CFWIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY FISHERIES & WILDLIFE INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM?
The community Fisheries & Wildlife Involvement Program (or CFWIP) is one of the most successful partnership programs of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Thousands of habitat (and habitat-related) projects benefiting Ontario’s fish and wildlife populations have been completed since the early 1980’s through the active hands-on participation of eager volunteers.
WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT?
Each year, hundreds of projects submitted by a wide variety of groups, organizations and members of the public are funded through the CFWIP program. Although all contribute towards the sustainability of the Province’s rich fish and wildlife resources, the annual list of approved projects funded is quite diverse. Examples of projects which traditionally receive funding are:
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creating or enhancing fish spawning beds
creating or enhancing fish spawning beds•transferring adult fish
transferring adult fish•culturing walleye
culturing walleye•building bird nesting structures
building bird nesting structures•stabilizing river banks or lakeshore areas
stabilizing river banks or lakeshore areas•creating wildlife viewing areas
creating wildlife viewing areas•planting food plots of wild rice or clover
planting food plots of wild rice or clover •re-introducing native species like wild turkey, peregrine falcons and elk.
re-introducing native species like wild turkey, peregrine falcons and elk.Recently, the program has expanded to include inventory, assessment and monitoring projects (eg. assessment projects provide the opportunity to evaluate the technical merits of completed work so that we may learn what contributes to a successful project and apply those principles elsewhere).CFWIP projects are usually completed within the year they are funded. CFWIP funds can be considered “seed money” for large and long-term projects, i.e. the proponents can use CFWIP funds to lever additional funding and resources from other sources for bigger projects, or to be self-reliant eventually if the project is of a long-term nature.HOW DO I APPLY?If you think that you or your group has a project which may qualify for CFWIP funding, you should contact your local MNR office for more details. Each district office has an individual who is a CFWIP representative. This person will provide you with additional information on the program, discuss your ideas for a particular project with you, and if your project meets all the guidelines, provide you with an application form and instructions on how to complete it.HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PROJECT MEETS THE GUIDELINES?CFWIP has recently developed a simple set of program guidelines which allows the program to remain flexible enough to grow and incorporate new innovations. To be eligible for funding, a potential project must• be integrated with the best available science and technology, current Ministry policy, legislation and local resource plans
• benefit the resource
• involve the public as volunteers
• benefit the general public, not an individual or group (the applicant cannot benefit financially from the project)
ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS WHICH ARE NOT ELIGIBLE?Although the majority of projects proposed each year are eligible for funding consideration, the following projects are NOT eligible:•the creation of boat launch ramps
the creation of boat launch ramps•construction of access trails
construction of access trails•funding for publications, brochures, pamphlets (unless associated with a CFWIP project completed or in progress).
funding for publications, brochures, pamphlets (unless associated with a CFWIP project completed or in progress).•public promotional items (e.g. boat rulers)
public promotional items (e.g. boat rulers)•signage (unless associated with a CFWIP project completed or in progress)
signage (unless associated with a CFWIP project completed or in progress)•funding for projects which are normally funded by other MNR programs, e.g. Parks Ontario.
