Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program?
• How much RInC funding will be invested in the West?
• Who was eligible to apply for funding?
• What kinds of projects were eligible for funding?
• What costs are eligible?
• How were projects assessed and selected?
• What percentage of project costs is RInC supporting?
• How is the Government of Canada getting funding to project recipients?
• Why has the Government decided to extend the project completion deadlines to October 31, 2011?
• If my project is not completed by October 31, 2011, will I receive any funding from the federal government?
• Who can I contact if I have questions about the initiative?

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1. What is the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program?

For more information about RInC projects that are making a difference, consult our newsletter, Success in the West.

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program is an infrastructure fund that is investing $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. This national initiative will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impact of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.

Launched in May 2009, RInC is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s multi-faceted plan to ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn.

Allocated on a regional per capita basis, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) will invest almost $153 million in recreational infrastructure projects in the four western provinces.

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2. How much RInC funding will be invested in the West?

Western Economic Diversification Canada will invest almost $153 million under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC) in Western Canada.

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3. Who was eligible to apply for funding?

Organizations eligible to apply for funding under RInC included:

• Municipal and local governments, agencies, and provincial entities that provide municipal-type services to communities;
• Non-profit organizations;
• First Nation governments, including Band or Tribal Councils or their legally-designated representatives.

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4. What kinds of projects were eligible for funding?

Projects eligible for funding through RInC had to meet the following categories of recreational infrastructure:

• Arenas, gymnasia, swimming pools or sports fields;
• Tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts;
• Parks, fitness trails or bike paths; and
• Other multi-purpose physical recreation facilities.

Eligible projects were also required to:

• Normally be for the rehabilitation or repair of recreational facilities, including new construction that is either adding to or replacing existing recreational infrastructure assets or capacity;
• Begin and materially conclude construction before March 31, 2011;
• Be incremental, i.e. projects would not have occurred, as proposed, without support from RInC.

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5. What costs are eligible?

All projects funded under RInC must be completed by the extended deadline of October 31, 2011.

All direct incremental costs related to the project that have been incurred and paid by a successful applicant are eligible under RInC. This includes, by exception, the applicant’s employee cost. Costs and services normally provided by the applicant are not eligible.

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6. How were projects assessed and selected?

Projects were assessed on a merit basis, based on the following:

• Construction-readiness;
• Planned completion date;
• Incrementally (i.e. the project would not have occurred as proposed without support from the program); and
• The extent to which other funding is leveraged.

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7. What percentage of project costs is RInC supporting?

Under RInC, the federal government provides up to one-third of the total eligible project cost, with a maximum ‘per project’ contribution of $1 million. The proponent is expected to source the balance of the funding.

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8. How is the Government of Canada getting funding to project recipients?

The Government of Canada is reimbursing eligible costs.  Instructions have been provided to successful applicants.

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9. Why has the Government decided to extend project completion deadlines to October 31, 2011?

While the majority of key infrastructure stimulus projects are expected to be complete by March 31, 2011, there are some projects which have been delayed for a variety of reasons. On December 2, 2010, the Government of Canada announced that the deadline for completing Economic Action Plan infrastructure projects under four programs had been extended to October 31, 2011; this extension applies to the Recreational Infrastructure Canada Program (RInC).  

By extending the deadline for one more construction season, the Economic Action Plan will further benefit Canadians without incurring additional government spending.

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10. If my project is not completed by October 31, 2011, will I receive any funding from the federal government?

At the same time as providing flexibility, the Government is committed to ensuring that the stimulus program is completed in a timely fashion and will not fund any costs incurred on projects beyond the October 31, 2011 deadline. Projects are expected to be completed by October 31, 2011; costs incurred beyond the deadline will be the sole responsibility of the project proponent.

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11. Who can I contact if I have questions about the initiative?

If you have further questions about the program, you may contact us directly at any of our offices, by email, telephone, fax, or mail.