Community Interaction Program

Overview

The Community Interaction Program (CIP) is a financial assistance program promoting community projects aimed at conserving and improving the St. Lawrence ecosystem.

Part of the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011-2026, the program is implemented by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Quebec's Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MELCC).

Contact email

Interactions_Communautaires_Quebec_Community_Interaction@ec.gc.ca

Objectives

The Community Interaction Program supports community projects that seek to achieve at least one of the following objectives: conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable use, and improving water quality of the St. Lawrence ecosystem.

Expected results

• restoration, protection, cleanup and improvement of habitats of the St. Lawrence ecosystem
• involving the public in implementing environmental projects                   
• information and public awareness of environmental issues

Eligible applicants

Any not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that has been legally constituted for at least one year and that has a branch in Quebec and any Indigenous communities located in Quebec.

Geographic location

The target area is defined by the St. Lawrence River, meaning its water, bed, shores, coastline, wetlands, barachois, islands, archipelagos and fluvial lakes.

More specifically, this covers the area between Cornwall and Gaspé on the South shore, including the Quebec portion of Chaleur Bay, the Magdalen Islands, and the area between Carillon and Blanc Sablon on the North shore, including Anticosti Island and the Saguenay River.

This area also encompasses the main tributaries and sections of secondary tributaries that are essential to the lifecycle of species dependent on the St. Lawrence. Intervention in the secondary tributaries must have a direct connection with the species in question or with agricultural nonpoint source pollution.

Eligible projects

• public awareness projects arising from a specific environmental issue that target a particular group in the community and lead to concrete short-term actions
• study projects pertaining to a specific environmental issue with the aim of identifying concrete actions to be taken in the field                                                        
• study/action projects pertaining to a specific environmental issue with the aim of identifying concrete actions to be taken in the field, followed by the implementation of appropriate actions
• biodiversity protection projects that promote the sustainable use of the St. Lawrence
• restoration projects arising from a specific environmental issue directly related to the St. Lawrence

Range of funding

CIP’s contribution could reach a maximum of 70% of the total value of eligible expenses up to:

• $25,000 for study projects
• $100,000 for awareness-raising projects
• $200,000 for study/action, restoration and protection projects  

Points to consider

1. matching funds can be in cash or in kind. However, for projects with a total value equal or above $35,000, matching funds in cash must be at least 10% of the total contribution allocated by ECCC and the MELCC
2. see the Project Presentation Guide to know the eligibility criteria of the CIP
3. annually, deadlines for submitting funding applications are usually set at March 1 and October 15

Publications and resources

The Project Presentation Guide provides information and advice to be taken into account when submitting your funding application to the CIP.

Application instructions

Visit the St. Lawrence Action Plan Web site

Contact information

Community Interaction Program
1550, D'Estimauville Avenue
Quebec City (Qc) G1J 0C3

Telephone: 418-648-3444
Fax: 418-649-6674
E-mail: Interactions_Communautaires_Quebec_Community_Interaction@ec.gc.ca