G/AG/N/CAN/161  
 
19 September  2023 
(23-6229) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English/French  
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following submission, dated  19 September  2023, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Canada . The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures exempt 
from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 
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  G/AG/N/CAN/161  
 
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  Table DS:2   
DOMESTIC SUPPORT : CANADA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures  exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Surplus Food Rescue Program  
 
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Subsection 2(1) of the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act  
 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
In the context of the COVID -19 pandemic, the Surplus Food Rescue Program was a limited -time 
CAD50 million initiative to help support Canada 's food supply chains, including food processors, 
food pr oducers and distributors, in ensuring food availability, particularly for vulnerable 
populations across Canada who are not able to reliably access sufficient amount of nutritional 
foods. Funding was used to help manage and redirect existing surpluses to or ganizations 
addressing food insecurity as efficiently as possible, and to ensure that these surplus products 
are not wasted when the demand for food from food banks and other food security organizations 
in communities had increased due to the COVID -19 pand emic.  
  
The programme conforms to the general criteria under Annex 2, paragraph 1 and the 
policy -specific criteria under paragraph 4 (Domestic Food Aid) of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
The support is provided through a publicly funded government programm e not involving 
transfers from consumers and does not have the effect of providing price support to producers.  
  
Eligibility for payments is determined by clearly -defined criteria related to nutritional objectives 
for vulnerable populations and avoiding f ood waste. Administration and financing of the 
programme is transparent and is publicly available on the Government of Canada website. The 
programme 's funding allowed eligible organizations to bid on perishable surplus products 
competitively.  
 
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total cost was CAD 50 million.  
 
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
15 June 2020  
 
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
15 June - 15 July 2020 (application end date)  
 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Perishable surplus products falling under horticulture, meat, fish and seafood.  
 G/AG/N/CAN/161  
 
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  Table DS:2   
DOMESTIC  SUPPORT: CANADA  
Notification under  Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Agricultur al Clean Technology (ACT) Program  
 
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Department  of Agriculture  and Agri-Food Act, Section  4. 
 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
As part of Canada 's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy , 
the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program  aims to create an enabling environment 
for the development and adoption of clean technology that will help drive the changes required 
to achieve a low -carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada 's agriculture and 
agri-food sector. The program me offers funding through two streams:  
 
1. The Research and Innovation Stream  provides funding for project that support 
pre-market innovati on, including research, development, demonstration and 
commercialization activities, to develop transformative clean technologies and enable the 
expansion of current technologies in 3 priority areas: green energy and energy efficiency; 
precision agricultur e; and bioeconomy.  
 
Eligible activities under the Research and Innovation Stream include:  
o Applied research and development of clean technologies  
o Piloting and evaluating clean technologies  
o Demonstration and knowledge and technology transfer activities  
o Comm ercializing and scaling up clean technologies  
 
Eligible applicants are for -profit organizations, including agri -food processors and not -for-profit 
organizations, including co -operatives, and Indigenous groups.  
  
2. The Adoption Stream  provides funding to help cover a portion of the costs related to the 
purchase and installation of commercially available clean technology or equipment 
upgrades that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG), fertilizer and methane emissions, in line 
with Governmen t of Canada targets.  
 
Both components of the programme meet the criteria under Annex 2, paragraph 1, as funding 
is provided through a publicly funded government program me not involving transfers from 
consumers, and does not have the effect of providing pri ce support to producers.  
  
In supporting research and innovation of agricultural clean technologies, the Research and 
Innovation Stream also meets the policy -specific criteria set out under Annex 2, paragraph 
2(a) of the Agreement on Agriculture.  
  
In providing funding to help producers face the extra costs of meeting the Government of 
Canada 's GHG, fertilizer and methane emission targets, the Adoption Stream also meets the 
policy -specific criteria set out under Annex 2, paragraph 12 of the Agreement on  Agriculture.  
 
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total available funding is CAD 25 million over 3 years (2018 -2021).  
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  (5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
1 April 2018  
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
Fiscal years 2018 -2021 
 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDU AL PRODUCT(S)):  
All sectors  may benefit  from these initiatives.  
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  Table DS:2  
DOMESTIC SUPPORT : CANADA  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic  support measures exempt from reduction  
 
 
(1) FULL TITLE OF MEASURE:  
Nova Scotia Clean Technology for Agriculture  
 
(2) DOMESTIC LEGISLATION REFERENCE:  
Agriculture and Marketing Act, Subsection 4B  
 
(3) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MEASURE WITH REFERENCE TO CRITERIA:  
The programme 's objective is to support operations such as the adopti on of clean technologies 
that help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve energy efficiency, as well as 
promote sustainable and clean growth. Main activities include the following:  
  
- Agriculture Clean Technology Projects  
o alternative/efficient ene rgy installations (e.g., low carbon fuel switching technologies; solar, 
wind, geothermal, ground source heat pumps; energy efficiency opportunities identified in 
an energy assessment).  
o season extension (e.g., LED horticultural lighting; high efficiency irrigation).  
o byproduct waste reduction (e.g., efficient biomass boilers).  
o carbon sequestration and GHG emission mitigation (e.g., liquid manure storage covers 
designed to reduce odour and gas emissions).  
o precision agriculture equipment (e.g., te chnology to monitor and measure field application 
of crop nutrients and pesticides).  
  
- Interest Rebate on Clean Technology Loans  
o clients of Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board implementing Agriculture Clean Technology Projects 
would be eligible to receive fundin g equal to loan interest costs for two years.  
 
The activities conform to the general criteria of paragraph 1 of Annex  2 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture and the policy -specific criteria under paragraph  12 (environmental programmes) of 
Annex 2 of the Agreeme nt on Agriculture. The support is provided through a publicly funded 
government programme not involving transfers from consumers and does not have the effect 
of providing price support to producers. The programme has clearly defined environmental 
objective s with payments, up to a maximum limit, to offset part of incremental cost of 
implementing environmental initiatives.  
 
(4) COST OF MEASURE:  
The total estimated cost is CAD 5 million over 3 years.  
 
(5) DATE OF ENTRY INTO EFFECT:  
1 April 2021  
 
(6) PERIOD OF APPLICATION:  
1 April 2021 - 31 January 2023; extended to 1 March 2024  
 
(7) PRODUCTS TO PRINCIPALLY BENEFIT (IF ANY INDIVIDUAL PRODUCT(S)):  
Any product  
 
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