Financial Assistance Program for Recreational and Sports Facilities (PAFIRS)

• The maximum financial assistance is two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the total eligible project costs, up to $28 million per project.
• For Indigenous organizations, funding can cover up to 75% of eligible project costs, with a maximum of $28 million per project.
• The total combined government aid (federal, provincial, municipal) cannot exceed 80% of eligible expenses for municipal organizations, or 90% for other eligible organizations.

• The applicant must be a municipal organization, a non-profit organization (OBNL), a solidarity cooperative, or an eligible Indigenous organization.
• The applicant must be the owner or hold an emphyteutic lease (minimum 10 years post-completion) for the land and infrastructure involved in the project.
• The applicant must demonstrate the ability to operate and maintain the infrastructure in good condition for at least 10 years after project completion.
• The project must involve a recreational or sports infrastructure that is accessible to the public and focused on serving local residents.
• The application must be submitted with all required supporting documents.

Who is eligible?

• Municipal organizations
• Non-profit organizations primarily active in recreation and sports
• Solidarity cooperatives
• Indigenous organizations, including recognized First Nations and Inuit authorities, certain non-profit organizations serving Indigenous communities, and qualifying educational or healthcare institutions for Indigenous populations

Who is not eligible

• Organizations listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
• Organizations that failed to fulfill obligations under a previous government grant within the past two years.
• School boards, CEGEPs, and universities, except those meeting specific Indigenous support criteria.
• Organizations considered "other than budgetary" as listed in Annex 2 of the Financial Administration Act.

Eligible expenses

• Costs related to the development, construction, redevelopment, reconstruction, renovation, conversion, and upgrading of an eligible recreation or sports facility.
• Surveying fees at the project site.
• Quality control costs at the construction site.
• Costs for environmental impact mitigation and correction measures required by governments.
• Costs associated with integrating artwork into a building or site in accordance with the applicable government policy.
• Expenses for manufacturing and installing permanent identification plaques acknowledging government contributions.
• Non-recoverable taxes related to eligible direct costs.
• Professional fees for recognized professionals for project design (plans and specifications, cost estimation), supervision, or project management.
• Costs for greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience assessments, where required.
• Non-recoverable taxes related to eligible incidental expenses.

Eligible geographic areas

• Quebec

• Improvement of accessibility to recreational and sports infrastructure for diverse clienteles.
• Enhancement of the quality of recreational and sports infrastructures to meet population needs.
• Provision of services to vulnerable populations.
• Urgency of intervention to ensure the sustainability, integrity, or public safety related to the infrastructure.
• Potential benefits for Indigenous people, official language minority communities, or vulnerable groups.
• Universal accessibility of the infrastructure.
• Current and projected usage levels of the infrastructure.
• Potential impact of the project on hosting and organizing sporting events and supporting athletes.
• Collaboration with community partners and the presence of inter-municipal agreements to facilitate access.
• Demonstration of the applicant’s financial capacity and local financial contributions.
• Implementation of energy-saving measures, use of wood in construction, or consideration of sustainable development principles.

• All supported projects must publicly acknowledge the financial contribution of the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada during and after project completion.
• A permanent identification plaque, approved by the Ministry, must be installed on the infrastructure upon project completion.
• The Ministry reserves the right to conduct audits and verifications for up to three years after the agreement ends or all disputes are resolved.
• In the event of project or agreement termination, repayment of a portion or the entirety of the financial assistance may be required, based on the elapsed time since project completion.