Overview

The purpose of this Project Category is to provide support to livestock Primary Producers and associated Service Providers to improve their traceability equipment and processes to help enhance protection of animal health, public health and food safety and to be well prepared for emerging regulatory and market standards (national and global).

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 2 — Project Category: livestock traceability equipment and processes

1. Purpose of Project Category

The purpose of this Project Category is to provide support to livestock Primary Producers and associated Service Providers to improve their traceability equipment and processes to help enhance protection of animal health, public health and food safety and to be well prepared for emerging regulatory and market standards (national and global).

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 this Project Category:

  1. Acquiring, installing and upgrading equipment directly linked to the implementation or improvement of a traceability process.
  2. Writing, development, implementation or audit of a new traceability process.
  3. Structural modifications (building or production site upgrades) to support implementation of traceability equipment or system.
  4. Information sharing networks (for example, cloud-based subscription costs, one-time dedicated project staff), limited to the duration of the Project.
  5. Barcoding systems and automated product identification systems.
  6. Associated training for purchased equipment from vendor or supplier.
4.1.2 Ineligible activities

The following activities are ineligible under the Project Category:

  1. Acquisition, installation or upgrading of equipment not directly related to traceability or equipment to support regular maintenance.
  2. Training and education projects that fulfill academic requirements toward completion of a professional certificate, diploma or degree program.
  3. New building construction.
  4. Purchase or sale of land, buildings or facilities or associated taxes or fees (for example, land transfer tax).
  5. Any other activity not set out under section 4.1.1 of this Schedule “2” of 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 date that the Project was approved but before the date the Project is to be completed.
  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 livestock Primary Producers only, in-kind costs of unpaid labour (at a rate of $25 per hour) up to total in-kind costs of $7,000, to develop written policies, procedures, schedules and records related to traceability.
  6. Material costs, equipment costs, equipment rental costs or service fees associated with the following activities:
    1. purchase, installation and upgrading of equipment directly linked to the implementation or improvement of a traceability system
    2. develop written policies, procedures, schedules and records related to traceability
    3. information sharing networks (for example, cloud-based subscription costs), limited to the duration of the Project
    4. acquisition and implementation of barcode systems and automated product identification systems
    5. building or production site upgrades to support implementation of a traceability system or equipment
  7. Costs associated with one-time training related to the purchased equipment from the equipment vendor or supplier.
4.2.2 Ineligible Costs

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

  1. Costs to apply to the 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. Cost for equipment not related to traceability.
  10. In kind costs for use of own land, facilities, materials or supplies.
  11. Cost for ongoing consumable items (for example, gloves, aprons, chemicals).
  12. Cost for common items that can be used for multiple purposes (for example, smart phones, shovels, vehicles).
  13. Cost for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers that have not met Canadian performance standards (see Readers of electronic ear tags).
  14. Incremental and ongoing maintenance costs, or those deemed to be part of normal operations.
  15. Software licensing costs or fees beyond Project completion date.
  16. Any other costs that are not set out under section 4.2.1 of this Schedule “2” of the Guidelines.

4.3 Eligibility requirements under the Project Category

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

  1. Be a Person that is a livestock Primary Producer or associated 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 “2” of the Guidelines.
  5. If a livestock primary producer, 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).
  6. If applying as a livestock 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. 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:

  • Size of the operation specific to the location of Project (priority given to operations with fewer than 100 employees).
  • Priority of commodity (for example, bison, cattle, sheep, goats, swine and farmed cervid).
  • Project impact (for example, level of change) to traceability system status.
  • Goals or outcomes of the Project, how will the information be used in the future.
  • Ability of the Project to improve traceability and control risk.

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.