funding for projects which are normally funded by other MNR programs, e.g. Parks Ontario.WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO APPLY?Although you may apply throughout the year, your best opportunity to obtain funding is to have your completed application, outlining the specifics of your project in detail, submitted to your local MNR office before February 1st each year. The reason for this date is to ensure that projects throughout the province have an equal opportunity for review and funding prior to the beginning of the Ministry’s fiscal year on April 1st. Should surplus monies be available after April 1st, or as a result of funded projects not being completed, additional opportunities for funding will be available later in the year. District program representatives will be able to re-assign those funds to worthy projects.HOW MUCH CAN I APPLY FOR?Although the CFWIP Program currently has a $1.0 M budget, we annually receive applications which total well in excess of this figure. In an effort to fund a larger number of proposals, the Ptovincial CFWIP Coordinating Committee, which oversees program administration and funding allocations (with the assistance of the Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board), has placed funding caps on certain project types and on the overall amount any one project may receive. Currently, the maximum level of funding any one project may receive is $4,000. For more details on this and specific project caps, please ask your local MNR CFWIP representative.WHAT CAN I SPEND FUNDING ON?The CFWIP program operates on the principle of volunteerism. Any funding received cannot be spent on wages but is to be used for logistical support of the project. This includes the purchase of project materials, supplies, equipment rentals, etc. CFWIP funding is not intended for the purchase of major capital items such as boats, motors, vehicles, etc. but can be used to purchase the equipment required to undertake the project (e.g. waders, nets, telemetry equipment, seed, etc.). All equipment purchased remains the property of the Ministry of Natural Resources and is intended to be used in future CFWIP projects.Although CFWIP funds are not to be used to directly supplement wages or salaries, it is acceptable to use CFWIP funding to “hire” licenced heavy equipment, barge or truck operators, etc. when these skills or equipment are needed to complete a project and they are not available within the volunteer group.It should also be noted that CFWIP funds are not intended for the hiring of consultants. In CFWIP projects, MNR staff act as technical or scientific advisors. The only exception to the rule would be if the required expertise is not available within the Ministry of Natural Resources.WHEN I APPLY, WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I WILL RECEIVE FUNDING? If you apply prior to February 1st, and your project is approved for funding provincially, you should hear from your local MNR CFWIP representative by mid April. We have streamlined the approval and proponent notification process so that spring projects (e.g. walleye culture) receive their “go-ahead” as early as possible. However, proponents of projects requiring early-season start-up should contact their local MNR CFWIP representative if they have not heard anything by late April.HOW DO I GET ACCESS TO MY APPROVED PROJECT FUNDS?To receive payment for any expenditures you or your group have incurred as a result of completing the project, you must submit your invoice(s) to the local MNR CFWIP representative. Once verified, your representative will forward a request for payment to Accounts Payable in our Main Office. A cheque should arrive within 6-10 working days. Invoices must be submitted before the end of March of the following year. Proponents are strongly advised to submit their invoices as soon as they have them in hand.WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD THE START-UP COSTS OF THE PROJECT?This is a common question asked by many small organizations and individuals. Should this be the case for your group, the local CFWIP representative has the discretion to request a small advance against the total funding balance your approved project has received. This figure should not exceed 20% of the total, and the project proponent will be held accountable for ensuring valid invoices are submitted against any funding advance provided.AM I COVERED BY INSURANCE?You will be covered by MNR’s personal injury insurance policy. You must complete the Volunteer Agreement form which must list all volunteers involved in the project before it starts. This is not liability insurance.WHAT IS THE LOCAL MNR CFWIP REPRESENTATIVE’S ROLE?Some of the roles your local MNR CFWIP representative plays are:•providing potential applicants with appropriate information relative to their proposal
providing potential applicants with appropriate information relative to their proposal•providing application forms and assistance in their completion
providing application forms and assistance in their completion•reviewing project(s) with the applicant to ensure they meet the program’s principles and guidelines
reviewing project(s) with the applicant to ensure they meet the program’s principles and guidelines•ensuring all projects are designed and information is collected, analyzed and reported with scientific validity.
ensuring all projects are designed and information is collected, analyzed and reported with scientific validity.•ranking projects in order of priority on a local basis
ranking projects in order of priority on a local basis•ensuring that the Volunteer Agreement is completed before work starts
ensuring that the Volunteer Agreement is completed before work starts•providing technical and advisory support during project development and completion
providing technical and advisory support during project development and completion•auditing the completed project
auditing the completed project•ensuring timely submission of expenditure invoices and a final report of the project by the proponent
ensuring timely submission of expenditure invoices and a final report of the project by the proponent WHAT ARE THE PROJECT PROPONENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES?
Your role includes the following:
•filling out the Application and submitting it to the MNR District office by February 1st
filling out the Application and submitting it to the MNR District office by February 1st •filling out and listing all the volunteers’ names on the Volunteer Agreement
filling out and listing all the volunteers’ names on the Volunteer Agreement•submitting all invoices to the District as soon as you can (and well before March 31st)
submitting all invoices to the District as soon as you can (and well before March 31st)•submitting a report of your project upon its completion
submitting a report of your project upon its completion •soliciting interest in your project in your community through local media
soliciting interest in your project in your community through local media WHAT IS THE FISH AND WILDLIFE ADIVSORY BOARD’S ROLE?
The Fish and Wildlife Advisory Board was established to provide advice to the Minister on the fish and wildlife program and related financial matters. Since its initial establishment, the Board has been a strong advocate of CFWIP. It endorses the final list of approved projects each year, and together with the Minister, provides direction in the areas of program improvement, communications and annual volunteer awards.
For more information on the Community Fisheries and Wildlife Involvement Program, please contact your local MNR office.
