Funding for the St. Lawrence River  – 
Priority Intervention Program

Overview

The program St. Lawrence River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative - Priority Interventions Program (PIP) supports projects aimed at improving freshwater quality in priority areas or areas of significance related to the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries.

Specifically, it supports "priority interventions" in key areas of the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries. It targets funding for projects to improve freshwater quality and restore aquatic ecosystems. This program is guided by the concept of converging the actions, expertise, and strengths of local stakeholders and includes the importance of Indigenous knowledge and expertise.

The program enables the expected outcome of "Canada has healthy freshwater ecosystems."

Objectives

The PIP supports projects that aim to improve freshwater quality and restore aquatic ecosystems by meeting the expected outcomes of one of the following four components:

• Component 1: Freshwater areas of importance to Indigenous communities
• Component 2: Ottawa River Priority Area
• Component 3: Priority area between Cornwall and the western part of Île d'Orléans
• Component 4: Freshwater areas prioritized in collaborative management plans

Expected results and location

• Component 1: Freshwater areas of importance to Indigenous communities
  • Identification, promotion, and consideration of Indigenous knowledge and expertise in the implementation of projects for restoration, eco-monitoring (data), improvement, protection, and management of freshwater quality and related aquatic ecosystems.
  • Improvement of freshwater quality and reduction of aquatic pollution as depicted in sections 2, 3, and 4 below.
  • Geographically, as depicted in sections 2, 3, and 4.
• Component 2: Ottawa River Priority Area
  • Improvement of freshwater quality and important aquatic ecosystems
  • Reduction of aquatic pollution sources, including agricultural, urban, and industrial pollution
  • Geographically, the projects are located along the Ottawa River
• Component 3: Priority area between Cornwall and western Île d'Orléans
  • Improvement of freshwater quality, riparian habitats, and shorelines affected by contaminated sediments
  • Reduction of aquatic pollution sources, including agricultural, urban, and industrial pollution
  • Geographically, the projects are located along the St. Lawrence River
• Component 4: Freshwater areas prioritized in management plans developed through consultation
  • Improvement of freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystem
  • Reduction of aquatic pollution sources, including agricultural, urban, and industrial pollution
  • Geographically, the projects concern the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries

Eligible organizations

The PIP is open to the following Canadian organizations:

• Indigenous organizations, councils, communities, associations, and Indigenous authorities.
• Non-profit organizations, such as charities and volunteer organizations, professional associations, and non-governmental organizations.
• University research institutions and research institutes.
• For-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees.

Eligible projects

All components of the PIP aim to fund projects for:

• Restoration, protection, and conservation of aquatic and wetland environments of significance or special interest (habitat restoration, invasive species control, biodiversity improvement, pollution source control, support for resilience or adaptation to climate change, projects in targeted environments for a return to use, etc.).
• Applied research and development to fill information gaps in order to promote actions for improving freshwater quality and related aquatic ecosystems, and/or to address a specific issue in the targeted sectors (reduction of phosphorus or other nutrients, reduction of contaminant load, restoration of a type of ecosystem, etc.).
• Networking and developing partnerships at the local or regional level to mobilize and take action to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems (structured monitoring and surveillance network, sharing existing data with stakeholders, etc.).
• Strengthening the capacity of Indigenous communities to engage effectively in freshwater management (promoting Indigenous data and knowledge, eco-monitoring of water and habitats, dissemination of collected data, return to traditional uses that support the protection and improvement of water quality, etc.).

All eligible projects must demonstrate achievable and measurable results based on the program performance indicators listed below.

The projects that are ineligible for funding include, for example:

• Projects focused on brackish water or saltwater activities.
• Projects already underway.
• Programs already underway and/or activities already offered by your organization.
• Activities required by law and/or mandated by any level of government.
• Projects that are solely aimed at beautifying an area.
• Political lobbying, advocacy, or fundraising activities (or activities that may be perceived as such).
• Projects carried out outside Canada.
• Projects whose activities will not lead to results that can be measured using the PIP indicators.
• Projects involving consultation, awareness raising, canvassing, or distribution of owner information booklets.
• Projects for the preparation and delivery of symposiums, forums, and conferences.

