Overview

The purpose of this Project Category is to reduce animal health risks in a measurable and proven way through physical set up of production areas, practices, testing, monitoring and management along with operations assessments/plans and education or training.

Definitions

Read the definitions to help you understand the terms used in these guidelines.

How to apply

  1. Read the guidelines on this page.
  2. Download and complete the application form (PDF).
  3. Email your completed application to SustainableCAP3@ontario.ca.

Deadline

Applications will be accepted as of September 19, 2023 on an ongoing basis until no later than January 6, 2025, subject to the availability of funding allocated to the Initiative.

Schedule 1 — Project Category: reducing animal health risks

1. Purpose of Project Category

The purpose of this Project Category is to reduce animal health risks in a measurable and proven way through physical set up of production areas, practices, testing, monitoring and management along with operations assessments/plans and education or training.

2. Term of Project Category

See section 2 of the Guidelines.

3. Funding for Project Category

A Recipient is eligible to receive thirty-five percent (35%) of Eligible Costs up to a maximum of fifty-thousand dollars ($50,000) per Project under this Project Category.

4. Operation of the Project Category

4.1 Eligible and ineligible activities under the Project Category

4.1.1 Eligible activities

The following activities are eligible under the Project Category:

  1. Knowledge improvements to biosecurity and/or hazard prevention and preparedness including education, training, assessment and planning related to the adoption of national biosecurity standards or a commodity-specific risk management program.
  2. Operational improvements and/or implementation of new technologies as preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of the introduction and spread of diseases, including:
    1. defining zones and controlled access points
    2. establishing cleaning and disinfecting practices
    3. establishing isolation or segregation facilities
    4. preventing access by wildlife, pests and rodents
    5. health management
4.1.2 Ineligible activities

The following activities are ineligible under this Project Category:

  1. Activities that do not prevent or mitigate the likelihood of the introduction and/or spread of disease, including implementation of activities for parts of a business that are not subject to biosecurity measures or protocols.
  2. Ongoing routine activities, such as:
    1. sampling and testing to maintain or monitor health status
    2. sampling and testing to determine annual requirements for animal nutrient control (for example, feeding programs)
    3. diagnostic and treatment procedures (for example, medications, post-mortems) or vaccinations
  3. Activities related to aquaponic food production, or to aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing (except international marketing and traceability activities for fish and seafood).
  4. Any other activity not set out under section 4.1.1 of this Schedule “1” to the Guidelines.

4.2 Eligible Costs and Ineligible Costs under Project Category

4.2.1 Eligible Costs

The following costs are eligible for the purposes of this Project Category, provided they were reasonably incurred and necessary to complete the Recipient’s Project:

