WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/AG/N/CAN/54 
13 May 2005 
 (05-1963) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
  
 The following submission, dated 22 March 2005, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Canada .  The notification concerns new or m odified domestic suppor t measures exempt 
from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 G/AG/N/CAN/54 
Page 2  
 
 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:  Fonds de développement de la G aspésie et Fonds du ministère des 
Régions 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference:  Loi sur le ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de 
l’Alimentation , gouvernement du Québec  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria, i.e. those in:  
 
A development plan has been adopted by th e Government of Quebec to help revitalize 
disadvantaged regions, such as the Gaspésie which has an unemployment rate exceeding 
22 per cent and a declining population.  Projects are being supported that help stimulate the economic activity within the region, including th ose that assist with the introduction of new 
technologies, value-added activities and dive rsification.  Activities range from the 
development of recipe books using goat cheese to the development of alternative crops in the 
region to assisting with festivals in the region.  
 
The programme conforms to the general criteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Agreement 
on Agriculture: 
 
 -  The programme is provided through a publicly-funded government programme not 
involving transfers from consumers; and 
  - The programme does not have the effect of providing price support to producers.  
For research, extension and marketing activitie s that do not involve direct payments to 
producers or processors, the payments meet th e policy specific criteria under paragraph 2(a), 
(d) and (f) of the General Services category.    For activities that provide direct payments to producers, the payments meet the criteria of 
paragraph 13 of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture.  Each region is a clearly 
designated geographical area (e.g. Gaspésie, Sa guenay-Lac-St-Jean) that is considered as 
disadvantaged based on neutral criteria (e.g. unemployment rate).  The programme is available to all producers in the disadvantaged region.  The amount of the payment is related 
to the incremental cost of the activity and none of  the activities are related to the price, type or 
volume of production. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $1.7 million 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect:  November 1999 
 
(6)  Period of application:  1 April 2000 – 31 March 2001 
 (7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All products 
  G/AG/N/CAN/54 
 Page 3 
 
 
 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:  Framework Program in Support for Agriculture and Agri-Food 
Development in the Regions, 2002-2003  
 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference:  Loi sur le ministère de l'Agri culture, des Pêcheries et de 
l'Alimentation , gouvernement du Québec  
 (3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
This programme is designed to stimulate re gional agriculture and agri-food development 
potential through access to consulting services an d management planning.  Examples of 
activities include the development and dissemina tion of bulletins on pests;  establishing 
linkages between consultants for the development and circulation of information;  providing 
management and financial planning to new entrants  to agriculture;  and, genetic evaluation of 
animals.  Financial assistance covers part of  the costs of the consultant and/or project 
(maximum up to 70 per cent) with a maximum amount per project.   
 
The programme conforms to the general criteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Agreement 
on Agriculture: 
 
 - The programme is provided through a publicly-funded government programme not 
involving transfers from consumers; and 
  - The programme does not have the effect of providing price support to producers. 
 
The programme component meets the policy speci fic criteria under Paragraph 2(a) and (d) of 
Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture under the General Services category.  Expenditures 
under the programme do not involve direct payments to producers or processors. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $27 million 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:  1 April 2000 
 (6) Period of application:  1 April 2000 – 31 March 2003. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All products. 
 G/AG/N/CAN/54 
Page 4  
 
 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:  Agriculture Youth Integration Program 
 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference:  Loi sur le ministère de l'Agri culture, des Pêcheries et de 
l'Alimentation , gouvernement du Québec  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
This programme finances research projects on problems associated with the establishment of young farmers;  activities to promote the positive me rits of agriculture to young people;  and 
development and dissemination of information on topics associated with the establishment of 
young farmers.     
 
The programme conforms to the general criteria of Paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Agreement 
on Agriculture:  - The programme is provided through a pub licly-funded government programme not 
involving transfers from consumers; and 
 
- The programme does not have the effect of providing price support to producers. 
 
In addition, it meets the policy specific criteri a under Paragraphs 2(a), (c) and (d) of Annex 2 
of the Agreement on Agriculture under the Gene ral Services category.  Expenditures under 
the programme do not involve direct payments to producers or processors. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $1 million 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:  1 April 2000 
 
(6) Period of application:  1 April 2000 – 31 March 2001. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All products. 
  G/AG/N/CAN/54 
 Page 5 
 
 
 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 ConcertAction 
 
 
(2) Domestic legislation reference:  Loi sur le ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de 
l’Alimentation , gouvernement du Québec  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
This programme is the successor programme to  the Programme d'appui à la concertation 
(G/AG/N/CAN/38).   It is aimed at promoting consultation between stakeholders through the 
development and dissemination of information and research to improve the competitive capacity of their industry.  Activities would include assisting the establishment and operation of new collaborative organizations; developing  strategic plans; and, developing industry 
standards, certification and traceability processes.   Financial assistance is available up to 
70 per cent of the eligible expenditures of th e project with a maximum $50,000 per project (or 
$100,000 for the development of standards, certification and traceability processes). 
 
The programme conforms to the general criteri a of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture 
and the policy specific criteria under paragraph 2(a) and (d).  Expenditures under the 
programme do not involve direct paym ents to producers or processors. 
 (4) Cost of measure:  $6.5 million 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:  1 April 2000 
 
(6) Period of application:  1 April 2000 – 31 March 2003. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  All products. 
 
 
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