G/AG/N/CAN/99  
 
14 April 2014  
(14-2309)  Page: 1/6  
Committee on Agriculture  Original: English/French  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 The following submission, dated 3 April 2014 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/99 
 
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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: Campagne régionale Aliments du Québec, toujours le bon choix!  
(Regional Food Campaign of Quebec, Always The Right Choice!) 
 (2) Domestic legislation reference: Act respecting  the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des 
Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (L.R.Q., c. M-14). 
 
(3) Detailed description of measur e with reference to criteria: The objective of this 
programme is to showcase Quebec regional f ood products to its consumers through public 
campaign " Aliments du Québec, toujours le bon choix!" . Aliments du Québec  is an 
organization founded by members of industry with mission to promote Quebec agri-food products. Eligible costs are those directly to the implementation of activities such as 
designing promotional materials, advertising, brand identification at the points-of-sale, or 
special events as ways to inform consumers about the availability of Quebec agri-food products. Financial assistance may cover up to 50% of eligible costs.  
This programme conforms to the general cr iteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture and the policy-specific criteria under paragraph 2(f) of the General Services category. The support is provided th rough a publicly funded government program 
not involving transfers from consumers; and does not have the effect of providing price 
support to producers. Support is for marketing and promotional services. There are no expenditures that could be used by sellers to re duce selling price or confer a direct economic 
benefit to purchasers. There are no direct payments to producers or processors. 

 (4) Cost of measure: The total estimated cost is $4 million dollars over 4 years. 
 (5) Date of entry into effect: June 2012 
 
(6) Period of application: 4 years (FY2011/12 - 2014/15) 
 
(7) Products to principally benefi t (if any individual product(s)): Any product 
 G/AG/N/CAN/99 
 
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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: Programme pilote d'appui à multifonctionnalité de l'agriculture (Pilot 
Programme to Support Multifunctionality of Agriculture) 
 (2) Domestic legislation reference: Act respecting  the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des 
Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (L.R.Q., c. M-14). 
 
(3) Detailed description of measur e with reference to criteria: The objective of this four-
year pilot programme is to support the multifunctionality of agriculture that contributes its 
economic, social and environmental functions, as well as the quality of life of the community 
beyond its primary purpose of production. The programme is an opportunity to respond to the challenges posed by the dynamic land use an d preservation of agricultural activities in 
disadvantaged regions.  
 
The programme provides financial assistance to small farms with gross income less than $150,000 that are located in the disadvantaged regions identified by municipalités 
régionales de comté  (MRC or regional county municipalities). The list of MRC is based on 
neutral and objective biophysical and geographical characteristics such as the potential of the soil (e.g., stoniness or terrain), climate (e.g., heat), and distance from potential markets 
(e.g., metropolitan communities). An index of geographical disadvantage is developed and 
used for the selection of regions (subparagraph 13(a)). 
 
The programme will enhance the multifunctionality of agriculture to the local communities by 
supporting the adoption of beneficial practices that contribute to: 
 the development of landscapes; 
 attractiveness of territories; 
 accessibility of rural areas; 
 preserving the agricultural heritage; 
 the protection of biodiversity; 
 the provision of services to the community. 
 
This programme conforms to the general cr iteria under Annex 2, Paragraph 1 and the 
policy-specific criteria under the Payments under Regional Assistance Programmes of 
Paragraph 13. 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. Projects will be evaluated by a regional committee composed of 
representatives of the Ministry and members of external organizations. 
 
A successful applicant (farm) could obtain up to $30,000 over three years towards an 
approved project, while three or more farms working together on a project could apply for 
an additional bonus of up to $5,000 per farm. The collective nature of projects is a key ingredient because it increases it scope and it accentuates the positive benefits for 
communities. Also, a farm may receive 100% of co sts of technical advisory services offered 
by the Agriconseils network. If consulting serv ices are not offered by the Agriconseils, a farm 
can receive up to $1,000 for the duration of the programme to cover such costs. There are 
no specific payment rates related to the type or volume of production, prices, or production 
factors. The regional committee determines grant amounts depending on practices and 
potential benefits for the community in accordance with the programme objectives and principles (subparagraphs 13 (b), (c), and (e)). Payments are only available to producers in 
the eligible disadvantaged regions identified by MRC and are generally available to all those 
producers to apply (subparagraph 13 (d)). Payments are limited to extra costs or loss of G/AG/N/CAN/99 
 
