MARCH 2018 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC
Canadian Ag Partnership “open for business” BC still negotiating participation agreement to access $3 billion fund
by PETER MITHAM OTTAWA – Ottawa is now accepting applications
for support under the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which replaces Growing Forward 2 on April 1, but BC has yet to strike a deal that will let organizations tap into more than $3 billion worth of programs. “We are getting this material out early to give the
agriculture industry time to apply to the programs. The government’s goal is to receive applications early and to start new partnership activities as soon as possible after April 1,” media were told during a technical briefing in advance of the official announcement in Ottawa on February 13. “Everyone’s heard industry’s concerns that there be continuity of programs and we’re working very hard to have programs launched by the beginning of April.”
Ontario is the only province to have finalized an
agreement with Ottawa, however. Other provinces have yet to conclude
agreements, raising fears that important programs could hang in limbo for months. This was the case when Growing Forward 2 launched. It took 10 months for BC to hammer out an agreement with Ottawa, delaying funding and raising uncertainties around several strategic initiatives from research to environmental stewardship. The new five-year Canadian Agricultural
Partnership includes $2 billion for programs undertaken in partnership with the provinces and territories, and $1.2 billion for federal programs aimed at strengthening and growing the country’s farm sector. The federal programs include AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriDiversity and AgriAssurance.
While applications are now being accepted for
programs in these areas, the lack of agreements governing provincial and territorial involvement means the bulk of the funding could sit idle. While the exact fate of the funding in the event
of a delay is unclear to Reg Ens, executive director of BC Agriculture Council, he’s paying close attention because the council’s wholly owned subsidiary, ARDCorp, administers two programs that could be affected – environmental farm planning and the BC Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative. Other programs, including food safety and funding for some elements of the wildfire recovery effort, could also be delayed if BC doesn’t sign an agreement in the coming weeks. Berry research is an example of the kind
of work that hangs in the balance. While researchers expect funding for
their work to increase under the CAP, an application from the BC Blueberry Council, BC Raspberry Council and BC Strawberry Association is impossible till BC inks a deal governing the details of funding arrangements. “During this whole negotiation, BC’s number one
priority has been to maintain continuity,” Ens says. “I take them at their word on that.” His understanding is an agreement is very close to being signed but the longer the delay, the less time there is to sign contracts that will ensure the continuity everyone wants. “How quickly contracts could be signed, I don’t
know. It’s going to be tight,” Ens says. “I’m still optimistic that we can get things going as quickly as possible.”
Business risk management programs will not be
affected by any delay, as an agreement for those was signed last year. BC agriculture minister Lana Popham is also optimistic. She doesn’t think ongoing programs or any
future beneficiaries of the new agreement will be left in the lurch, noting her positive relationship with federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay.
17
“I’ve got a very good relationship with the federal minister of agriculture,” she told Country Life in BC. “So I don’t think he would be interested in making decisions on a federal partnership that would put anything that we’re doing here in jeopardy.” She said BC is making every effort to reach an
agreement with Ottawa and ensure no delay occurs. “I have every hope that it will signed on time, and I think the talks are going well,” she says. “We will be working as hard as possible to tap into as much of the federal money that comes our way as possible.”
Helping ensure you can meet the growing demand for Canada’s safe, high-quality products.
A five-year, $3-billion
investment by federal, provincial
and territorial governments.
The Partnership will help you: • Expand into new markets
• Stay on the cutting edge through investments in research and innovation
• Maintain public trust in a dynamic,diverse and
evolving sector Details and application forms for federal programs are available. Learn more at
Canada.ca/agripartnership 1-877-246-4682
• Access simplified and streamlined programs
and services
• Keep your operation strong with Business
Risk Management programs
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
