G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
21 September 2020  
(20-6362) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English/French  
 
 
AD HOC REPORT ON COVID -19 MEASURES TAKEN BY CANADA  
IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR  
SUBMISSION BY CANADA  
Revision  
The following submission, dated 18 September 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Canada.  
 
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1.1.  This ad hoc report responds to commitments made by Canada to inform the WTO in a timely 
manner of agriculture measures made in response to COVID -19. In particular, this ad hoc report 
actions commitments made by Canada in 1). WT/GC/217 "Ju ne 2020 Statement of Ottawa Group: 
Focusing Action on COVID -19", 2). WT/GC/208/Rev2 "Responding to the COVID -19 pandemic with 
open and predictable trade in agricultural and food products", and 3). "COVID -19 initiative: 
protecting global food security throu gh open trade".  
1.2.  This ad hoc  report covers agriculture domestic support measures adopted by Canada in 
response to the COVID -19 pandemic as of 16 September 2020. Canada notes that this ad hoc  report 
is not a substitute for its domestic support notifications. Canada will notify all relevant domestic 
support measures in the relevant notifications for the relevant years.  
1.3.  Canada has endeavored to ensure a comprehensive list of measures adopted to respond to this 
unprecedented crisis. Canada reserves the right to modify and amend this list as more information 
becomes available and if it is deemed necessary to adopt or amend measures to effectively respond 
to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
- 2 - Name  Canada / 
Province  Short description  Amount  Source  
Local Food 
Infrastructure Fund  Canada  This fund will help Canadian food banks and other national food rescue 
organizations to help improve access to food for people experiencing 
food insecurity in Canada due to the COVID -19 pandemic. Funds will 
be used to: 1) . purchase food and other basic necessities; 2) . buy or 
rent equipment and mate rials; 3) . transport and distribute food; 3) 
access new distribution centres; 4 .) hire temporary help to fill 
volunteer shortages; 5) . implement biosecurity measures  $100 million  https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural -
programs -and-services/?id=1362151577626   
Mandatory Isolation 
Support for 
Temporary Foreign 
Workers Program  Canada  The program assists Canadian employers with some of the 
incremental costs associated with the mandatory 14 -day isolation 
period imposed under the Quarantine Act on temporary foreign 
workers upon entering Canada. This program provides a maximum 
non-repayable contribution amount of $1,500 for each temporary 
foreign worker.  $50 mil lion https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural -
programs -and-services/mandatory -isolation -
support -for-temporary -foreign -workers -
program/?id=1588186409721   
Surplus Food Rescue 
Program  Canada  This program helps manage and redirect existing surpluses to 
organizations addressing food insecurity and to avoid food waste. It 
provides an opportunity for non-profit and for -profit organizations 
across the supply chain to bid on significant volumes of surplus 
products at the cost of production or less, processing them where 
necessary for longer shelf life and distributing to food serving 
agencies.  $50 millio n https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural -
programs -and-services/surplus -food-rescue -
program/?id=1591298974329   
Cattle and Hog Set -
Aside (AgriRecovery)  Canada  This program helps cover the increased costs of feeding market ready 
cattle and hogs due to COVID -19 related processing delays, while 
redirecting surplus pork products to help those in need.  $150 million  https://afsc.ca/income -
stabilization/agrirecovery   
Advance Payments 
Program: Stay of 
Default for eligible 
farmers  Canada  Under the Advance Payments Program, 3 Stays of default were 
implement ed to assist eligible producers who are experiencing 
difficulties in reimbursing their program loans. The Stays extended the 
repayment deadlines for 2018 advances on Grain, Oilseeds, Pulse, 
Cattle, Bison, and also on advances for 2019 Potted Flowers and Cu t 
Flowers, and Ginseng.  N/A https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural -
programs -and-services/advance -payments -
program/?id=1462198969862   
Plan to develop 
agriculture sect or 
and create jobs  Newfoundland 
and Labrador  The funding is part of a plan to support employment in rural 
communities and help open new markets and products for renewable 
resource -based businesses during the COVID -19 global pandemic. 
