C-479
Second Session, Fortieth Parliament,
57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-479
An Act to amend the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act (individuals or entities engaged in farming operations)
first reading, November 5, 2009
Mr. Miller
402345
SUMMARY
This enactment provides for the recognition of individuals or entities engaged in farming operations and will ensure that they are given preference when applying for funding from federally funded agriculture programs.
Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca
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2nd Session, 40th Parliament,
57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009
house of commons of canada
BILL C-479
An Act to amend the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act (individuals or entities engaged in farming operations)
R.S., c. A-9
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
1. The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act is amended by adding the following after section 4: 
Farming operations
4.1 (1) In exercising his or her powers and performing his or her duties and functions under this Act, the Minister must, when determining eligibility for risk-management, crop-insurance or loan programs offered by the Department, consider only those operations that are “farming” as defined in subsection (2).
Definitions
(2) The following definitions apply in this section:
“entity”« entité »
“entity” means a partnership, corporation or cooperative association, but does not include
(a) a corporation with publicly traded stock;
(b) a company or subsidiary substantially owned or controlled (40% or greater) by a publicly traded corporation;
(c) a company, corporation or partnership with more than 250 shareholders, members, or partners; or
(d) a company, corporation or partnership with aggregate debts greater than $10,000,000, indexed annually to inflation, arising out of a farming operation.
“farming”« agriculture »
“farming” means an active and direct farming operation conducted by an individual or entity on land in Canada, where the gross market value of production from that operation, including farm income stabilization payments and crop insurance payments, exceeds
(a) $10,000 annually, or an average of that amount over a 5-year period; or
(b) $5,000 annually, in the case of an individual who is in the first three years of the farming operation and is under the age of 40. 
“individual”« particulier »
“individual” means a natural person who
(a) is a Canadian resident;
(b) is at least 18 years old; and
(c) owns or leases a farm in Canada.
Compliance
(3) Any agreement made under a risk-management, crop-insurance or loan program must, within five years after the coming into force of this section, be brought into compliance with the requirements set out in this section.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada