible expenses in Canadian dollars. If project expenses are incurred in another currency, proof of the exchange rate for the transaction should be kept.

Funding recipients must keep adequate financial records and segregate CanExport project costs from their normal operation costs. This is to provide traceability of CanExport expenses.

Recipients must keep receipts, proof of payments, and proof of travel for 5 years after completion of their project in case of an audit.

Contribution recipients

Contribution recipients are required to submit a claim through the portal for reimbursement of eligible expenses. It is imperative that recipients complete the status report as part of their claim. The processing of claims can take up to 30 business days.

The final claim and the final report must be submitted within 7 days after the project completion date. Both the claim and final report are completed electronically on the client's portal. The Legal Signing Authority is responsible for identifying in the portal the project contacts who require access to the reporting module.

Grant recipients

Once NRC IRAP receives a signed copy of the funding agreement, payment is issued to successful grant recipients. Grant recipients do not submit claims.

For projects spanning more than one Government of Canada fiscal year, the program makes payments according to the fiscal year distribution of your agreement.

Payments may take up to 30 business days.

To inform us that you do not require all your approved funding, write to canexportdelegations@international.gc.ca, copying NRC IRAP (nrc.canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca).

9.3 Amendment to the funding agreement

Amendments under CanExport GAC-Led Delegations are not permitted. However, recipients can reallocate funds between approved target market(s) and/or categories of activities as long as the expenses remain related to eligible GAC-led delegations, respect the total allocation per fiscal year and take place during the project phase.

9.4 Disclosure of change of circumstances

Please inform us of any issue that is likely to affect your project, such as key changes to your company or its business activities, particularly if they affect your ability to complete your project, carry on business and pay debts due.

You must also inform us if you become aware of a breach of terms and conditions under the funding agreement, or any changes to information that identifies your company such as:

• name
• address
• designated representatives
• bank account details

9.5 Closing a project

We only allow applicants to have one active project at a time under this stream. Applicants can close their project by submitting a final claim and report through the online portal. Processing time for final claims is approximately 30 business days. Once NRC IRAP officially closes the project, you are free to submit a new project for consideration to the CanExport GAC-Led Delegations program.

9.6 Reporting requirements

Interim report

Grant recipients approved for a project that spans more than one Government of Canada fiscal year must complete an interim report by March 31. They must do so to receive payment for the next fiscal year. The interim report asks for details on how your project is progressing.

Final report

All recipients must submit a final report no later than 7 days after the project completion date. Contribution recipients must include a final claim with their final report.

The final report will ask you to detail:

• activities completed
• project outcomes in relation to expected results
• successes in target markets
• successes outside of target markets as a result of CanExport GAC-Led Delegations activities
• challenges encountered
• lessons learned

In the event that you do not satisfy the terms and conditions of the funding agreement, repayment of funds may be requested.

Snapshot report

Recipients are asked to complete a one-page questionnaire once a year for 3 years following the end of the project phase. The snapshot report helps us understand how your company has benefitted from participating in CanExport GAC-Led Delegations:

• number of jobs created
• total revenues generated
• new markets where your company is exporting

This information is collected for statistical purposes only. It does not factor into the evaluation of future CanExport applications.

Audits

Recipients may be subject to an audit. If your company is selected for audit, you will be notified well in advance. Audits are carried out by GAC/NRC IRAP or professional auditing firms on their behalf. You must maintain records of activities as well as receipts for all expenses related to your approved project for 5 years. If an audit identifies overpayment, it must be reimbursed.

Site visits

On occasion, a trade commissioner with Global Affairs Canada may visit companies at their place of business or at the site where approved projects and activities are taking place.

Program evaluation

Evaluating program performance is a key part of the federal government's strategy to manage for results. Recipients of the CanExport GAC-Led Delegations program may be asked to provide information on how their project has performed to an evaluator. Funding recipients may also be asked to respond to a questionnaire to support an evaluation of the program.

10. Contact us

If you have further questions on the program, please contact: canexportdelegations@international.gc.ca.

Please contact the NRC IRAP (nrc.canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca) if you have questions about:

• your funding agreement
• reporting
• claims

If you are having difficulty with our online application system or technical problems related to your account, please contact nrc.canexport-help-aide-canexport.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

For assistance with your company's international business development plans, please contact the Trade Commissioner Service office located closest to you.