  1. Costs that were incurred after the Project approval date but before the Project completion date.
  2. Costs that reflect the actual costs to the Recipient, less any costs, including taxes, for which the Recipient has received, will receive or is eligible to receive, a rebate, credit or refund.
  3. Deposits may be considered if they are made on or after September 19, 2023.
  4. Incremental salary and wages of the Recipients employees, excluding severance pay, who are working directly on the Project. Where those employees are not dedicated solely to working on the Project, the salaries and benefits must be pro-rated to reflect that portion of the salaries and benefits that apply to solely working on the Project.
  5. For Primary Producers only, in-kind costs of unpaid labour (at a rate of $25 per hour) and use of own farm equipment (at a rate of $75 per hour) up to a combined total in-kind costs of $7,000.
  6. Material costs, equipment costs, equipment rental costs or service fees associated with the following activities:
    1. Education and training from a third-party institution or qualified consultant (such as licensed veterinarian or certified auditors) on topics related to the adoption of national biosecurity standards or a commodity-specific risk management program.
    2. Operational assessments or audits, by a qualified third-party (such as a licensed veterinarian or certified auditor) for alignment with national biosecurity standards or a commodity-specific risk management program that provide an initial operational plan related to the business’ animals (such as a disease response plan, business specific procedures).
    3. Signage, biosecurity-related fencing, barriers, grading and/or landscaping to clearly define zones (such as a controlled access zone or restricted access zone) within the site and access points.
    4. Gates, biosecurity-related fencing, signage, locks, barriers and security monitoring equipment to control access to the business and related buildings.
    5. Construction of new or modifications to existing structures to facilitate more effective movement of animals and/or humans, including retrofits to existing structures to establish an effective transition area (anteroom).
    6. Construction of new or re-routing existing laneways, access routes and vehicle turning areas to improve the efficiency of traffic flows to reduce contamination.
    7. Specialized cleaning and disinfection equipment (such as hot water pressure washer, tractor attachments for barn cleanout, footbaths).
    8. Treatment system for purpose of disinfecting or removing pathogens from fomites or contaminants from the water, including sulphur and iron.
    9. Replacements for interior surfaces (such as walls, flooring, dividers) with non-porous washable materials such as concrete, puck board or stainless steel.
    10. Construction of a hard surface (such as concrete) pad or wash bay/facility for cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment within the controlled access zones (CAZs) or at Controlled Access Points (CAPs).
    11. Installation of sanitation/shower/washer facilities at CAPs or anterooms to higher risk areas such as barns, housing facilities (must be part of a complete transition area for effective biosecurity).
    12. Construction of a new structure or modifications to an existing structure to create segregation areas for distinct, high-risk livestock and poultry cohorts (such as newborns), or create a livestock or poultry treatment or work area for service personnel.
    13. Construction of a new or modification of an existing structure for quarantine or isolation facility for suspect livestock or poultry.
    14. Installation or repair of screening, plastic curtains and soffits on barns or production facilities.
    15. Installation of pest control devices or deterrents.
    16. Applying gravel around perimeter of barns or production facilities (1 m strip, 6 in. deep).
    17. Tools or equipment for animal health and monitoring, such as health management software, scales or metering equipment and multi-dose injectors.
    18. First time baseline laboratory testing for disease (and associated veterinary or sample collections fees) as part of a disease management plan.
4.2.2 Ineligible Costs

The following costs are ineligible for the purposes of this Project Category:

  1. Costs to apply to this Project Category.
  2. Costs that were incurred before the Project approval date and after the Project completion date.
  3. Costs to obtain goods, services or both, where those goods, services or both were not obtained from an entity operating at Arm’s Length from the Recipient.
  4. Costs related to the Recipient’s ordinary business operations (for example, day-to-day business operating expenses related directly to producing the goods or services sold by a business, to selling goods and services, costs of running a business).
  5. Deposits (prepayments) for which goods or services are not yet fully received.
  6. Transportation, meal and hotel costs.
  7. Costs related to submitting reports to the Ministry.
  8. Project costs that have already been claimed under other Project Categories.
  9. Professional services not directly related to the eligible activities.
  10. Costs associated with the following:
    1. Repeat services for the same operation on a premise.
    2. Fencing or demarcation of parts of the operation that are not subject to biosecurity measures or protocols.
    3. Modifications related to increasing production, health and safety requirements, or reasons not relevant to improving biosecurity.
    4. Modifications and repairs as part of routine maintenance (for example, replacing old surfaces with the same material; replacing or repairing doors; repairs to roof, exterior walls or foundation; fencing).
    5. Establishing a water source (for example, drilling a well, accessing municipal water supply, irrigation pond).
    6. Time to complete cleaning or disinfecting activities.
    7. Ongoing routine activities (for example, sampling and testing to maintain or monitor health status).
    8. Aquaponic food production, or to aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing (except international marketing and traceability activities for fish and seafood).
  11. Ongoing consumables (for example, disposable coveralls, boot covers, gloves, masks, disinfectant, soap, bait).
  12. Clothing and equipment commonly used in Restricted Access Zone or Controlled Access Point (for example, coveralls, boots, buckets, brushes).
  13. Sealed containers or bins to store bagged or loose feed securely, or modifications or repairs to existing feed or bedding storages.
  14. Washers, dryers, furniture or equipment for transition area that are not directly related to biosecurity.
  15. Common items that can be used for multiple purposes (for example, smart phones, shovels, vehicles).
  16. In-kind costs that are not set out under section 4.2.1 (e).
  17. Any other costs that are not set out under section 4.2.1 of this Schedule “1” of the Guidelines.

