Backgrounder
Highlights of the
Canada–Ontario
Implementation Agreement
In June 2002, the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario agreed on a framework agreement on agriculture and agri-food in the 21st century. This agreement solidified the commitment of these governments to work together on developing and adjusting programs, services, and tools to help producers succeed today and tomorrow. It also identified the common goals they will pursue over the next five years.
The Canada–Ontario Implementation Agreement spells out many of the concrete measures that both governments will undertake to deliver on their common goals. The measures will help producers strengthen their businesses, increase prosperity, build on their diversification and value-added activities, and meet the demands of consumers at home and abroad, and will ensure that Canadian agriculture continues to be a valuable contributor to the quality of life of all Canadians.
Food safety and food quality
- A food safety and food quality program will enhance food quality and safety systems across Canada. Initiatives under the program will support industry activities in the areas of on-farm food safety, off-farm food safety, traceability, and food quality. Support will be provided for the introduction and demonstration of provincial food safety and quality program approaches with a view to applying such programs nationally. (Total investment: $39.75 million)
- Support will be provided to increase awareness, understanding and adoption of on-farm best management practices related to food safety and plant and animal health. Existing databases and traceability will be expanded through the development of a GIS-enabled database. The on-farm food safety program will include programs to support biosecurity, disease prevention and disease control to meet domestic and international trade requirements. (Total investment: $13.7 million)
- The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system strategy will help in creating partnerships and developing a provincial HACCP strategy for Ontario's non-federally registered food processing sector. (Total investment: $1.35 million)
- An integrated food safety information technology infrastructure and harmonization of provincial codes/standards with national codes/standards will provide better data management and support regulatory program modernization. (Total investment: $8.1 million)
- Support for the development of risk assessments, food safety research and baseline risk studies will result in risk mitigation strategies and systematic assessments of food safety risks to public safety. (Total investment: $16.8 million)
The environment
- Support will be provided to help producers with the development and implementation of environmental farm plans. These plans will help them increase their understanding of the environment, assess the potential environmental risks and benefits of their operations, and then identify measures to take action on their findings. An incentive program will also be established to help producers more quickly adopt the environmentally beneficial actions needed to reduce the risks and enhance the benefits identified in the plans. (Total investment: $67.66 million)
- The Information Management Systems/Data Collection Analysis initiative will provide analyses of information collected through the Nutrient Management Act and will be supported by a geo-referenced registry to monitor, audit and report all materials containing nutrients that are applied to agricultural land. (Total investment: $5 million)
- Support for education and technology transfer will provide for the development of additional "best management practices" booklets, including materials relating to water management, soil management, buffer strips, nutrient management and irrigation. (Total investment: $4.55 million)
- Research under the University of Guelph Agreement will deal with three areas: soil quality and land conversion; water quality and conservation; and climate and air quality. (Total investment: $ 12.78 million)
- An initiative to support the Nutrient Management Act and related programming will result in the development on appropriate regulations to incorporate best practices and protection for the environment and the continued economic viability of farming in Ontario. (Total investment: $6 million)
- Technical expertise will be provided to support the integrity of the Agri-Environmental Farm Planning Program and a contribution will be made to the rural water component of the Healthy Futures for Ontario Agriculture to improve and protect water quality and quantity. (Total investment: $14 million)
- The pesticide education program will ensure that farmers and industry are trained in pesticide application and safety, including environmentally safe handling and storage of pesticide. (Total investment: $400,000)
Renewal
- Business advisory services programs will provide producers with access to a network of consultants that will offer business management counseling to help them make business decisions, develop business plans, access capital, expand and diversify their operations to create value-added enterprises, and develop and assess options for the future. (Total investment: $10.19 million)
- A skills development initiative, in support of the skills development program, will identify appropriate skills, develop approaches to deliver agriculture-related skills and learning, and provide advice to governments and educational institutions on the availability of agriculture trainers and consultants. (Total investment: $580,000)
- Support for the Agricultural Management Institute will contribute to the development and delivery of province-specific management tools, resources and information to the agricultural sector and those that are applicable beyond Ontario will be shared in other jurisdictions. (Total investment: $6.82 million)
- The Agricultural Enterprise Program will provide support to farmers and/or their spouses so they may improve the profitability of the farm and increase family income by generating new business opportunities and employment. (Total investment: $9.06 million)
- The Ontario Small Town and Rural – Rural Economic Development initiative will provide matching funding to industry and economic development projects initiated in the region, based on business cases. Projects can include new technologies and processes for non-traditional uses of agricultural products, new food products, regional sector development, marketing initiatives and agri-tourism. (Total investment: $3 million)
Science and innovation
- The overarching program for science and innovation will focus on strategic development for science and innovation. This program will include a benchmark study on current levels of investment in science and innovation, a realignment action plan to make adjustments that increase the effectiveness of those investments, and a strategy to increase investment and returns in Canada's bio-based economy. The program will sponsor pilot projects with industry, the academic community, and research institutions to fill identified knowledge gaps and will support certain programs including Soy20/20 and the Integrated Supply Chain Program (Total investment: $4.69 million)
- The New Directions in Agri-food and Rural Research programs will increase scientific collaboration between governments, academic/research institutes and industry in the priority areas and in bio-mass, bio-products and bio-processes. Through these partnerships, the Alternative Renewable Fuels Research and Development Fund will serve as a pilot project to promote innovation in the alternative renewable fuels industry. (Total investment: $2.1 million)
- Ontario Agri-Food Technologies Incorporated will assist on many fronts, from educating Canadians about agri-food technologies and commercializing new agri-food technologies, to coordinating research programs and attracting investment in agricultural technology. (Total investment: $600,000)
- Support for Bio-Enterprises will accelerate development and commercial success of emerging knowledge-based companies in the agri-food sector, including mentoring workshops and business seminars. (Total investment: $2 million)
- The Agricultural and Medical Related Science Initiative will foster the long-term networking of bio-clusters between Guelph (agri-food), rural Ontario and Toronto (medical and related sciences) and, in addition, provide commercialization process expertise. (Total investment: $3.14 million)
- Promotion of the pre-commercialization research of new technologies in the life sciences and agri-food sector will be enhanced through the Life Science and Agri-Food Innovation Fund. (Total investment: $1.6 million)
- Support for communications and awareness activities will help inform Canadians about the benefits and safeguards of bioproducts and profile innovation in the agri-food value chain. An Excellence in Ag-Innovation Award will also be established for researchers and entrepreneurs who develop value-added products. (Total investment $850,000)
- The Ontario Research Strategy will provide a long-term vision and strategy to direct public sector funding, capacity building and coordination for agri-food research and development in Ontario. (Total investment: $200,000)
Business risk management
The implementation agreement commits Canada and Ontario to delivering national programs on business risk management for producers. The funding provided to the industry through these programs will be driven by demand. Canada and Ontario will, however, commit $171.18 million over three years to support the transition from existing programs to the new business risk management programs.
The new programs include:
- A new stabilization and disaster program will be introduced to more effectively stabilize producers' incomes (including severe drops), while being affordable and flexible for producers.
- Crop insurance will be broadened to production insurance to better respond to the needs of today's producers. This may include providing coverage for more commodities, increasing options for diverse farming operations, and developing innovative insurance tools based on new technology, such as satellite imagery.
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