Our federation does not have staff and does not directly conduct land development projects. However, through our Héritage faune foundation, we grant funds to associations in order to help them carry out such projects. These associations often turn to the federal recreational fisheries conservation partnerships. Most associations are glad to have this program, but may have something to say about it. I should share one or two of their opinions.
Associations would like to have data collection projects included in the program as they are prerequisites for wildlife development projects. For example, an association that wishes to carry out any kind of development project would like data on their intended site. This could be biological or geological data accessible to them the year before they are expecting to begin work.
There is also the issue of percentages. For a project to be eligible for funding, the total support coming from all levels of government must not go beyond 75%. If associations conducting development projects can't go beyond 75%, this implies that they have to provide the remaining 25%.
Often, they do not have the necessary resources to provide that 25%. That is why they would like to see some improvements to the federal recreational fisheries conservation partnership program, to allow the federal government to subsidize a larger part of the projects submitted to the program.
These are comments we hear on a regular basis.