4.3 Eligibility requirements under the Project Category

It is recommended that Primary Producers complete a Livestock Biosecurity Workshop or equivalent to help inform their Project.

To be eligible to participate in this Project Category, an Applicant will meet the following requirements:

  1. Be a Person that is a Primary Producer, Processor or Service Provider.
  2. Provide its:
    1. CRA BN, or
    2. SIN, but only if the Applicant has been found eligible to participate in the Initiative and is also eligible to receive an Initiative Payment
  3. Submit a completed Ministry-approved Application Form to the Ministry in accordance with what is set out under section 4.4 of the Guidelines.
  4. Is undertaking an activity set out in section 4.1.1 of this Schedule “1” of the Guidelines.
  5. Provide a copy of a completed operational, farm-wide or commodity-specific risk assessment against national biosecurity standards, or biosecurity practices and principles that supports need for the Project unless applying for Education, Training, Assessment and Planning activities; [See risk assessment templates for Processor and Service Provider; template for Producers is available through Biosecurity Workshops] or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
  6. Provide a site sketch for all proposed structural modifications or new construction, if applicable.
  7. If a Primary Producer or Processor, have a valid and up to date Premises ID Number for the business location(s) where the Project is to take place. (To register for or update a Premises ID Number, visit the Provincial Premises Registry).
  8. If applying as a Primary Producer, have a:
    1. valid Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN)
    2. an Order from the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal exempting the Person from having to have a FBRN
    3. a letter from the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario
    4. income statements or other evidence that is acceptable to the Priority Administrator, Priority Operator, Designated Program Operator or Administrator
  9. Be in compliance with the following for its business operations at the time of applying to the Initiative:
    1. environmental-related Requirements Of Law
    2. labour-related Requirements Of Law
    3. tax-related Requirements Of Law
    4. material compliance with all other Requirements Of Law
  10. Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a current or former federal public office holder or federal public servant, or if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or that officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act (Canada), the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (Canada), the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector (Canada) and the Policy on Conflict of Interest and Post-employment (Canada), as applicable.
  11. Is not, nor is any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), a member of the House of Commons on the Senate, or, if the Applicant is, or any officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any) is, the Applicant, or the officer, director or employee of the Applicant (if any), is permitted under the Parliament of Canada Act (Canada) to receive funding from Canada under the Sustainable CAP.
  12. Agrees that any intellectual property rights arising from their Project, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, belongs to the Applicant.
  13. Agrees that Canada and Ontario may, should the Applicant be found to be eligible to participate in the Initiative as well as receive an Initiative Payment, publish information about the Applicant, including:
    1. project-related information
    2. the name of the Applicant
    3. the amount of funding Canada and Ontario provided
    4. the outcome of the Project
  14. Agrees to be bound by the terms, conditions and requirements of the Initiative, as set out in the Minister’s Order, the Guidelines and the Approval Letter.

4.4 Applying to the Project Category

See section 4.4 of the Guidelines.

4.5 Review of Application, evaluation criteria and notification

The Ministry will review the Application Form to determine whether the Applicant is eligible to participate in the Project Category. The Ministry will only review a completed Application Form. Incomplete Application Forms will not be accepted. Applicants will be notified if they submit an incomplete Application and receive an opportunity to resubmit.

Applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Identification of a current biosecurity risk and anticipated reduction of risk as a result of the Project.

The Ministry will provide an Approval Letter via Email to successful Applicants. The Approval Letter will include the following:

  1. a file number, which the Ministry uses to refer to the specific Project
  2. the Project description
  3. the maximum amount of Funds and cost shared percentage approved
  4. the Eligible Costs
  5. the date the Recipient is required to complete its Project
  6. the Claim submission deadline
  7. the final report submission information including deadline

The Ministry will provide an email to unsuccessful Applicants setting out a brief explanation of why they were not approved to participate in the Initiative.