Watershed group welcomes government funding 'transparency'

Government funding to Island watershed groups will be more equitable and predictable under a new formula, the province says.

The provincial government says it provides more than $1.12 million each year to watershed groups, which work to protect and improve some of the Island's most environmentally sensitive areas.

Funding formula

The new formula will allocate 50 per cent of the funds based on size (or area managed), 25 per cent based on performance, 12.5 per cent based on leveraging (or funds raised from other sources), and 12.5 per cent based on community involvement. It will be reviewed each year and adjusted as needed based on feedback from groups and the PEI Watershed Alliance.

Dale Cameron, chair of the PEI Watershed Alliance, says the new formula will help address the groups' yearly concern around funding predictability and stability, and allow them to plan for the longer term.

"We feel the transparency of the new formula allows our groups to clearly see where they excel and where they can improve," he said in a release.

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