Funding provides direct and indirect support to various agriculture 
commodities such as beef, vegetables, and beekeeping, as well as 
new entrants to agriculture.  $12.81 million  https://www.gov.nl.ca /releases/2020/exec/06
19n02   
10% Reduction in 
Crop insurance 
Premiums  Nova Scotia  10% discount applied to Crop Insurance premiums for 2020.  $0.105 million  N/A  
  G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
- 3 - Name  Canada / 
Province  Short description  Amount  Source  
Temporary Foreign 
Worker Isolation 
Protocol for 
Agriculture and 
Aquaculture  Nova Scotia  Determine a path with government for isolating temporary foreign 
workers (TFWs) in Nova Scotia for the 2020 season for the mandated 
14-day period. Support agriculture and seafood companies in 
successfully isolating their TFWs during the mandated period wit h 
appropriate provincial government departments including Nova Scotia 
Public Health and Labour and Advanced Education  $0.125 million  N/A 
Risk Management 
Program  Ontario  Due to COVID -19, funding for the Risk Management Program has been 
expanded a year earlier than planned by $50 million from $100 million 
to $150 million. Producers support under the Risk Management 
Program is limited by the availability of funding.  $50 million  https://www.agricorp.com/en -
ca/Programs/RMP/Pages/Overview.aspx   
Ontario -Canada Agri -
Food Workplace 
Protection Program  Ontario  Additional provincial funding to the Agri -Food Workplace Protection 
Program. To help agri -food businesses address immediate he alth and 
safety issues directly related to COVID -19 impacts through the 
Enhanced Agri -Food Workplace Protection Program. In addition to 
helping producer businesses, the enhanced program makes funding 
available to businesses that provide off -farm primary pa cking services 
and businesses that provide corn detasseling services  $15 million  http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/ca
pproducers.htm   
Ontario -Canada 
AgriRecovery for 
Hogs and Cattle  Ontario  The funding will help cover the increased costs of feeding market 
ready cattle and hogs due to COVID -19 related processing delays, 
while redirecting surplus pork products to help those in need. This 
program will help ensure the country's food supply chain will remain 
strong and ready to recover as the economy gradually and safely 
reopens.  $10 million  https://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2020/06/c
anada -and-ontario -support -beef-and-hog-
farmers -during -covid-19.html   
Financial investment 
to support the 
recruitment of 
agricultural workers  Québec  Bonus of $100 per week to agricultural workers, creation of a new 
program for the movement of the workforce, establishment of squads 
in the field and financial support to help matching farm businesses 
with new wor kers $45 million  http://www.fil -
information.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?idA
rticle=2804171249   
Loan guarantee of up 
to $ 50,000 
(Financière agricole 
du Québec)  Québec  Loan guarantee available to all financing clients of la Financière 
agricole  du Québec experiencing temporary liquidity problems related 
to the context of the COVID -19 pandemic.  N/A https://www.fadq.qc.ca/sal le-de-
presse/actualites/details/une -garantie -de-
pret-pouvant -aller-jusqua -50-000  
6-month moratorium 
on loan repayment 
(Financière agricole 
du Québec)  Québec  6-month moratorium on loan repayment to all clients of la Financière 
agricole du Québec.  N/A https://www.fadq.qc.ca/fr/salle -de-
presse/actualites/details/la -financiere -
agricole-du-quebec -met-en-place-de-
nouvelles -mesures -pour-accompagner -les-
producteurs -1   
  G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
- 4 - Name  Canada / 
Province  Short description  Amount  Source  
Special Covid -19 
Response Initiative  Manitoba  This $3 million Special COVID -19 Response Initiative assists 
Agri-Processors, Industry Organizations and Industry Service 
Providers  to adapt production processes and implement new 
strategies and technologies to mitigate the impact of COVID -19 and 
ensure the security of the food supply and competitiveness of the 
agriculture sector.  $3 million  https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/canadian -
agricultural -partnership/ag -action -manitoba -
program/financial -assistance -covid-19.html   
Northern MB F ood 
Security Support  Manitoba  Canada and Manitoba will be providing a total of $200,000 through 
the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP) to support innovative 
projects that directly increase northern food supply. The CAP will also 
provide $40,000 to support the development and implementation of a 
training program to pair communities with provincial agriculture 
experts.  
In addition, the Manitoba government is investing $370,000 to 
support local food production and food security in northern 
communities.  $0.71 million  https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?ite
m=48579&posted=2020 -07-13  
Local Cooking 
Initiative  Manitoba  Funding will be provided to the Manitoba Association of Home 
Economists through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to develop 
and promote printable electronic resources on food literacy and safe 
preparation of affordable and available food, with an emphasis on 
Manitoba -produced ingredients. MAHE will coll aborate with 
community -based non -profits working with vulnerable populations, 
experts in public health and food safety, and the supply chain to 
ensure their work complements other existing resources and is 
accessible to Manitobans.  $0.07 million  https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?ite
m=48571&posted=2020 -07-10  
Food Distribution 
model  Manitoba  Direct Farm Manitoba to purchase a software platform that will allow 
Manitobans to order food online from local producers and farmers ' 
markets. The funding will also go toward the development of a 
network of pickup and delivery options to connect consumers with 
their orders, and the development of COVID -19 safe handli ng and 
packaging practices for producers and processors.  $0.16 million  https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?ite
m=47638&posted=2020 -04-27  
Cattle set aside  Manitoba  Manitoba will develop and administer an AgriRecovery program 
funded by Canada only, to address increased feed costs incurred by 
Manitoba cattle finishers. The program will focus on the extraordinary 
costs incurred to feed cattle beyond scheduled sale/slaug hter dates. 
