The PRA fee is for insurance purposes and to support the PRA. PRAs have costs too, like training of officials and coaches (NCCP), taxes on the land, audits, maintenance on buildings, targets, and signs, travel costs to the DCRA meetings in Ottawa, etc.
The DCRA fee is to off set the cost of the six medals and six reduced entry fee for the Canadian FClass Nationals in Ottawa that DCRA provide to the winners, plus run the DCRA office etc., which is our National Shooting Organization (NSO).
The match entry fee goes to pay the markers, the shirts, the officials that run the match, the targets wear centers used, the trophies that go to the winners of the aggregate matches, the HPS DCRA Pins, the supper/banquet, possible range rental fees, etc. I know it sounds like lots of money to compete, but is all gets used up to run the match. Part of the entry fee in 2012 went to pay for a large diameter barrel for the main PGW prize that year, a barreled Coyote action.
Most PRAs shoot on DND ranges and their members already have paid this assoc fee. The only PRAs that do not have to pay the assoc fee is the two that have private ranges, the SPRA and the APRA, so the extra DCRA assoc fees collected at the Westerns is pretty small and probably does not cover the medals and reduced entry fee cards, let along run the DCRA office.
The Western's usually has more competitors attend than the DCRA's Canadian FClass Nationals and is the biggest and best run match in Western Canada!
If you look at any big USA matches, you will usually have spend $100 per day on entry fees, plus the extra cost of getting there and accommodations.
Medals and certificates for reduced entry fees to Ottawa in 2012...
All organized competitive sports have huge costs, that is why you pay so much for a round of golf and a golf membership!