National Water Supply Expansion Program

The Canada-Yukon Water Supply Expansion Program

Ensuring long-term access to good-quality water

Frequently Asked Questions

The following documents are in PDF Format - [PDF Help]

Tier 1:
Application Form - Application Guide

Tier 2 & 3:
Application Form - Application Guide

Why do we need to expand our water supply?

Depending on the weather alone to provide enough water to support their farm operations is a chance few Canadian producers can afford to take. Producers often have to deal with water shortages and drought situations as a result of Canada's variable climate. Therefore, reducing the risk of water shortages by securing a long-term water supply simply makes good business sense.

The objectives of the National Water Supply Expansion Program

The National Water Supply Expansion Program (NWSEP) is a Canada-wide initiative that will help improve the capacity of Canada's agricultural community to address water supply concerns. The NWSEP was introduced in 2002, and during the program's first year of operation $10 million was used to help develop high-priority water supply projects in drought-affected areas. In addition, a one-year National Scoping Study was funded through the NWSEP to determine agricultural areas of Canada experiencing or anticipating water shortages.

The Canada-Yukon Water Supply Expansion Program

Results from the National Scoping Study are being used to help create the foundation for federal-provincial-territorial agreements under the NWSEP across Canada. In the Yukon Territory, the agreement is the Canada-Yukon Water Supply Expansion Program (CYWSEP). Through this initiative, Yukon producers have access to support - both technical and financial - for the planning and development of projects that will improve their ability to develop and enhance long-term, sustainable agricultural water supplies.

Who can participate in the program?

Eligible applicants for CYWSEP assistance in the Yukon Territory include:

• commercial agricultural producers and/or incorporated groups of farmers and ranchers;
• agricultural and conservation groups;
• rural communities and municipalities;
• agri-businesses and rural enterprises;
• educational institutions; and
• territorial government agencies and Crown corporations.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

The CYWSEP will support three types of projects:

• Tier One - On-farm water infrastructure projects: individual on-farm water projects such as wells, dugouts, off-stream and water storage systems, and pasture pipelines.
• Tier Two - Multi-user infrastructure projects: larger scale projects which provide water to a number of water users, such as tank-loaders and regional pipelines, and that will lead to growth in the agricultural sector.
• Tier Three - Strategic work projects, which include:
  
  • activities that enhance the understanding of operational and developmental limitations to water resources in Yukon agricultural areas; and
  • projects that promote the development of information and technologies or the dissemination of information, including but not limited to regional groundwater studies, groundwater exploration or testing, regional water-management planning, water-supply planning, feasibility studies, and information-extension activities.

In addition, projects must comply with all of the following criteria:

• reduce the risk of future water shortages;
• target priorities identified through the National Scoping Study;
• be scientifically, technically, and financially feasible;
• be environmentally acceptable;
• enhance the potential for rural economic growth; and
• result in a long-term water-supply solution.

What financial assistance is available?

• For Tier One - On-farm infrastructure projects, Canada will contribute up to one-third of the eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per project.
• For Tier Two - Multi-user infrastructure projects, Canada, along with the Yukon Territory, will contribute up to one-third of the eligible costs.
• For Tier Three - Strategic work projects, cost-sharing arrangements may vary and will be determined and approved on a project-by-project basis.

In total, the Government of Canada is providing $100,000 for projects in the Yukon Territory over two years. The Yukon Territory will contribute $20,000 towards Tier Two projects and will also provide in-kind support through technical and administrative assistance.What is the application deadline?

The CYWSEP ends on March 31, 2008. The deadline to submit applications is the first day of each month.

How to apply

To apply for assistance under the CYWSEP, complete the Application for Assistance form and send it to the Yukon Agriculture Branch office in Whitehorse (Please see the following section for the address). In addition to providing information such as name, address and relevant contact telephone numbers, applicants must also provide initial project information such as location, description, estimated start and completion dates, estimated project costs, and sources of funding.

For copies of the form, please contact the Agricultural Branch of the Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources at 1-867-393-7410.

Where to send your application

Completed application forms can be submitted to:

Canada-Yukon Water Supply Expansion Program
c/o Yukon Agriculture Branch
Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

or dropped off at:

Yukon Agriculture Branch
Room 320 - 300 Main Street (Elijah Smith Building)
Whitehorse, Yukon

Reviewing your application

A CYWSEP committee consisting of federal and territorial representatives will be established to assess all proposals based on the quality of each project plan, and to determine the degree to which project plans are incremental or complementary to other existing federal programs.

All applications will be screened, reviewed and rated to ensure program funds are directed to those projects which best meet CYWSEP objectives and priorities. Before approving a proposal, the CYWSEP committee will ensure that the proposed project addresses and enforces all technical and environmental standards for water-development projects.

Note: You must receive written approval for your project prior to beginning the proposed work. Any projects started before receipt of written approval are not eligible for funding.

Once a project is approved for financial assistance, the applicant will receive a letter specifying the amount of assistance they are eligible to receive, as well as a deadline for which to complete the project. If you do not complete the project by the deadline, you may not receive any financial assistance.

For program and application information,
please contact 867-393-7410 or 1-800-661-0408 ext 7410,
or visit the Web site.