Program payments will be based on a per head per day basis without 
excessive administrative burden. Maximum payment will be 
$75.60/head. Payment based on number of eligible feed days and 
number of eligible animals.  $1 million  N/A  
  G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
- 5 - Name  Canada / 
Province  Short description  Amount  Source  
Saskatchewan 
Premium Rebate  Saskatchewan  The Government of Saskatchewan will help livestock producers 
manage the impacts of COVID -19 related market disruptions by 
funding up to $5 million to partially offset higher premium costs under 
the Western Livestock Price Insura nce Program (WLPIP). The 
provincial government will provide 40 per cent of the increased 
premium costs, dating back to 25 February 2020. These premium 
adjustments will be in place until September 1, 2020, at which time 
the provincial government will review  and reassess.  $5 million  https://www.scic.ca/?/wlpip/saskatchewan -
premium -rebate   
Livestock Set Aside 
Program  Saskatchewan  The Saskatchewan government will fund the 40 per cent provincial 
contribution to the AgriRecovery set -aside program. Saskatchewan 
livestock producers will be able to access a total of $12.5 million under 
the set -aside program; $7.5 million federal funding and $5 million 
provincial.  $12.5 million  https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/n
ews-and-media/2020/may/14/supporting -
livestock -producers   
2020 Canada/Alberta 
Fed Cattle Feed Cost 
Offset Initiative 
Developed due to 
COVID -19 Alberta  The program: (i) provides compensation for the extraordinary feed 
costs incurred by eligible participants due to the reduced slaughter 
capacity and backlog resulting  from the COVID -19 global pandemic; 
and (ii) support the management of market ready cattle through the 
slaughtering process.  $25.92 Million  https://afsc.ca/income -
stabilization/agrirecovery   
Agriculture Training 
Support  Alberta  Provide a grant to eligible employers (agricultural and horticultural 
businesses) to offset the costs of training and ensuring safety 
protocols are in place for new employees hired from the available 
domestic labour pool.  $5 Million  https://cap.alberta.ca/CAP/program/TRAININ
G  
Alberta Beekeeper 
Stock Replacement  Alberta  Provide support to commercial beekeepers to mitigate the incremental 
costs that have arisen due to the COVID -19 pandemic for the purchase 
of colonies.  $1 Million  https://cap.alberta.ca/CAP/program/BEES   
Temporary Foreign 
Worker Supports  British 
Columbia  Provided accommodation supports for the two -week quarantine 
required for entry into Canada of Temporary Foreign Workers. 
Includes security, laundry, 3 meals per day, wellness walks, service 
BC wellness checks (on phone), translation, etc..  $17 million  N/A 
B.C. Farmers Markets 
transition to Online 
Systems  British 
Columbia  Funding to support B.C. Fa rmers' Markets to transition to online sales  $0.05 million  https://bcfarmersmarket.org/modifying -
market -operations -covid19   
E-Commerce for B.C. 
Producers and 
Processors  British 
Columbia  Funding to support B.C. producers and processors to develop 
e-commerce platforms. The B.C. government is providing $300,000 
(up to $5,00 available/applicant) to support industry -led Buy BC 
e-commerce activities.  $0.3 million  https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020AGRI00
23-001022   
Agri-Business 
Planning Program 
COVID -19 Recovery  British 
Columbia  Funding to provide specialized business consultancy services  to 
agriculture, seafood and agri -food producers/processors who have 
seen a drastic loss in sales due to COVID -19. $5000 for individuals; 
up to $30,000 for groups  N/A https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry
/agriculture -seafood/programs/agri -business -
planning -progra m?#Specialized -Business -
Planning    
  G/AG/GEN/167/Rev.1  
 
- 6 - Name  Canada / 
Province  Short description  Amount  Source  
Domestic Temporary 
Worker 
Accommodation 
Supports  British 
Columbia  Provided funding to regional municipalities to develop safe 
accommodation spaces for inter -provincial workers and workers who 
use non -permanent accommodati ons (tents, trailors, etc.). Reimburse 
70% of the cost of funding up to  $7,500 for  approved activities under 
Food Safety Improvement COVID -19 N/A https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry
/agriculture -seafood/programs/bc -domestic -
temporary -farm-workers -covid-19-ppe-
supports -program   
On Farm Food Safety 
Program -PPE for 
COVID -19 British 
Columbia  Eligible companies can seek funding to acquire Personal Protective 
Equipment and other approved safety supplies for use at their 
facilities, in order to maintain a safe workplace and mitigate the 
impacts of COVID -19. Reimburses up to 70% of costs for Perso nal 
Protective Equipment (PPE) to a maximum of $1,000 per organization 
within eligible guidelines.  N/A http://bconfarmfoodsafety.com/covid -19-
resources   
Temporary Foreign 
Worker Supports  British 
Columbia  Provided one -time funding to support the Western Agriculture Labour 
Initiative in ensuring access to temporary foreign workers through 
coordination supports  $0.05 million  N/A 
B.C. Farm, Fish & 
Food Job Connector  British 
Columbia  Development of a job connector for employers and employees  $0.015 million  N/A 
 
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