Project duration and maximum funding amount

Projects implemented under the PIP will end no later than March 31, 2028, and must be conducted over a maximum of three fiscal years and a maximum of 36 consecutive months. A fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. The maximum contribution per project is $250,000.^{Footnote 1 Footnote 2}   

It is mandatory that applicants for PIP funding obtain a portion of the total funding required from contributors other than the federal government to carry out their project. At least 25% of the total project funding must be obtained from sources other than the Government of Canada.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses under the PIP include:

• Human resource costs, including salaries and benefits.
• Management and professional service costs such as accounting, monitoring activities, communications, translation into official languages, verification/auditing, and legal fees and expenses.
• Accommodation, travel, event, or conference expenses paid under the Treasury Board Secretariat's Travel, Hospitality, Conference, and Event Expenditure Directive.
• Hospitality expenses may include costs related to Indigenous ceremonial offerings to be used or consumed during meetings or ceremonies, such as traditional medicines, cultural foods, tea, and sacred plants.
• Costs related to an Indigenous ceremony or participation in an Indigenous ceremony.
• Monetary honoraria offered to Indigenous Elders or knowledge keepers for specific participation activities, which may include, but not limited to, translation and interpretation fees, conducting a traditional opening and closing ceremony or prayer, sharing traditional knowledge and protocols (including spiritual guidance to individuals), and demonstrating traditional art and other practices.
• Equipment and supply costs.
• Printing, production, and distribution costs.
• The purchase or rental of equipment and capital assets (the purchase of capital assets is an eligible expense only for non-profit recipients).
• Vehicle rental and operating costs.
• Contractor services required to carry out project-related activities.
• A reasonable portion (20% or less) of overhead or administrative costs directly related to the project.
• Any GST/HST not refundable by the Canada Revenue Agency and any PST not refundable by the provinces.
• Other additional expenses directly related to the project may be considered in exceptional circumstances (subject to prior approval by the Canada Water Agency based on a statement provided by the recipient identifying the need, the relevance of the project, and the estimated cost). This expense must also be included in the cash flow statement submitted by the recipient.

Expenses related to lobbyist fees are not eligible under the contribution program.

The Canada Water Agency (CWA) may reimburse project costs incurred by the beneficiary prior to the signing of the agreement. Only expenses incurred between the date of the notification letter and the date of signing of the funding agreement may be considered eligible by the CWA and may be included in the funding agreement.

Cumulative limit

The maximum level (cumulative limit) of total assistance from the Canadian government (federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal) for the same eligible expenses under this program will not exceed 100% of the total eligible expenses of the project. If this limit is exceeded, the program will reduce the value of the requested contribution.

Potential recipients must declare all prospective sources of project funding, including federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and other sources of funding.

Performance Indicators

All project proposals must:

• Address the key environmental priority of freshwater in the priority sectors targeted in the four components.
• Present targeted results and be able to measure them (baseline assessment at the start and subsequent snapshot of the situation) during and at the end of the project.
• Demonstrate the achievement of significant and measurable results (as evidenced by project activities).

Project proposals must identify at least two indicators, the first of which is mandatory from among the indicators in the following table:

Documents

Project proposals must be submitted using the Funding Application Form and the Excel File for the budget required to carry out the project, which were sent in the call for projects email on November 5, 2025.

They contain everything that is important to explain so that the program can analyze your project proposal.

Thank you for your interest in freshwater and the Canada Water Agency's PIP program.

Contact us

If you have any questions or project ideas and would like to discuss them before submitting your funding application, please write to: pip@aec-cwa.gc.ca, and we will contact you shortly.

Related links

Other funding opportunities under the St. Lawrence River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative

• Community Interaction Program