National Water Supply Expansion Program

The Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program

Ensuring long-term access to good-quality water

Fact sheet

Tier 1:
Application Form (pdf format); Frequently Asked Questions

Tier 2 & 3:
Application Form (pdf format); Application Guide

What is the objective of the Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program?

The objective of the Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program is to ensure the agricultural sector has access to secure, good quality water supplies to meet its existing and growing needs through a water management program that stresses efficient and effective use of available rural water.

The program is funded by the National Water Supply Expansion Program (NWSEP), which is a $60-million Canada-wide initiative that will help improve the capacity of Canada's agricultural community to address water concerns. The Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program will be carried out under the authority of the NWSEP, though specifically for P.E.I. producers.

Who can participate in the program?

Eligible applicants for Program assistance in Prince Edward Island include:

• individuals and/or incorporated groups of farmers;
• agricultural and conservation groups;
• agri-businesses and rural enterprises;
• educational institutions;
• and provincial government departments, agencies and Crown corporations.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

The Program will support three types of projects:

• Tier One - On-farm water infrastructure projects: individual on-farm infrastructure such as water meters, dugouts, and off-stream water collection and storage structures that supply a secure water source.
• Tier Two - Multi-user infrastructure projects: larger scale infrastructure developments which provide water to multiple water users, such as shared pipelines and reservoirs that will lead to growth in the agricultural sector.
• Tier Three - Strategic work projects, which include:
  • activities that will serve to increase opportunities for strategic partnerships and to enhance producer and industry understanding of the operational and developmental limitations to water resources in communities and regions; and
  • projects that promote the development of information and technologies or the dissemination of information, including but not limited to, regional groundwater studies, regional water-management planning, water-supply conservation, feasibility studies, and information-extension activities.

In addition, projects must comply with all of the following criteria:

• reduce the risk of future water shortages;
• target priorities identified through the National Scoping Study;
• be scientifically, technically, and financially feasible;
• be environmentally acceptable;
• enhance the potential for rural economic growth; and
• result in a long-term water-supply solution.

Note: A Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program committee consisting of federal and provincial representatives will assess all proposals based on the quality of each project plan, the degree to which project plans are incremental or complementary to other existing federal programs, and the degree to which projects provide broad-based public or environmental benefits.

What financial assistance is available?

• For on-farm infrastructure projects, the Government of Canada will contribute up to one-third of eligible costs to a maximum of $5,000 per project. The Government of Prince Edward Island will contribute up to an additional one-third of the eligible cost of installing water meters on irrigation systems, to a maximum of $2,000 per project.
• For multi-user infrastructure projects, the Government of Canada will contribute up to one-third of the eligible costs.
• For strategic work projects, cost sharing arrangements may vary and will be determined on a project-by-project basis.

What is the application deadline?

The Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program ends on March 31, 2008. Program applications for Tier 1 and Tier 2 will be accepted up until October 31. The application deadlines for Tier 3 are April 1 and September 30, 2005. Project applications submitted after these dates may not be considered.

How to apply

To apply for assistance under the Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program, complete the Application for Assistance form and send it to any designated location. In addition to providing information such as name, address, and relevant contact telephone numbers, applicants must provide initial project information such as location, description, estimated start and completion dates, estimated project costs, and sources of funding.

For copies of the Tier One form, please contact Scott Anderson at (902) 368-5643. For copies of the Tier Two or Three forms, please contact Chris Pharo at (902) 566-7300.

Reviewing your application

The Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program committee will screen and rate all applications received to ensure program funds are directed to those projects which best meet program objectives and priorities.

Before approving a proposal, the Program committee will ensure that the proposed project addresses and enforces all technical and environmental standards for projects.

Please allow a minimum of 10 business days for processing of applications. Depending on the nature of each proposed project, processing times may vary. Applicants must receive written approval for projects prior to beginning the proposed work. All projects will be subject to a review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Any projects started before receipt of written approval are not eligible for funding.

After your project is approved

Once a project is approved for financial assistance, the applicant will receive a letter specifying the amount of assistance they are eligible to receive, as well as a deadline to complete the project. If you do not complete the project by the deadline, you may not receive any financial assistance.

Where to send your application

Application forms for Tier One only can be submitted to:
Scott Anderson,
P.E.I. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture,
P.O. Box 1600, Charlottetown, P.E.I.,
C1A 7N3

Application forms for Tiers Two and Three only can be submitted to:
Chris Pharo,
Canada-Prince Edward Island National Water Program,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada,
3rd Floor, Research Centre, 440 University Avenue,
Charlottetown, P.E.I.,
C1A 4N6

For program and application information, please visit the Web site.