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  income involved in undertaking beneficial practices in the prescribed area 
(subparagraph 13(f)).  
(4) Cost of measure: The total estimated cost is $10 million dollars over 4 years. 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect: April 2011 
 
(6) Period of application: Four years (FY2011/12 - 2014/15) 
 (7) Products to principally benefi t (if any individual product(s)): Any product. 
 G/AG/N/CAN/99 
 
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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: Ontario Vineyard Improvement Program- Industry Support 
Component 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference: Vintners Quality Alliance Act 
 
(3) Detailed description of measur e with reference to criteria: The objective of this 
programme is to assist the sector as a whole by providing access to additional tools, technologies, resources, knowledge, and info rmation to improve grape quality in the 
vineyard. The fund is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and 
administered by the Grape Growers of Ontari o (GGO). The fund would enable the GGO to 
procure the goods and services needed to im plement approved projects and to support 
industry’s continuing innovation efforts. 
 
Potential projects to be supported by the fund could include: 
 development of a domestic rootstock programme to ensure a supply of clean rootstock 
to facilitate a transition to more marketable grape varieties; 
 improved access to weather, pest scouting, and pesticide information to assist in 
decision-making for quality grape production; 
 selected investments in improved quality testing equipment and laboratory services 
related to determining the grape quality at the time of harvest; 
 selected investments in viticulture research and grower education to assist in 
decision-making for quality grape production; and 
 on-going development of the industry varietal plan. 
 This programme conforms to the general cr iteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture and the policy-specific criteria under paragraph 2(a) or 
paragraph 2(d) of the General Services category . The support is provided through a publicly 
funded government program not involving transfers from consumers; and does not have the 
effect of providing price support to producers. Support is for research or extension and 
advisory services. There are no direct payments to producers or processors. 

 (4) Cost of measure: The total estimated cost is $1 million dollars over 4 years. 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect: April 2011 
 (6) Period of application: 4 years (FY2011/12 - 2014/15) 
 
(7) Products to principally benefi t (if any individual product(s)): Grapes G/AG/N/CAN/99 
 
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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: Saskatchewan Intensive Livestock Operation Environment 
Rehabilitation Program 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference: The Agricultural Operations Act 
 
(3) Detailed description of measur e with reference to criteria: The objective of this 
programme is to provide financial assistance to intensive livestock producers to rehabilitate outdoor pens and manure storage and containment systems to ensure they continue to 
provide environmental protection of groundwater and surface water resources.  
 Intensive livestock operations under the Saskatchewan  Agricultural Operations Act  have 
taken significant steps to reduce the environmental risk on farms with an approved 
environmental plan in place to manage and store livestock waste. In many cases, the excess moisture in 2010 and 2011 has compromised the environmental plans and these operations are faced with considerable costs to rehabilitate facilities in order to comply with the plan 
requirements. 
 Financial assistance may cover 75% of eligible costs of repairing or replacing pens and 
manure storage systems that have been damaged by excess moisture, to a maximum of 
$250,000. The fund is limited to construction work to ensure environmental protection in 
periods of excess moisture. It is not for normal  farm maintenance, operating or expansion. 
 
Eligible expenditures include: 
 materials and construction costs related to clay base replacement of livestock pens, 
rehabilitation of manure storage/containment systems, construction of secondary 
manure containment systems and concrete pads or aprons; 
 costs related to excavating, hauling, placement, and compaction of clay for livestock 
pen clay base and earthen manure storage and containment systems; 
 engineering and geotechnical costs associated with repairs and upgrades; and 
 reconstruction of fencing/corrals and feedbunks damaged from excess moisture. 
 
This program conforms to the general criteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Agreement 
on Agriculture and the policy specific criteria under paragraph 12 that involve direct payments to producers. Support to producers is to offset part of the incremental cost of complying with environmental requirements for intensive livestock operations under the 
Agricultural Operations Act . 

 (4) Cost of measure: The total estimated cost is $3.21 million dollars over 3 years. 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect: August 2011 
 (6) Period of application: 3 years (FY2011/12 - 2013/14) 
 
(7) Products to principally benefi t (if any individual product(s)): Livestock 
  
 
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